[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 27 (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1778-S1780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, history has shown us that a Nation 
dedicated to equal rights for women and girls is a more prosperous 
Nation, a healthier Nation, a more educated Nation, a more just Nation, 
a more peaceful Nation, and a more democratic Nation. Today I rise once 
again to add my voice and stand in solidarity with women and girls 
around the world in their struggle for basic human rights. I rise to 
commemorate March 8, 2002, International Women's Day.
  Until the entire world recognizes the simple fact expressed by my 
friend and colleague, Senator Clinton, that ``women's rights are human 
rights'' we must continue to raise awareness about the plight of women 
and girls around the world and in our own country. Indeed, while I have 
been encouraged by the gains made since the United Nations first 
designated March 8 as International Women's Day in 1975, there is still 
a great deal of work ahead of us and I would like to take this time to 
discuss several critical issues that I believe are vital to the lives 
of women and girls and require U.S. leadership: international family 
planning assistance, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, rape as an instrument of war, and 
the plight of women in Afghanistan.
  Each of us, I believe, understands very well the issue of United 
States assistance to international family planning organizations. There 
have been few issues in recent years that have been more debated, with 
people of good intentions on both sides of the issue. Consequently, I 
was dismayed that the Bush Administration considered withholding the 
$34 million U.S. contribution to the United Nations Population Fund, 
UNFPA, an amount allocated to it by law and, after months of 
negotiations, and with bipartisan support. I wrote to President Bush 
urging him not to withhold the funds as such a decision would be a 
serious mistake and a blow to U.S. leadership in combating 
overpopulation.
  You simply cannot deny the importance of family planning assistance, 
especially for the very poor. There are now more than 6 billion people 
on this Earth. The United Nations estimates this figure could be 12 
billion by the year 2050. Almost all of this growth will occur in the 
places least able to bear up under the pressures of massive population 
increases. The brunt will be in developing countries lacking the 
resources needed to provide basic health or education services.
  Let us strive to ensure that women have access to the educational and 
medical resources they need to control their reproductive destinies and 
their health so that they will be able to better their own lives and 
the lives of their families
  Everyone should recognize that international family planning programs 
reduce poverty, improve health, and raise living standards around the 
world; they enhance the ability of couples and individuals to determine 
the number and spacing of their children.
  We must counter the attacks made by the anti-choice wing of the 
Republican party in recent years and make it perfectly clear that no 
U.S. international family planning funds are spent on international 
abortion.
  It is worth noting that the Department of State recognized the vital 
role of the UNFPA in family planning assistance and provided $600,000 
to the Fund for sanitary supplies, clean undergarments, and emergency 
infant delivery kits for Afghan refugees in Iran, Uzbekistan, and 
Tajikistan. This is just one of many examples of UNFPA's commitment to 
bettering the lives of women and children around the world.
  Since the debate is unlikely to end, we must work harder to ensure 
that the United States reclaims its leadership role on international 
family planning and reproductive issues. On International Women's Day, 
I urge my colleagues to support full funding for the UNFPA and other 
international family planning programs.
  Another year has gone by and I am saddened and disappointed to note 
that the Senate still has not acted on the Convention to Eliminate All 
Forms of Discrimination Against Women. It has been more than twenty 
years since the United States actively participated in drafting the 
Convention and President Carter signed it on July 17, 1980. Yet, we are 
still waiting for the United States, the lone superpower and champion 
of democracy and human rights, to take a stand for the rights of women 
and girls and ratify the convention.
  Notably absent from the list of 161 countries who have ratified the 
convention, the United States joins a rather dubious club of non-
ratifiers: Iran, North Korea, and Sudan. Surely this is not the company 
we want to keep. Surely we want to be known as a leader when it comes 
to defending the human rights of women and girl who are unable to 
defend themselves.
  Do we want to be the lone democracy not to ratify? Do we want to 
watch China, the People's Republic of Laos, and Iraq, countries we 
regularly censure for human rights abuses and who have either signed or 
agreed in principle, pass us by?
  There is no reasonable justification for our failure to act. Is the 
convention a technically demanding agreement requiring years of study 
and investigation? Does it ask the United States to go far beyond our 
own goals and ideals? Nothing could be further from the truth.
