[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 42 (Monday, March 28, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1899-S1900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 109--HONORING AND SUPPORTING WOMEN IN NORTH AFRICA
AND THE MIDDLE EAST WHOSE BRAVERY, COMPASSION, AND COMMITMENT TO
PUTTING THE WELLBEING OF OTHERS BEFORE THEIR OWN HAVE PROVEN THAT
COURAGE CAN BE CONTAGIOUS
Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs.
Hagan, Mrs. Hutchison, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms.
Collins, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Ayotte, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Murkowski, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mrs. McCaskill, and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 109
Whereas, in the course of peaceful protests in countries
throughout North Africa and the Middle East, women have stood
shoulder-to-shoulder with men to advance their rights;
Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said,
``The rights of women and girls is the unfinished business of
the 21st Century.'';
Whereas, in late December 2010 and January 2011, Tunisia
underwent a political upheaval, dubbed the ``Jasmine
Revolution,'' resulting in the fleeing of President of
Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from the country on January
14, 2011;
Whereas one of the first voices of the ``Jasmine
Revolution'' was the sister of Mohammad Bouazizi, the young
man whose death led to many of the peaceful protests in
Tunisia;
Whereas, on January 25, 2011, demonstrations began across
Egypt with thousands of protesters peacefully calling for a
new government, free and fair elections, significant
constitutional and political reforms, greater economic
opportunity, and an end to government corruption;
Whereas women in Egypt have utilized social media to
galvanize support among men and women for peaceful protest;
Whereas huge crowds came out to protest peacefully in
Egypt, and women were among those that faced tear gas and who
pitched their tents and slept in the cold in Tahrir Square;
Whereas hundreds of women took part in a rally in Cairo on
March 8, 2011, the 100th Anniversary of International Women's
Day, to remind women in Egypt that they must have a voice in
their nation's future;
Whereas, on February 25, 2011, the United Nations Security
Council and the international community condemned the
violence and use of force against civilians in Libya;
Whereas, according to press reports, women in Libya have
been working behind the scenes making a profound difference
to promote reform and keep the momentum of the uprising
alive, listening to worried fathers whose sons are fighting
on the frontlines, keeping up with the day-to-day clashes and
casualty numbers, and holding meetings about health and
education issues, as well as participating in the
demonstrations themselves;
Whereas, according to press reports, women are among the
leaders of demonstrations calling for reform in Yemen;
Whereas women's groups in countries such as Morocco,
Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran have attempted to harness critical
support regarding legislation affecting their rights;
Whereas women around the world continue to face significant
obstacles in all aspects of their lives, including denial of
basic human rights, discrimination, and gender-based
violence;
Whereas women, young and old, have marched in the streets
of countries from Tunisia to Iran demanding freedom from
oppression; and
Whereas women across North Africa and the Middle East
aspire for freedom, democracy, and rule of law: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) honors the women in North Africa and the Middle East
who have worked to ensure that women are guaranteed equality
and basic human rights;
(2) recognizes that the empowerment of women is
inextricably linked to the potential of nations to generate
economic growth and sustainable democracy;
(3) acknowledges that women in North Africa and the Middle
East are demanding to be included in making choices that will
affect their own lives and their families;
(4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the
universal rights of freedom of assembly, freedom of speech,
and freedom of association, including via the Internet, and
supports the calls for representative and responsive
democratic governments that respect these rights;
(5) celebrates this year's centennial anniversary of
International Women's Day, a global day to celebrate the
economic, political, and social achievements of women past,
present, and future, and a day to recognize the obstacles
that women still face in the struggle for equal rights and
opportunities;
(6) condemns any efforts to provoke or instigate violence
against women, and calls upon all parties to refrain from all
violent and criminal acts; and
(7) underscores the vital importance of women's rights and
political participation as leaders in North Africa and the
Middle East consider constitutional reforms and shape new
governments.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution calling
for women's rights in North Africa and the Middle East. Following weeks
of tumult and protests in this area of the world, I could not be more
honored to lead my 16 female colleagues in the United States Senate in
emphasizing the importance of women's rights and political
participation. As one unified voice, the 17 of us have introduced a
resolution calling for a renewed focus on women's rights as leaders in
North Africa and the Middle East consider constitutional reforms and
shape new governments. The resolution we introduced reaffirms our
commitment to representative and responsive democratic governments that
respect women's rights and calls on leaders to include women when it
comes to making decisions that will affect their lives.
In the course of peaceful protests in countries throughout North
Africa and
[[Page S1900]]
the Middle East, women have stood shoulder to shoulder with men to
advance their rights. Indeed, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton has said that, ``the rights of women and girls is the
unfinished business of the 21st century,'' and I couldn't agree more.
Earlier this year, demonstrations spread from Tunisia to Egypt, with
thousands of protesters peacefully calling for new governments, free
and fair elections, significant constitutional and political reforms,
greater economic opportunity, and an end to government corruption.
Women played a vital role in these movements, utilizing social media to
galvanize support for peaceful protest--facing tear gas and sleeping in
tents in Tahrir Square. In fact, hundreds of women took part in a rally
in Cairo on March 8th, the 100th anniversary of International Women's
Day, to remind women in Egypt that they must have a voice in their
nation's future. And today, as the people of Libya seek to overturn the
brutal regime of Moammar Qadhafi, women have been working behind the
scenes making a profound difference to promote reform and keep the
momentum of the uprising alive.
However, while women have sacrificed and peacefully protested side by
side with men in nations throughout North Africa and the Middle East,
there are signs that women are increasingly being sidelined from the
formation of new governments. In Tunisia, according to press reports,
only two women have been appointed to the transitional government and
in Egypt, not a single woman has been appointed to the council in
charge of revamping the constitution.
The simple truth is women around the world continue to face
significant obstacles in all aspects of their lives, including denial
of basic human rights, discrimination, and gender-based violence. Be it
Tunisia and Egypt--or Morocco, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iran--women have
attempted to harness critical support regarding matters affecting their
rights, which is precisely why my colleagues and I introduced this
resolution.
We stand together to honor the women in North Africa and the Middle
East who have worked to ensure guaranteed equality and basic human
rights, recognizing that the empowerment of women is inextricably
linked to the potential of nations to generate economic growth and
sustainable democracy. Part and parcel to the success and stability of
any government is the equal voice and participation of women. The
spirit and devotion exemplified by women in North Africa and the Middle
East--and the ongoing challenges they continue to face--are both an
inspiration to us all and a reminder that discrimination and gender-
based violence endures around the world. The resolution I am
introducing with my colleagues is meant to honor their commitment to
ensuring future generations enjoy the guaranteed equality and basic
human rights for which they endeavor to this day.
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