[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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