[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 26889-26892]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    DENOUNCING THE PRACTICES OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION, DOMESTIC 
  VIOLENCE, ``HONOR'' KILLINGS, ACID BURNING, DOWRY DEATHS AND OTHER 
                       GENDER-BASED PERSECUTIONS

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 32) denouncing the practices of 
female genital mutilation, domestic violence, ``honor'' killings, acid 
burning, dowry deaths, and other gender-based persecutions and 
expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
participation, protection, recognition, and independence of women is 
crucial to achieving a just, moral, and honorable society, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                               H. Res. 32

       Whereas human rights violations against women occur around 
     the world and are not limited to times of war, and have been 
     committed for political gain, personal advantage, ethnic 
     hatred, and in the name of deities and fundamentalist 
     religious zeal;
       Whereas, in many parts of the world, there is a culture of 
     violence and discrimination which denies women rights equal 
     to those of men and which legitimizes the exploitation of 
     women for personal gratification, political purposes, and 
     financial gain;
       Whereas despite the fact that in 1998, the United Nations 
     International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda set a precedent in 
     international law by establishing and prosecuting rape and 
     sexual violence in times of violent conflict as war crimes 
     and crimes against humanity, the rape of women continues to 
     be used as an instrument of armed conflict in the 21st 
     century;
       Whereas former Bangladeshi Prime-Minister Sheikh Hasina 
     acknowledged that every year in Bangladesh up to 200 women 
     are horribly disfigured by acid attacks by their spurned 
     husbands or suitors, leaving many of them blind, deaf, or 
     dead;
       Whereas according to Amnesty International, 6,000 women are 
     subjected to genital mutilation each day in North Africa, and 
     135,000,000 women, in at least 46 other countries, have 
     undergone female genital mutilation worldwide;
       Whereas Time Magazine reports that about 25,000 women in 
     India each year are doused with gasoline, set on fire, and 
     burned to death because their marriage dowries are deemed too 
     small, and 4 out of 5 of these attacks are not reported to or 
     recorded by law enforcement agencies;
       Whereas in many societies baby girls are denied food, 
     drowned, suffocated, abandoned, or their spines are broken 
     simply because they are born girls;
       Whereas in China, where the male-child is traditionally 
     prized above the female, the ``one-child'' state policy has 
     multiplied the rate of abandonment, sex-selective and forced 
     abortion and female infanticide, and yielded a skewed 
     population demographic;
       Whereas Chinese demographics have exacerbated the 
     abduction, trafficking, and sale of Asian women and girls for 
     the purposes of sex slavery and forced marriage;
       Whereas Amnesty International estimates that this year, 
     more than 15,000 women will be sold as sexual slaves in 
     China;
       Whereas, according to World Bank figures, at least 1 in 5 
     women and girls around the world has been beaten or sexually 
     abused in her lifetime;
       Whereas the 2002 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of 
     Europe estimates that the leading cause of death worldwide 
     among women ages 14 through 44 is the violence to which they 
     are subjected in their own homes, and in the Russian 
     Federation alone, every day 36,000 women are beaten by their 
     husbands or partners;
       Whereas in the United States, every day 4 women die as a 
     result of domestic violence, every year more than half a 
     million women are battered, every year 4,000,000 women are 
     physically abused by their husbands or domestic partners, 
     one-third of American women report physical or sexual abuse 
     by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, over 
     324,000 pregnant women are victims of intimate partner 
     violence annually, the majority of welfare recipients have 
     experienced domestic violence as adults, and domestic 
     violence causes 100,000 days of hospitalization, 30,000 
     emergency room visits, and 40,000 visits to a doctor each 
     year;
       Whereas, the theme for the 2007 United Nations 
     International Women's Day was ``Ending Impunity for Violence 
     Against Women and Girls'';
       Whereas UNAIDS asserts that the best way to prevent HIV is 
     to raise the status of women because a woman's vulnerability 
     to HIV infection is in direct proportion to her lack of 
     control over the risks of infection;
       Whereas the inequalities between women and men have 
     persisted and major obstacles remain, with serious 
     consequences for the well-being of all people;
