“ I think the present government of Tonga should tread lightly on this CEDAW issue and look beyond the funds and benefits that Tonga would have for ratifying CEDAW..For example ,the United States of America is considered the most powerful democratic country in the world and the only democratic country that hasn't ratified CEDAW !...since CEDAW was adopted in 1979 by the UN with 3 main focusing areas :
- Civil Rights and Legal Status
- Reproductive Rights
- Cultural factors influencing gender relations
the United States hasn't ratified it . WHY ?..I think that is what Tonga should question now is the WHY NOT ?..the main opposition against CEDAW are conservative groups and religious rights ,who are conscerned that CEDAW will challenge the laws and culture of the USA..any similarity to Tonga ?..the answer is YES !!..In arguments against CEDAW, the conservative organization Concerned Women for America cite that ratification of the treaty will:
- negate family law and undermine traditional family values by redefining the family
- force the U.S. to pay men and women the same for "work of equal value" thus going against our free-market system
- ensure access to abortion services and contraception
- create a possible 'back door' ERA for feminists
allow same-sex marriage
- legalize prostitution
- promote gender re-education
- negate parental rights
- undermine the sovereignty of the U.S.
Those are some of the reasons the US hasn't ratified it . May be we should study the issue more closely before jumping into the wagon and thus take Tonga to places we don't want to end up at ”