07/04/07 06:44:38 /F57sXoP
Fourth, some claim that if CEDAW were U.S. law, it would outlaw single-sex education
and require censorship of school textbooks. In fact, nothing in CEDAW mandates
abolition of single-sex education. As one way to encourage equal access to
quality education for all children, Article 10 requires parties to take all appropriate
measures to eliminate ‘‘any stereotyped concept of the roles of men and women at
all levels and in all forms of education by encouraging [not requiring] coeducation
and other types of education which will help to achieve this aim . . .,’’ (emphasis
added) including, presumably, single-sex education that teaches principles of gender
equality. CEDAW also encourages the development of equal education material for
students of both genders. This provision is plainly designed not to disrupt educational
traditions in countries like ours, but rather, to address those many countries
in the world (like Afghanistan during Taliban rule) in which educational facilities
for girls are either nonexistent or remain separate and unequal.
URLﾘﾝｸ(frwebgate.access.gpo.gov)