  Here is what the convention says: It requires States to take all 
appropriate steps to eliminate discrimination against women in 
political and public life, law, education, employment, health care, 
commercial transactions, and domestic relations. Nothing more, nothing 
less. Simplicity is the hallmark of this agreement.
  Every day that goes by without ratification, we further risk losing 
our moral right to lead in the human rights revolution. By ratifying 
the convention, we will demonstrate our commitment to promoting 
equality and to protecting women's rights throughout the world. By 
ratifying the convention, we will send a strong message to the 
international community that the U.S. understands the problems posed by 
discrimination against women, and we will not abide by it. By ratifying 
the convention, we reestablish our credentials as a leader on human 
rights and women's rights.
  As we commemorate International Women's Day, I call on my colleagues 
in the Senate to move forward and ratify the convention on 
discrimination against women.
  Eliminating the use of rape as an instrument of war must be a high 
priority for the United States and the international community. It is 
an issue that continues to cause me great concern.
  We have seen in recent years how rape has moved from being an 
isolated by-product of war to a tool used to advance war aims. In 
Bosnia, Rwanda, and East Timor soldiers and militiamen used rape on a 
organized, systematic, and sustained basis to further their goal of 
ethnic cleansing. In some cases, women were kidnaped, interned in camps 
and houses, forced to do labor, and subjected frequent rape and sexual 
assault.
  Something had to be done and so I was pleased that the United 
Nations, in

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setting up the war crime tribunals for the Balkans and Rwanda, 
recognized rape as a war crime and a crime against humanity.
  Finally, on February 22, 2001, following a period of inaction when it 
appeared that those indicted for perpetrating these crimes would not be 
brought to justice, the international tribunal in The Hague sentenced 
three Bosnian Serbs to prison for rape during the Bosnian war. I was 
very pleased the court took this step but we still have a long ways to 
go. Estimates are that up to 20,000 women in Yugoslavia were 
systematically raped as part of a policy of ethnic cleansing and 
genocide. Many perpetrators still remain at large.
  Nevertheless, the court has stated loud and clear that those who use 
rape as an instrument of war will no longer be able to escape justice. 
They will be arrested, tried, and convicted. As Judge Florence Mumba of 
Zambia stated, ``Lawless opportunists should expect no mercy, no matter 
how low their position in the chain of command may be.''
  I commend the victims who courageously came forward to confront their 
attackers and offer testimony that helped lead to the convictions. I am 
hopeful more will come forward. On International Women's Day, I urge 
the administration and the international community to join me in 
continuing the fight to end the practice of rape as an instrument of 
war, and to pursue justice for its victims.
  For years when I addressed the condition of women and girls in 
Afghanistan, I did so with a sense of sadness, anger, and despair. I 
now do so with a sense of optimism, hope, and determination.
  One of the great stories of our campaign against terrorism is the 
liberation of the women and girls of Afghanistan from the chains 
imposed on them by the Taliban regime. We all know the story of how 
women and girls were treated: banned from work and school, confined to 
their homes behind darkened windows, and required to wear full-length 
veils, or burka, and to be accompanied by a male relative when in 
public.
  Now, the women of Afghanistan, who have suffered under brutal regimes 
and seen their families destroyed by war, are beginning to leave their 
homes without fear, earn a living, receive desperately needed medical 
attention, get an education, and participate in public life. I am 
especially pleased that Afghanistan's interim leader, Hamid Karzai, 
picked two women to serve in his Cabinet. It is a welcome change from 
the past and a step toward equal rights for all Afghans.
  Clearly, there is much work to be done to improve the lives of women 
and girls in Afghanistan and the United States must be actively 
involved in that endeavor. I was proud to co-sponsor S. 1573, the 
``Afghan Women and Children Relief Act of 2001,'' which authorized the 
President to provide educational and health care assistance for the 
women and children living in Afghanistan and as refugees in neighboring 
countries. President Bush signed the bill into law on December 12, 
2001. This is the first step of a long journey and I urge my colleagues 
to stay the course and support additional assistance in the coming 
years ahead.
  On International Women's Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to a 
better future for the women and girls of Afghanistan. We must let them 
know that they are no longer alone, that we will stand by their side, 
and we will not abandon them again.
