The Diffusion of CEDAW in the Municipal Context - A Case Study of the Cities for CEDAW Campaign

The Convention to End all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has been instrumental in diffusion gender equity norms across the globe. While the process of international norm diffusion to national entities is fairly well theorized, we know little about how international norms are diffused to the municipal level. This Paper will study the Cities for CEDAW Campaign in the United States that aims to encourage US cities to adopt ordinances reflecting the CEDAW principles of gender equality and non-discrimination. Utilizing in-depth interviews with Cities for CEDAW campaign leaders in major US cities and a content analysis of Cities for CEDAW campaign materials, this Paper has two aims: first, to map out the network of municipal women’s equality groups and second, to identify the network links of the municipal groups to the international network of women’s organizations. By doing so, this Paper will shed greater light on what role municipal and international women’s networks play in the diffusion of the international norms on the local level.