Whereas, in the course of peaceful protests in countries
throughout North Africa and the Middle East, women have stood
shoulder-to-shoulder with men to advance their rights;
Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has
said, “The rights of women and girls is the unfinished business of the 21st
Century.”;
Whereas, in late December 2010 and January 2011, Tunisia
underwent a political upheaval, dubbed the Jasmine Revolution,
resulting in the fleeing of President of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from
the country on January 14, 2011;
Whereas one of the first voices of the Jasmine
Revolution
was the sister of Mohammad Bouazizi, the young man whose
death led to many of the peaceful protests in Tunisia;
Whereas, on January 25, 2011, demonstrations began across
Egypt with thousands of protesters peacefully calling for a new government,
free and fair elections, significant constitutional and political reforms,
greater economic opportunity, and an end to government corruption;
Whereas women in Egypt have utilized social media to
galvanize support among men and women for peaceful protest;
Whereas huge crowds came out to protest peacefully in
Egypt, and women were among those that faced tear gas and who pitched their
tents and slept in the cold in Tahrir Square;
Whereas hundreds of women took part in a rally in Cairo on
March 8, 2011, the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day, to remind
women in Egypt that they must have a voice in their nation’s future;
Whereas, on February 25, 2011, the international community
condemned the violence and use of force against civilians in Libya;
Whereas, according to press reports, women in Libya have
been working behind the scenes making a profound difference to promote reform
and keep the momentum of the uprising alive, listening to worried fathers whose
sons are fighting on the frontlines, keeping up with the day-to-day clashes and
casualty numbers, and holding meetings about health and education issues, as
well as participating in the demonstrations themselves;
Whereas, according to press reports, women are among the
leaders of demonstrations calling for reform in Yemen;
Whereas women’s groups in countries such as Morocco,
Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran have attempted to harness critical support regarding
legislation affecting their rights;
Whereas women around the world continue to face
significant obstacles in all aspects of their lives, including denial of basic
human rights, discrimination, and gender-based violence;
Whereas women, young and old, have marched in the streets
of countries from Tunisia to Iran demanding freedom from oppression; and
Whereas women across North Africa and the Middle East
aspire for freedom, democracy, and rule of law: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)honors the women
in North Africa and the Middle East who have worked to ensure that women are
guaranteed equality and basic human rights;
(2)recognizes that
the empowerment of women is inextricably linked to the potential of nations to
generate economic growth and sustainable democracy;
(3)acknowledges that
women in North Africa and the Middle East are demanding to be included in
making choices that will affect their own lives and their families;
(4)reaffirms the
commitment of the United States to the universal rights of freedom of assembly,
freedom of speech, and freedom of association, including via the
Internet;
(5)celebrates this
year’s centennial anniversary of International Women’s Day, a global day to
celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women past,
present, and future, and a day to recognize the obstacles that women still face
in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities;
(6)condemns any
efforts to provoke or instigate violence against women, and calls upon all
parties to refrain from all violent and criminal acts; and
(7)underscores the
vital importance of women’s rights and political participation as leaders in
North Africa and the Middle East consider constitutional reforms and shape new
governments.