[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 114 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 114

  Calling on civic groups, women's groups, and others throughout the 
world to hold workshops, forums, and other events to speak up for world 
    peace and reaffirm women's essential role in the peace-building 
                                process.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2003

 Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas submitted the following concurrent 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Calling on civic groups, women's groups, and others throughout the 
world to hold workshops, forums, and other events to speak up for world 
    peace and reaffirm women's essential role in the peace-building 
                                process.

Whereas the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have focused the world's 
        attention on the scourge of terrorism and the need to challenge the 
        belief that violence is an acceptable tool in resolving differences and 
        conflicts;
Whereas the presence of the United Nations peacekeeping missions throughout the 
        world is a strong indication of the need for increased dialogue in order 
        to bring lasting peace to war-torn and strife-ridden areas of the world;
Whereas the Beijing Declaration of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on 
        Women stated that the full participation of women in all spheres of 
        society, including participation in decision making processes, is 
        fundamental for the achievement of equality, development, and peace;
Whereas women are generally non-combatants in war but are severely affected by 
        conditions accompanying war, through displacement as refugees and the 
        deprivation of human and civil rights;
Whereas women at the grassroots level have been deeply involved in establishing 
        and maintaining stability within their communities through cooperative 
        efforts that often reach across boundaries of race, class, and economic 
        circumstances;
Whereas the individual and collective works of women in peace-building and 
        community-building activities help to undo the legacies of hatred and 
        suspicion and therefore break the cycle of violence;
Whereas in the last 50 years, the political and social influence of women in the 
        United States and throughout the world has increased and the voices of 
        women are emerging in policy disciplines from which they have 
        traditionally been excluded, including national security, foreign 
        policy, and international economics;
Whereas the rights and interests of women are rarely given attention during 
        formal peace negotiations, and the failure to address these issues 
        ensures that the status quo will continue;
Whereas in peace building and reconstruction efforts, the contributions of women 
        to the economy and the potential of women as agents of economic and 
        social change must be given appropriate consideration;
Whereas in order to create a culture of peace, there must be developed peace 
        education and conflict resolution programs for preventing the onset and 
        reducing the risk of violence in society; and
Whereas the Month of May, when initial Mother's Day celebrations were designed 
        not only as a commemoration of one's own mother, but also to lift up a 
        more universal principal of honoring the sanctity of human life through 
        the preservation of peace, is an appropriate time to focus on the role 
        of women in achieving world peace: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) calls on civic groups, women's groups, clergy, and 
        legislators throughout the world to hold workshops, forums, and 
        other events to speak up for world peace;
            (2) encourages the on-going efforts of grassroots 
        organizations engaged in peace-building in their communities 
        which reach across race, class, and economic circumstances; and
            (3) urges the inclusion of more women in peace 
        negotiations, peace building, and reconstruction efforts.
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