[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 30 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2001

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to introduce a 
resolution recognizing and supporting the goals of International 
Women's Day. Women in the United States organized the first Women's Day 
in 1908 and helped inspire the international movement. International 
Women's Day celebrated on March 8th, began as a movement for voting 
rights and labor rights. Over the years, it has grown, and today, it is 
seen as a day for asserting women's political, economic, and social 
rights, for reviewing the progress that women have made, as a day for 
celebration, and as a day for demonstration.
  In the early 1900's, the solidarity of women working on suffrage and 
improved labor conditions led to the formation of the first women's 
labor union, the Women's Trade Union League. Almost a century later, we 
have much to celebrate, yet we also have much work left to do to 
advance the status of women worldwide.
  Women all over the world are contributing to the growth of economies, 
participating in the world of diplomacy and politics, and improving the 
quality of lives of their families, communities, and nations. And we 
should honor the women who have led us this far. Women like, Jane 
Addams, Coretta Scott King, Gloria Anzaldua, Maya Lin, Aung San Suu Kyi 
from Burma (now Mynamar), the Mirabel sisters from the Dominican 
Republic, Shabana Azml from India, Rigoberta Menchu from Guatemala, 
Eleanor Roosevelt, Oprah Winfrey, Eve Ensler, Dorothy Cotton, Wangari 
Maathai from Kenya, and Fatou Sow from Senegal. Women around the globe, 
from the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, South Asia, and 
Europe have all contributed enormously to the struggle for gender 
equality and the advancement of women.
  We must continue the struggle. While the right to vote has been won 
here in the United States, there still remain women in many countries 
fighting for their voices to be heard and for representation in their 
political process. Furthermore, women still earn less, own less 
property, and have less access to education, employment, and health 
care than men.
  The statistics of violence against women are appalling. Globally, one 
out of every three women and girls has been beaten or sexually abused 
in her lifetime. Each year, there are 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 women and 
children illegally trafficked across international borders, with 50,000 
women and children transported to the United States. It is estimated 
that 130,000,000 girls and young women have been subjected to female 
genital mutilation, with at least 10,000 girls at risk of this practice 
in the United States. These statistics are unacceptable. We are in the 
midst of a global crisis and we can not afford to continue passing on 
this crisis of violence to our sons and daughters.
  It is promising that for the first time, the international community 
has declared that sexual crimes against women during times of war will 
no longer be considered natural occurrences of war but will be 
punishable as a crime against humanity. Crimes against humanity are 
less in severity to only those of genocide.
  I applaud and honor the work of women all over the world who live and 
fight the struggle every day. I also urge Congress to pass my 
resolution which will reaffirm the United States government's 
commitment to pursue policies to end discrimination and violence 
against women and pursue policies that guarantee basic rights for women 
both in the United States and in countries around the world.

                          ____________________