From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
CIM celebrates the Day of the Women of the Americas and the anniversary of its creation in 1928
By Inter-American Comission of Women • Organization of American States (OAS)
Feb 18, 2015 - 9:35:49 PM
Today
marks an important milestone in the calendar of the countries of the
Americas. Eighty seven years ago the Inter-American Commission of Women
(CIM) was founded. The Commission has grown as the main forum for the
promotion of women’s human rights.
The OAS General Assembly, during its tenth period on November, 20th 1982 in Washington, DC declared February 18th
as the Day of the Women of the Americas. This date coincides with the
creation of the CIM in 1928, “the first official intergovernmental
agency created for the achievement of women’s civil and political
rights”. (
Res. AG587 in Spanish).
A group of women from the Americas arrived in La Havana in 1928
demanding their participation in the Sixth International Conference of
the American States and the ratification of a treaty on equal rights.
For the first time, women officially spoke in a plenary session in this
conference. Although the treaty was not ratified, the decision was made
to create the CIM, which was charged with conducting a study on the
legal status of the women of the Americas. This study would be presented
during the Seventh International Conference of American States
(Montevideo, 1933). During this conference, the
Convention on the Nationality of Women, the first international treaty addressing women’s rights, was adopted.
From this date forward, the CIM started to play a key role in the making
and promotion of a judicial framework for women’s rights in the
Americas. During 87 years of fruitful work, the CIM has been the
spokeswoman of women’s needs.
Today, February 18th, the CIM pays tribute to all the women
of the Americas, who through their persistent struggle achieved the
recognition of their political and civil rights and their right to
participate in the national and international spheres. The CIM also
expresses its gratitude to these women and reaffirms its commitment to
keep advancing on women’s rights in the Americas.
*
The photo shows the arrival of Doris Stevens, President of the CIM,
by ship to Montevideo to participate in the Seventh International
Conference of American States (1933).
Link to a
video posted on CIM Facebook page.
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