[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1676 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1676

 Recognizing the 10th anniversary of the unanimous adoption of United 
Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2010

Mr. Carnahan (for himself, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, and 
Mr. Delahunt) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the 10th anniversary of the unanimous adoption of United 
Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.

Whereas October 31, 2010, marks the 10th anniversary of United Nations Security 
        Council Resolution 1325;
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 calls for ``the 
        participation of women at all levels of decision-making; the protection 
        of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence; the prevention 
        of violence against women through the promotion of women's rights, 
        accountability and law enforcement; and the mainstreaming of gender 
        perspectives in peace operations'';
Whereas the objectives of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 
        include involving women in conflict resolution, peace-building and 
        peacekeeping efforts, protecting women in emergency and humanitarian 
        situations, identifying sexual violence as a tool of war constituting a 
        crime against humanity, strengthening women's rights nationally and 
        internationally, and incorporating the specific needs of women and girls 
        into policy development and implementation;
Whereas it is the position of the supporters of United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 1325 that it is essential for women to have a voice in 
        decision making, and to be involved in conflict prevention, peace-
        making, and post conflict reconstruction as planners, implementers, and 
        beneficiaries;
Whereas the United States is a strong advocate of these principles and helped to 
        secure United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, and subsequent 
        resolutions 1820, 1888, and 1889, addressing gender-based violence and 
        women's participation in peace and reconstruction efforts as key 
        components to lasting peace and security;
Whereas President Obama's National Security Strategy states that ``experience 
        shows that countries are more peaceful and prosperous when women are 
        accorded full and equal rights and opportunity. . . . Furthermore, women 
        and girls often disproportionately bear the burden of crises and 
        conflict'';
Whereas women involved in peace-building and decision-making activities develop 
        leadership and other skills that also benefit them and contribute to 
        more prosperous, more open societies in peacetime;
Whereas the ten-year anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 
        1325 provides an opportunity to assess the implementation of the goals 
        of the Resolution over the past decade;
Whereas the United States Government has been and continues to be committed to 
        involving women in peace processes;
Whereas countries in which women are oppressed and their human rights are denied 
        also pose the greatest threats to international peace and security;
Whereas in 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reaffirmed that women 
        have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives, and 
        women's perspective and experiences are critical to stability and 
        inclusive governance;
Whereas the third United Nations Millennium Development Goal, to end poverty by 
        2015, is to promote gender equality and empower women, and all 8 
        Millennium Development Goals set universal targets for key issues in 
        which women are disproportionately affected;
Whereas the United States strategy for implementation of United Nations Security 
        Council Resolution 1325 involves working with governments of conflict 
        areas to include women in peace-building, advocate for the concerns of 
        women and families in peace and reconstruction efforts, include United 
        States women in peace negotiations, engage nontraditional allies to 
        prevent the isolation and oppression of women and girls, work with 
        security forces, humanitarian actors, and United Nations peacekeepers to 
        ensure that women and girls are protected from gender and sexually based 
        violence and other violence, and partner with governments and civil 
        society to strengthen judicial systems and ensure accountability and 
        prosecute criminals;
Whereas stabilization, peace-building, and reconciliation also include providing 
        equal access to education, health care, political office, and economic 
        and financial opportunities;
Whereas women's right are human rights and women's progress is human progress;
Whereas engaging men and boys in the effort to empower women and educating them 
        on the universal benefits of gender equality is essential and male 
        partnership has grown in the last 10 years;
Whereas in 2009, the Obama administration created the White House Council on 
        Women and Girls to promote the importance of the role of women and girls 
        globally and focus on effective gender integrated strategies to address 
        critical challenges;
Whereas in 2009, the Office of Global Women's Issues was established within the 
        United States Department of State to promote the political, economic, 
        and social empowerment of women;
Whereas in 2010, the United Nations consolidated 4 agencies focused on women's 
        issues into the new Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of 
        Women: United Nations Women, in order to improve the lives of women and 
        girls worldwide;
Whereas governmental and nongovernmental programs, grants, and initiatives to 
        empower women globally, in the spirit of United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 1325, have increased significantly in the last 10 years;
Whereas examples of successful United States Government programs focused on 
        women and girls are present in countries such as Ecuador, Burundi, 
        India, Namibia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Somalia, Thailand, Liberia, the 
        Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and many others; and
Whereas the United States Armed Forces has also incorporated programs focused on 
        female engagement to strengthen relations with Afghan and Iraqi women: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 10th anniversary of the passage of 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325;
            (2) recognizes the continued need for gender equality as a 
        key strategic tool to ensure international security and 
        prosperity, the positive contributions of women and girls 
        worldwide toward these efforts, and the importance of 
        emphasizing the image of women and girls as partners, leaders, 
        and agents of change;
            (3) recognizes the dedicated work of United States 
        officials, the United States Armed Forces, United Nations 
        agencies, and international and nongovernmental organizations 
        in advancing the goals and ideals of United Nations Security 
        Council Resolution 1325; and
            (4) reaffirms its strong commitment to advancing the goals 
        and ideals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
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