       Whereas the situation of women is exacerbated by the 
     extreme poverty that affects the lives of the majority of the 
     world's people, in particular women and children;
       Whereas families rely on mothers and wives for emotional 
     support, labor, and income needed to raise healthy children 
     and care for other relatives;
       Whereas, according to the United Nations, nearly 70 percent 
     of the people who live in abject poverty are women and women 
     perform two-thirds of the world's work, earn less than five 
     percent of its income, and own less than one percent of its 
     property;
       Whereas democracy, political stability, and economic 
     development are linked to the welfare of women and children, 
     yet the United Nations estimates that three of every four 
     illiterate adults in the world are women and two-thirds of 
     children denied primary education are girls;
       Whereas the exclusion of women from the political process 
     in many countries makes them even more vulnerable to abuse;
       Whereas as long as women and girls are undervalued, 
     overworked, and subjected to violence in and out of their 
     homes, the potential of the human family to create a 
     peaceful, prosperous world will not be realized; and
       Whereas the leadership of women is strongly linked to 
     social justice, economic prosperity, political stability, 
     peaceful relations, and a healthy population: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the House of Representatives--
       (A) denounces the barbaric practices of female genital 
     mutilation, domestic violence, ``honor'' killings, acid 
     burning, dowry deaths, and other gender-based persecutions 
     and crimes;
       (B) asserts that women are not chattel, should not be 
     trafficked, exploited, or sold for services, and should not 
     be denied the right to education, to ownership of property, 
     or to participate in full, economic, social and political 
     life;
       (C) demands the cessation of these barbaric practices and 
     the dismantling of social and institutional mechanisms which 
     perpetuate systematic discrimination against women and girls;
       (D) calls on all governments to pass enforceable laws 
     banning these practices, prosecute any individuals who 
     persecute or violate women and girls with these acts, and 
     pass measures to empower women and girls and afford them 
     equal access to educational, social, and economic 
     opportunities; and
       (E) calls on the President and fellow donor countries to 
     promote the rights, health, and empowerment of women in every 
     aspect of their foreign assistance to developing countries, 
     and discourage continued acts of violence against women and 
     the impunity that often accompanies these acts; and
       (2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
       (A) participation, protection, recognition, health, and 
     equality of women and girls are crucial to achieving a just, 
     moral, and peaceful society; and
       (B) regardless of religion, geography, or form of 
     government, women should not be denied their human rights, 
     and those rights must be defended and enforced when they are 
     abridged, challenged, or violated.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 32, denouncing the 
practices of female genital mutilation, domestic violence, ``honor'' 
killings, acid burning, dowry deaths, and other gender-based 
persecutions and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
that the participation, protection, recognition, and independence of 
women is crucial to achieving a just, moral, and honorable society.
  Allow me to thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen for working with my staff and working collaboratively to bring 
forward this legislation that really is a statement of our committee.

[[Page 26890]]

  Let me also thank the staff who worked on this bill. The full 
committee: Kristin Wells, Pearl-Alice Marsh, Joan Condon and Yleem 
Poblete. I also thank the members of my staff: Yohannes Tsehai, Nina 
Besser and Samia Elshakie.
  It is very important as we move forward in making this statement that 
we recognize that we are attempting to save lives.
  May I share with my colleagues the loneliness of being a woman 
anywhere in the world where they're not protected against brutality, 
dowry killings, honor killings, and that they have no refuge and no 
opportunity to address their grievances in their own Nation.
  Might I show you some of the dastardly pictures, horrific that they 
are, showing how women are burned, how women are scarred, and how women 
are beaten all over the world.
  It is time for the United States to join in making a very pronounced 
statement because women are lonely, and they need the statement or the 
support of women and this Congress.
  I would like to thank the chairman of the Foreign Affairs, as I 
indicated, my good friend and colleague, Congressman Lantos, again, and 
as well the ranking member.
  In recent decades, women have made crucial strides toward equality. 
