EDITOR,

In a recent article dated May 28, writer Peter Burke informed the community about SLV students “advising” Congresswoman Anna Eshoo on international civil rights (“SLV students advise congresswoman on international civil rights,” Page 7). The full topic was “The Rights of Women and Children in the International Community.”

There was no information given regarding the reporting done by the students, so readers have no way to know what conclusions they reached or how broadly they viewed their subject.

American women and children live in a society where the rule of law governs, and their rights are broader, more protective and more valuable than in any society in history.

The term “international community” itself is mythical. America has never signed on to the United Nations CEDAW (Convention of Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination) treaty, despite presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton championing its radical goals. It appears that Eshoo would like to see the Senate ratify this treaty, and she and her staff might indeed be drumming up support for that among SLV school youth. Do those who don’t share her positions participate? Or do they opt out of these advisory groups?

The U.N.’s position on legalizing prostitution, for example, is purportedly to eliminate sex trafficking. Yet U.N. workers themselves were involved in sex trafficking in Bosnia, according to an article by Wendy McElroy. The U.N. is silent on China’s one-child policy. Supporters of CEDAW claim that U.S. laws would not be adversely affected if this treaty were ratified. But it is a broadly held view by many others that the American family, religious institutions and, indeed, our very sovereignty would be dramatically altered. Information is available at Heritage Foundation. American religious hospitals would be forced, for example, to offer abortion. Why would self-governing people want to give over rights so many have died for to an unelected, corrupt and poorly managed foreign body like the U.N.?

One would hope that individual readers would take the time to Google CEDAW and read all sides about this U.N. treaty on gender politics.  If the local newspaper presents a subject of such importance with so little substance included, one has to ask why.

Kathie Cummins, Scotts Valley