  We must debate and ratify the convention on the Elimination of All 
Forms of Discrimination Against Women. We must rededicate ourselves and 
our resources to international family planning programs. We must not 
ignore the use of rape as an instrument of war. We must help the women 
and girls of Afghanistan realize their hopes and dreams.
  We cannot afford to remain silent. We cannot afford to place women's 
rights on a second tier of concern of U.S. foreign policy. On 
International Women's Day, the United States and the international 
community must take a strong stand and issue a clear warning to those 
who attempt to rob women of basic rights that the world's governments 
will no longer ignore these abuses, or allow them to continue without 
repercussion.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, as we celebrate National Women's History 
month, I rise to pay tribute to the extraordinary women, past and 
present, who have shaped the rich history of our great Nation.
  The month of March has been designated as National Women's History 
month to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of women throughout 
history. My distinguished colleagues, Senator Barbara Mikulski and 
Senator Orrin Hatch, cosponsored legislation over 20 years ago 
declaring National Women's History Week. I salute my colleagues for 
their leadership in establishing this now month-long celebration of the 
many contributions made by women.
  This year's national theme, ``Women Sustaining the American Spirit,'' 
could not be more appropriate. Our Nation prides itself on the 
accomplishments of women and their ability to fully participate in our 
society. I have the distinct privilege of working with 13 women 
Senators who are powerful examples of the progress that our Nation has 
made. This spirit of democracy was tested on September 11, when we were 
reminded that our ideals continue to threaten those who fear the 
inevitability of progress.
  As a consequence of these events, Americans were exposed to the 
disturbing plight of women in other parts of the world. We learned that 
under the oppressive Taliban regime, women could not work outside the 
home and were denied basic rights such as access to education and 
health care. Not only were women precluded from contributing to 
society, but they were denied equal protection under the law.
  The attacks faced by our country were aimed at undermining the great 
strides we have made in our history. Yet the rest of the world watched 
as our Nation united and demonstrated that even a devastating attack 
could not crush our spirit--an American spirit that has been molded by 
the accomplishments of women throughout our history, including the 
legacy left by a well-known Illinois woman.
  Jane Addams of Chicago, IL, was a socially conscious community leader 
who worked tirelessly to sustain the American spirit. Addams founded 
the famous Hull House settlement in Chicago in 1889, where she and 
other residents provided services for the surrounding neighborhood. 
These vital services included kindergarten and daycare facilities for 
children of working mothers, an employment bureau, medical care, legal 
aid, and vocational skills. After a few short years, the settlement was 
serving over 2,000 people a week.
  Despite the enormous success of her charitable efforts, Addams 
realized that real gains could not be achieved without working to 
change laws for the better. To achieve this goal, Addams lobbied the 
State of Illinois to examine laws governing child labor, the factory 
inspection system, and the juvenile justice system.
  As we celebrate the contributions that women have made, the legacy of 
Jane Addams reminds us of the continuing need for improvement in the 
areas of social reform that she worked so tirelessly on several years 
ago. Today, parents rely on childcare arrangements more than ever. The 
Children's Defense Fund reports that an estimated 13 million children 
under the age of 6 spend part of their day in the care of someone other 
than their parents. In Illinois, 61 percent of all children under the 
age of 6 have working parents. Yet working families at all income 
levels still struggle to find the high-quality care their children need 
at a cost that is affordable. Full day care can cost between $4,000 and 
$10,000 per year, frequently surpassing average tuition costs for 
public universities. At the same time, the Children's Defense Fund 
reports that more than one out of four families with young children 
earns less than $25,000 per year.
  Today, parents also encounter a childcare system that is an uneven 
and inadequate patchwork of services. States and cities vary widely in 
the areas of provider education and training requirements, 
availability, and quality of programs. The gap between what we know is 
so important for children and what we put into practice is too large. 
As a nation, we have an interest in healthy, successful children who 
have the tools they need to learn in the classroom. We have an interest 
in improving child care so that more

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families can move off welfare into a steady career. We have an interest 
in educating and training women so that they can get jobs with decent 
pay to support their families. As a nation, we should embrace the 
legacy that Jane Addams has left behind by working on these issues 
which are in desperate need of reform.
  In this month of March, let us not only celebrate the accomplishments 
of the women who have shaped our Nation's rich history, but let us work 
to keep their vision alive by continuing to sustain the American spirit 
that these women helped define.

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