Our daughters now have a wide range of options and opportunities, and 
they can look forward to a life full of promise. Despite this important 
progress, women and girls throughout the world, including here in our 
own Nation, continue to face gender-based persecutions.
  In many parts of the world, a culture of violence and discrimination 
persists, denying women rights equal to those of men, and legitimizing 
the exploitation of women for personal gratification, political 
purposes, and financial gain. My legislation strongly denounces such 
practices and reaffirms the societal values of the independence of 
women.
  Human rights violations against women and girls know no borders. They 
take place throughout the world on six continents. Statistics are 
shocking. In North Africa, 6,000 women are genitally mutilated each 
day. Over 7,000 women in India are killed by their families and in-laws 
in disputes over dowries annually. A woman in Pakistan was raped by a 
person in the military, and no one was willing to address her 
grievances.
  More than 15,000 women will be sold as sexual slaves in China this 
year. Two hundred women in Bangladesh are horribly disfigured when 
their spurned husbands or suitors burn them with acid each year, 
according to the Bangladesho Prime Minister.
  The 2002 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe estimates 
that the leading cause of death worldwide among women ages 14 to 44 is 
the violence they are subjected to in their own homes. In the Russian 
Federation alone, every day 36,000 women are beaten by their husbands 
or partners. Even here in the United States, a woman is raped every six 
minutes, and a woman is battered every 15 seconds.
  Mr. Speaker, these practices are contrary to international law. In 
1998, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda issued a 
groundbreaking verdict with the successful prosecution of rape as a 
tool of genocide. Further prosecutions under the International Criminal 
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia solidified rape as a crime of war 
and as the basis for prosecution for torture. Despite these ever-
evolving legal traditions, the rape of women continues to be used as an 
instrument of armed conflict in the 21st century.
  I'm very proud of the Foreign Affairs Committee because we work in a 
bipartisan manner, and therefore, this legislation was able to come out 
of the committee in a bipartisan manner. And so, as we look to be of 
help, this is an important forward step in acknowledging the brutality 
towards women around the world.
  In addition to rape, another persistent form of gender-based 
persecution is female genital mutilation. Despite existing laws 
forbidding this practice, this tradition is often embedded in cultural, 
religious and nonmedical practices, making it more difficult to 
overcome. Such traditions legitimize the exploitation of women for 
personal gratification and political gain.
  The situation faced by women worldwide is intricately tied to a 
number of other issues that we have addressed in recent months in the 
committee. Women and children are particularly affected by extreme 
poverty, which exacerbates the obstacles they face. Nearly 70 percent 
of those living in abject poverty are women, according to the United 
Nations. And while women perform two-thirds of the world's work, they 
earn less than 5 percent of all income, and they own less than 1 
percent of all property. The United Nations estimates that three of 
every four illiterate adults in the world are women, and two-thirds of 
children denied primary education are girls.
  I ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 32.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 32, denouncing 
the practices of female genital mutilation, domestic violence, 
``honor'' killings, acid burning, dowry deaths, and other gender-based 
persecutions, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
that the participation, protection, recognition, and independence of 
women is crucial to achieving a just, moral, and honorable society.
  I would like to thank the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, 
my good friend and colleague Congressman Lantos, for his support and 
his leadership on this important issue. I have been pleased to work 
with the Committee on this legislation, and I would to thank the 
Committee staff for their work on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, in recent decades, women have made crucial strides 
toward equality. Our daughters now have a wide range of options and 
opportunities, and they can look forward to a life full of promise. 
Despite this important progress, women and girls throughout the world, 
including here in our own nation, continue to face gender-based 
persecutions. In many parts of the world, a culture of violence and 
discrimination persists, denying women rights equal to those of men, 
and legitimizing the exploitation of women for personal gratification, 
political purposes, and financial gain. My legislation strongly 
denounces such practices, and reaffirms the societal value of the 
independence of women.
