[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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