[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 34 (Monday, March 11, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S1598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 74--SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Begich, Mr. 
Cardin, Mr. Casey, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. 
Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
Schatz, and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 74

       Whereas there are more than 3,300,000,000 women in the 
     world today;
       Whereas women around the world participate in the 
     political, social, and economic life of their communities, 
     play a critical role in providing and caring for their 
     families, contribute substantially to the growth of 
     economies, and, as both farmers and caregivers, play an 
     important role in advancing food security for their 
     communities;
       Whereas the advancement of women around the world is a 
     foreign policy priority for the United States;
       Whereas, on January 30, 2013, President Barack Obama signed 
     a presidential memorandum recognizing the need for 
     ``dedicated professionals with . . . expertise and stature'' 
     to sustain advances in the status of women and girls 
     worldwide and directing the Secretary of State to ensure that 
     an Ambassador-at-Large continues to lead the Office of Global 
     Women's Issues;
       Whereas, on December 19, 2011, the Obama Administration 
     launched the first-ever United States National Action Plan on 
     Women, Peace, and Security that included a comprehensive set 
     of national commitments to advance the active participation 
     of women in decision making relating to matters of war and 
     peace;
       Whereas President Obama said, ``[o]ur common prosperity 
     will be advanced by allowing all humanity--men and women--to 
     reach their full potential'';
       Whereas, on August 10, 2012, President Obama announced the 
     first interagency Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-
     based Violence Globally;
       Whereas the ability of women to realize their full 
     potential is critical to the ability of a country to achieve 
     strong and lasting economic growth and political and social 
     stability;
       Whereas, according to the International Monetary Fund, 
     ``focusing on the needs and empowerment of women is one of 
     the keys to human development'';
       Whereas, according to the 2012 World Economic Forum Global 
     Gender Gap Report, ``reducing gender inequality enhances 
     productivity and economic growth'';
       Whereas, according to the World Bank 2012 World Development 
     Report: Gender Equality and Development, ``greater gender 
     equality is also smart economics, enhancing productivity and 
     improving other development outcomes, including prospects for 
     the next generation and for the quality of societal policies 
     and institutions'';
       Whereas, although strides have been made in recent decades, 
     women around the world continue to face significant obstacles 
     in all aspects of their lives, including underrepresentation 
     in all aspects of public life, denial of basic human rights, 
     and discrimination;
       Whereas, despite some achievements by individual women 
     leaders, women around the world are still vastly 
     underrepresented in high level positions and in national and 
     local legislatures and governments and, according to the 
     Inter-Parliamentary Union, women account for only 20.3 
     percent of national parliamentarians;
       Whereas women remain underrepresented in conflict 
     prevention and conflict resolution efforts, despite proven 
     successes by women in conflict-affected regions in moderating 
     violent extremism, resolving disputes through non-violent 
     mediation and negotiation, and stabilizing their societies by 
     improving access to peace and security services, 
     institutions, and decision-making venues;
       Whereas, according to the United Nations, 1 in 3 women 
     around the world has experienced some form of gender-based 
     violence and 1 in 4 women has been abused during pregnancy;
       Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, as 
     many as 1 in 5 women report being sexually abused before the 
     age of 15;
       Whereas, according to UNESCO, women account for 64 percent 
     of the 796,000,000 adults worldwide who lack basic literacy 
     skills;
       Whereas, according to the United Nations Population Fund, 1 
     in 9 girls in developing countries (excluding the People's 
     Republic of China) will be married before the age of 15;
       Whereas, according to Save the Children, pregnancy-related 
     complications are a leading cause of death among girls 
     between the ages of 15 and 19 in developing countries;
       Whereas, according to the Food and Agriculture 
     Organization, the majority of women living in rural areas of 
     the developing world are heavily engaged in agricultural 
     labor, yet they receive less credit, land, agricultural 
     inputs, and training than their male counterparts;
       Whereas it is imperative to alleviate violence and 
     discrimination against women and afford them every 
     opportunity to be full and productive members of their 
     communities; and
       Whereas March 8 is recognized each year as 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: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals of International Women's Day;
       (2) recognizes that the empowerment of women is 
     inextricably linked to the potential of countries to generate 
     economic growth, sustainable democracy, and inclusive 
     security;
       (3) recognizes and honors the women in the United States 
     and around the world who have worked throughout history to 
     ensure that women are guaranteed equality and basic human 
     rights;
       (4) reaffirms its commitment to ending discrimination and 
     violence against women and girls, to ensuring the safety and 
     welfare of women and girls, and to pursuing policies that 
     guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls 
     worldwide; and
       (5) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     International Women's Day with appropriate programs and 
     activities.

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