  Human rights violations against women and girls know no borders. They 
take place throughout the world, on 6 continents. The statistics are 
shocking. In North Africa, 6,000 women are genitally mutilated each 
day. Over 7,000 women in India are killed by their families and in-laws 
in disputes over dowries annually. More than 15,000 women will be sold 
as sexual slaves in China this year. 200 women in Bangladesh are 
horribly disfigured when their spurned husbands or suitors burn them 
with acids each year, according to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister 
Sheikh Hasina. The 2002 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 
estimates that the leading cause of death worldwide among women ages 
14-44 is the violence they are subjected to in their own homes. In the 
Russian Federation alone, every day 36,000 women are beaten by their 
husbands or partners. Even here, in United States, a woman is raped 
every 6 minutes, and a woman is battered every 15 seconds.
  Mr. Speaker, these practices are contrary to international law. In 
1998, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) issued a 
groundbreaking verdict with the successful prosecution of rape as a 
tool of genocide. Further prosecutions under the International Criminal 
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) solidified rape as a crime of 
war and as the basis for prosecution for torture. Despite these ever 
evolving legal traditions, the rape of women continues to be used as an 
instrument of armed conflict in the 21st century.
  In addition to rape, another persistent form of gender-based 
persecution is female genital mutilation. Despite existing laws 
forbidding this practice, this tradition is often embedded in cultural, 
religious, and non-medical practices, making it more difficult to 
overcome. Such traditions legitimize the exploitation of women for 
personal gratification and political gain.
  The situation faced by women worldwide is intricately tied to a 
number of other issues that we have addressed in recent months in this 
Committee. Women and children are particularly affected by extreme 
poverty, which exacerbates the obstacles they face. Nearly 70 percent 
of those living in abject poverty are women, according to the United 
Nations, and, while women perform 2/3 of the world's work, they earn 
less than 5 percent of all income, and they own less than 1 percent of 
all property. The United Nations estimates that 3 out

[[Page 26891]]

of every 4 illiterate adults in the world are women, and that two-
thirds of children denied primary education are girls.
  Mr. Speaker, democracy, political stability, and economic development 
are linked to the welfare of women and children. This Congress has 
announced its commitment to all 3 of these admirable goals, and I 
firmly believe that if we are truly dedicated to building and 
supporting stable, open, and prosperous societies throughout the world, 
we must work to eliminate these practices of serious persecution and 
discrimination.
  Mr. Speaker, the time is long since passed for us to strongly declare 
that women are not chattel, should not be trafficked, nor sold for 
services, and must not be denied the right to own property. The 
fundamental rights to freedom of worship, expression, association, 
conscience and pursuit of happiness ought never to be threatened by 
violence, oppression, slavery, or manipulation.
  My legislation denounces the barbaric practices of female genital 
mutilation, domestic violence, `honor' killings, acid burning, dowry 
deaths, and other gender-based persecutions. It demands the cessation 
of these barbaric practices and condemns the perpetrators. Regardless 
of religion, geography, or form of government, women should not be 
denied equal rights, which should be defended when their rights are 
abridged, challenged, or violated.
  Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress, I strongly urge you to join me in 
supporting this extremely important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I'm pleased to rise in support of H. Res. 32, which denounces 
violence against women and recognizes that women's rights are, indeed, 
human rights.
  I also would like to thank Chairman Lantos and the sponsor of this 
resolution, my good friend and my chairwoman, Ms. Jackson-Lee, for 
agreeing to modify the introduced text such that it strikes all 
references to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination 
Against Women. By striking these references and refocusing our 
attention on the challenges to human dignity that an alarming number of 
women are forced to endure around the world, H. Res. 32 is now a much 
stronger, bipartisan resolution which can be universally embraced.
  H. Res. 32 recognizes that democracy, political stability, public 
health and economic development are linked to the welfare of women and 
children. Two-thirds of the world's work is performed by women, yet 
women still earn less than 5 percent of its income, own less than 1 
percent of its property, and make up nearly 70 percent of the people 
living in poverty unfortunately.
