[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 25 (Friday, March 8, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1710-S1711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

  Mr. DASCHLE. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 223, submitted earlier today by 
Senators Biden, Boxer, Dodd, and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 223), designating March 8, 2002, as 
     ``International Women's Day''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, today I introduced a Senate resolution 
designating March 8 as International Women's Day. A similar resolution 
will be introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative 
Schakowsky with the support of the Women's Caucus. International 
Women's Day was first observed in 1909, and since then it has provided 
an opportunity for us to take a moment to remember, celebrate and honor 
the remarkable steps women have made in their fight for equality all 
over the globe. This year, Afghan women are the symbol of International 
Women's Day. Afghan women are triumphant examples of women empowered 
and able to transform their lives.
  We have much to admire in the courage and endurance of Aghan women. 
Afghan women withstood for more than 5 years systemic oppression by the 
Taliban. For more than 5 years, women in Afghanistan--solely because 
they were women--were silenced, forbidden to enter public life, 
forbidden to be seen unaccompanied on city streets, forbidden to teach 
or attend schools, forbidden to seek health care and forbidden to work. 
If women disobeyed, they were beaten. The threat of violence kept women 
quiet and compliant.
  Since the downfall of the Taliban, the veil has lifted for women in 
Afghanistan. Today we see news clips of women walking the streets of 
Kabul without burkas and girls learning to read in a city school. Women 
are resuming their jobs as teachers, government workers and doctors. 
The Health Minister in the new interim government is a Tajik woman 
surgeon from Kabul. There is a new Ministry of Women's Affairs led by 
Dr. Sima Samar who is steadily pushing and pulling to restore women's 
rights. These are enormous strides to regain women's rights in 
Afghanistan and a testament to the strength of Afghan women.
  The collaboration, persistence and support of international women's 
groups to expose the Taliban's oppression should also be recognized. 
While the plight of Afghan women surfaced on the cover of American 
magazines only this year, many women's groups have been working on the 
situation for years--writing letters, pressing for action, and 
supporting refugees. Indeed, in December, an incredible array of 
international women's groups gathered in Brussels from all over the 
world to discuss and strategize ways to change Afghanistan. The 
international women's community understands that this is a long and 
complicated process for change, and they remain strongly beside Afghan 
women. International Women's Day gives us an opportunity to acknowledge 
their tireless efforts and achievements.
  As we have seen in Afghanistan, an essential component to achieving 
gender equality is ending violence against women--an issue about which 
I care deeply. Women cannot fully participate in a society when they 
live in fear of violence. Supporting International Women's Day means 
supporting an end to violence against women.
  Without a doubt, we must start in our living rooms. Unfortunately, 
there is still much to be done in the United States. But steadily we 
are making significant improvements. According to United States Justice 
Department data, the overall rate of intimate partner violence against 
all females decreased a dramatic 41 percent between 1993 and 1999. I am 
proud to say that some of the improvements come directly from my bill, 
the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and its reauthorization in 
2000. We have transformed a ``private'' family matter into a serious, 
public crime.
  Now we are setting our sights on cultural changes and creating a 
society that has zero tolerance for violence against women. Men who hit 
or assault women must become the pariahs of our society. We need to 
teach our young men and boys that violence against girls is completely 
and utterly unacceptable. And then spread the word around the globe.
  International Women's Day reminds us that as we are fighting to end 
violence against women in America, we need to extend our reach, and 
fight violence against all women. The range of gender-related violence 
is staggering. It occurs in every segment of society, without regard 
for class, color, ethnicity, or country. The violence includes honor 
killings, sexual trafficking in women, dowry-related violence, female 
infanticide, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Studies indicate 
that 1 out of every 3 women in the world has been battered by an 
intimate partner. Data on rape indicates that as many as 1 in 5 women 
worldwide are victims of rape, with young women as the most frequent 
targets. Women everywhere cannot fully participate in society until the 
violence ends.
  We will get there. Despite the threat of violence, women have made 
incredible strides. Worldwide, there is a closing gender gap in primary 
and secondary school education. In 1998, 8 percent of the world's 
cabinet ministers were women, compared to 4 percent in 1994. All over 
the world women are actively engaged in the economy as workers, 
producers, traders, managers, and owners. On International Women's Day 
let us imagine what women can accomplish when they no longer fear 
violence.
  Mr. President, I sincerely hope that all of my colleagues join me to 
support this resolution to designate March 8 as International Women's 
Day, to celebrate the enormous progress of women and to reaffirm our 
commitment to end violence and discrimination against women.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I rise to commemorate 
International Women's Day. For nearly a century, women's groups 
worldwide have paused on this day to celebrate the achievements and 
contributions of women around the globe. It is a special occasion to 
remember the progress women have made and to reflect upon the 
injustices and hardships women still face in the struggle for total 
equality.
  International Women's Day is recognized in many countries around the

