[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 39 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 39

Supporting the commitments of the United States announced at the United 
 Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China, in 
                            September 1995.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 6, 1997

 Mrs. Maloney of New York (for herself, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Frost, Mr. 
Payne, Mr. Yates, Ms. Harman, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Stark, and Mr. 
    Olver) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the commitments of the United States announced at the United 
 Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China, in 
                            September 1995.

Whereas the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, convened in 
        Beijing, China, in September 1995, was attended by representatives from 
        188 countries, including the United States;
Whereas global consensus on a platform for action was achieved at the 
        conference;
Whereas the participating nations have agreed to use their resources from the 
        private and public sector to further economic and social progress for 
        all people;
Whereas First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Honorary Chair of the United States 
        delegation, addressed the Fourth World Conference on Women, re-stating 
        the commitment of the United States to the Universal Declaration of 
        Human Rights, and proclaiming that ``human rights are women's rights . . 
        . and women's rights are human rights'';
Whereas former Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright, United States Permanent 
        Representative to the United Nations and Chair of the United States 
        delegation, announced the commitments the United States Government will 
        undertake to ``make equal rights a fundamental principle of law; to 
        enforce those rights and to remove barriers to exercise these rights'';
Whereas the people and Government of the United States support the promotion and 
        protection of human rights and the status of women's rights as neither 
        separable nor different from those of men;
Whereas President Clinton has made ratification of the Convention on the 
        Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women a top priority;
Whereas the United States seeks a continuing dialogue with all governments 
        concerning human rights;
Whereas comprehensive plans for human rights action have been proposed in the 
        platform for action of the conference which acknowledge that global 
        property, peace, and democratization are closely linked with the 
        fortunes and freedoms of the world's women; and
Whereas the United States has stated its intent to undertake commitments in 
        areas of critical concern to all Americans: (1) empowering women and 
        strengthening families; (2) improving the economic security of women, 
        including access to credit and balancing work and family 
        responsibilities; (3) ensuring the human rights of all women with 
        particular emphasis on freedom from violence; and (4) enhancing the 
        health of women throughout their lifespan: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) reaffirms the universal nature of human rights and the 
        principle that women's rights are human rights;
            (2) supports the inter-agency council on women, established 
        by the Clinton Administration, which is working to implement 
        United States Government commitments made at the United Nations 
        Fourth World Conference on Women, in partnership with the 
        nongovernmental organization community, and to develop a long-
        term plan to promote the empowerment of women and advancement 
        of their status;
            (3) expresses its support for action on the Convention on 
        the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women;
            (4) considers that dedication to enacting the United States 
        commitments to promote--
                    (A) economic security, including access to credit 
                and balancing work and family responsibilities;
                    (B) the human rights of women with particular 
                emphasis on the elimination of violence against women;
                    (C) the health of women and children;
                    (D) the empowerment of women and the strengthening 
                of families; and
                    (E) women's legal status and political 
                participation;
        would benefit not only all of the citizens of the United States 
        but also citizens around the world by contributing to a freer, 
        more stable, and more equitable world based on law and respect 
        for the dignity of every human being;
            (5) encourages the United States Government to build on the 
        strong partnership of nongovernmental organizations and 
        governments that developed during the United Nations Fourth 
        World Conference on Women; and
            (6) urges governmental actions that uphold and enact the 
        tenets of the platform for action and the commitments of the 
        United States made at the conference.
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