The Senate may consider providing its advice and consent to U.S. ratification of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, or the Convention) during the 111th Congress. CEDAW is the only international human rights treaty that specifically addresses the rights of women. It calls on States Parties to take measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all areas of life, including political participation, employment, education, healthcare, and family structure. CEDAW has been ratified or acceded to by 186 States Parties.

The bilateral relationship between the U.S. and the People's Republic of China (PRC) is vitally important, touching on a wide range of areas including, among others, economic policy, security, foreign relations, and human rights. U.S. and PRC interests are bound together much more closely now than even a few years ago. These extensive inter-linkages have made it increasingly difficult for either government to take unilateral actions without inviting far-reaching, unintended consequences. The George W.

Cuba, which remains a hard-line communist state with a poor record on human rights,
commemorated the 50th anniversary of its revolution on January 1, 2009. Cuba?s political
succession from the long-ruling Fidel Castro to his brother Ral in 2006 was characterized by a
remarkable degree of stability. Fidel stepped down from power temporarily in July 2006 because
of health reasons, and Ral assumed provisional control of the government until February 2008,
when he officially became President.