[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 10 (Friday, January 16, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF ``THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FREEDOM ACT OF 2009''

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 16, 2009

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, today I introduce ``The International 
Women's Freedom Act of 2009'' along with my friend and colleague, 
Representative Chakah Fattah. I am also pleased that Senator Boxer has 
introduced the companion measure in the Senate.
  This legislation establishes an ``Office of International Women's 
Rights'' within the State Department headed by the appointed Ambassador 
at Large, and additionally, would create a United States Commission on 
International Women's Rights.
  The International Women's Freedom Act condemns violations of women's 
rights and gender equality while advocating for the improvement of the 
status of women of the world and the achievement of their equality with 
men. It also seeks to channel U.S. security and development assistance 
to governments other than those found to be engaged in gross violations 
of the rights of women.
  I modeled this bill after another piece of legislation that created 
the United States International Commission on Religious Freedom in 
1998. The Commission on International Religious Freedom has made 
substantial progress towards expanding religious freedom in Saudi 
Arabia and Turkmenistan, among others. In addition to religious 
freedom, we require the State Department to issue reports on battling 
international bribery, sex trafficking, and narcotics control and these 
reports make a difference in people's lives. It is my hope that this 
bill will make a similarly profound difference in women's lives. I 
strongly believe that we owe it to the women of the world to shine a 
spotlight on the status of their rights in an effort to improve them.

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