[[Page S1711]]

world, and in some cases, is celebrated as a national holiday. This 
past week, the Senate has marked this holiday with a Senate resolution 
urging the President to designate March 8 as International Women's Day 
in the United States. Also, in honor of this day, there have been 
series of briefings and discussions about violence and discrimination 
against women for Members of Congress and their staff. I hope my 
colleagues have had an opportunity to participate in these discussions 
and view the exhibits.
  Women have made tremendous strides in the last century. In the United 
States, more and more women are attending college and earning post-
graduate degrees. Consequently, more women are entering the workforce, 
and starting their own companies. Women all over the world are 
increasingly becoming more active in the political process, having 
earned the right to vote, being elected to office, and appointed to 
positions of power. In the year 2000, 11 countries were lead by women.
  In our own country, while much progress has been made in the struggle 
for equality, there are many cases where women are still at a 
disadvantage. Women continue to earn less than men. Equal pay for equal 
work is the law of the land, but that promise remains unfulfilled for 
many. Although some progress has been made in narrowing the gender 
wage-gap since Congress enacted the Equal Pay Act in 1963, unfair wage 
disparities continue to be a problem. Wage discrimination is costing 
families thousands of dollars each year. I am proud to support 
legislative efforts to correct his discrepancy.
  We cannot forget women and children when the Senate considers 
reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families later this 
year. Too often, women and children fall through the cracks of the 
system. While many women are going to work, many have to sacrifice time 
spent with their children in order to afford child care, education, and 
health care for their kids.
  Unfortunately, violence against women is still all too prevalent in 
our country. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury among 
women of child-bearing age. One out of every six American women have 
been victims of a rape or an attempted rape. Many rapes go unreported, 
and more than half of the women attacked knew their assailant. Only 
recently have states begun to recognize crimes such as stalking or 
marital rape.
  Today, we must also consider the challenges facing women abroad. 
Women in the developing world are more likely to live in poverty, 
suffer from malnutrition and lack access to education. Despite the 
expansion of women's health care research and practices in the last two 
decades, women still have unequal access to these services.
  The HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa is particularly alarming. As chairman 
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on African 
Affairs, I have had the opportunity to travel to numerous countries in 
Africa and see firsthand the devastating toll that HIV/AIDS and other 
infectious diseases are taking on the people of this continent. 
According to United Nations reports, over 25 million adults and 
children in Africa are infected with the HIV virus, the majority of 
them in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in 
which women are infected with the virus at a higher rate than men. 
UNAIDS, the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, reports that women make 
up an estimated 55 percent of the HIV-positive adult population in this 
region, as compared to 47 percent worldwide. Young women are especially 
at risk. The United Nations reports that in the region girls age 15-19 
are infected with HIV at a rate of 15 percent to 23 percent, whereas 
infection rates among boys of the same age group are 3 percent to 4 
percent.
  Women in other countries suffer tragic human rights abuses as well. 
They are victims of domestic violence and illegal trafficking of 
persons for slavery and prostitution. In some countries, women fall 
victim to ``honor killings,'' a deplorable practice whereby women are 
murdered by male relatives for actions that are perceived to bring 
dishonor to the family.
  Rape and sexual assault have often been used as weapons of war. The 
international tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda are 
setting legal precedents in convicting men for rape, torture, and 
enslavement of women during times of war or regional conflict. These 
convictions set an international legal precedent for rape to be 
considered a crime against humanity.
  In the last few months, the whole world has come to understand the 
treatment and status of Afghan women under the reign of the Taliban. 
Now, as the Afghan people begin to rebuild and reconstruct their 
country, it is imperative that women play an integral role in that 
effort. International aid should be given to help women regain their 
rights to an education, access to quality health care, and involvement 
in the political process. Women should be included in all levels of 
government for the future of Afghanistan. Restoring human rights, and, 
in particular, women's human rights, is key to Afghanistan's successful 
reconstruction and the transition to democracy.
  The protection of women's rights is vital to the success of promoting 
fundamental human rights. The United States Senate can work towards 
protecting women's rights and improve the status of women domestically 
and internationally by acting upon the United Nations Convention on the 
Elimination of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW. CEDAW is the 
most comprehensive treaty on women's human rights addressing almost all 
forms of discrimination in areas such as education, employment, 
marriage and family, health care, politics and law. It has been over 
two decades since the United States signed this treaty, and it still 
awaits consideration before the United States Senate. Once again, I 
urge the Committee on Foreign Relations to take up this treaty and 
finally allow the Senate the opportunity to offer its advice and 
consent on this important convention.
  In conclusion, today, as we honor women everywhere and celebrate 
their accomplishments and contributions to history, we must recognize 
that there is still more to be done in the struggle for gender equity. 
Discrimination and violence against women still exist here at home and 
abroad. The United States and the rest of the international community 
must reaffirm their commitment to promote gender equality and human 
rights around the world.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble 
be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
and any statements be printed in the Record, with no intervening action 
or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 223) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution is printed in today's Record under ``Statements on 
Submitted Resolutions.'')

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