  The lack of legal standing of women in many societies makes them 
especially susceptible to poverty, exploitation, abuse and, inevitably, 
infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
  Yet as women serve as the provider and educator for their families in 
many traditional societies, their exploitation threatens the prosperity 
of their entire family and community. As such, the resolution calls 
upon governments to address the entrenched gender inequalities which 
threaten development, as well as national security.
  It also calls on governments to criminalize such atrocious practices 
as female genital mutilation, domestic violence, ``honor'' killings, 
acid burnings, dowry deaths, and other gender-based crimes.
  This resolution does not seek to bestow upon women any special 
privilege. It simply recognizes the fact that no matter where one 
lives, and no matter what their race, religion or culture, we are all 
human beings who deserve the opportunity to live in dignity and free 
from oppression or abuse based solely on our gender.
  I urge unanimous support of H. Res. 32.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I am prepared to close at this time.
  Let me thank my very generous friend Mr. Bilirakis from Florida for 
expressing the negotiations that occurred in the Foreign Affairs 
Committee and the spirit in which we work in that committee by coming 
together in a bipartisan way to make such an important statement today.
  In closing, I would like to indicate that democracy, political 
stability, and economic development are linked to the welfare of our 
women and children. This Congress has announced its commitment to all 
three of these admirable goals, and I firmly believe that if we are 
truly dedicated to building and supporting stable, open and prosperous 
societies throughout the world, we must work to eliminate these 
practices of serious persecution and discrimination.
  The distinguished gentleman from Florida has indicated that we're 
doing this together. The time has long since passed for us to strongly 
declare that women are not chattel, should not be trafficked, and not 
sold for services and must not be denied the right to own property. The 
fundamental rights to freedom of worship, expression, association, 
conscience and pursuit of happiness ought never to be threatened by 
violence, oppression, slavery, or manipulation.
  My legislation denounces the barbaric practices of female genital 
mutilation, domestic violence, ``honor'' killings, acid burning, dowry 
deaths, and other gender-based persecutions. It gives women hope around 
the world. It demands a cessation of these barbaric practices and 
condemns the perpetrators.
  I'm delighted to be supported by Amnesty International; the United 
Nations Women's Fund; the CARE, Council on American-Islamic Relations, 
equal rights advocates; and NOW.
  I'm also delighted to be able to have this Congress express that 
regardless of religion, geography or form of government, women should 
not be denied equal rights, should have the opportunity to be defended 
when their rights are abridged, challenged or violated.
  So, in the spirit of protecting the women around the world from the 
violence that they experience and suffer every day from the trafficking 
and from the inhumane treatment, I ask my colleagues to 
enthusiastically support H. Res. 32.

       Amnesty International USA commends Congresswoman Sheila 
     Jackson-Lee and the U.S. House of Representatives for 
     authoring and considering H. Res. 32 to denounce the 
     practices of female genital mutilation, domestic violence, 
     ``honor'' killings, acid burning, dowry deaths and other 
     gender-based persecution and to urge participation, 
     protection, recognition and independence of women.
       Violence against women is a human rights scandal. At least 
     1 out of every 3 women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or 
     otherwise abused in her lifetime. In Europe, domestic 
     violence is the major cause of death and disability for women 
     aged 16 to 44. In the United States, a woman is raped every 6 
     minutes; a woman is battered every 15 seconds.
       Rape of women is widespread in armed conflicts such as in 
     Colombia and Darfur. Trafficking of women has become a global 
     phenomenon where victims are sexually exploited, forced into 
     labor and subjected to abuse.
       Murders of women in Guatemala, Russia, India, and other 
     countries often go uninvestigated and unpunished. The 
     experience or threat of violence affects the lives of women 
     everywhere, cutting across boundaries of wealth, race and 
     culture. In the home and in the community, in times of war 
     and peace, women are beaten, raped, mutilated, and killed 
     with impunity.
       The U.S. government should move forward in ratifying the 
     Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW)--the most complete 
     international agreement on basic human rights for women. The 
     United States played an important role in drafting the 
     Treaty, which 185 nations have ratified as of October 2007. 
     As the leading superpower, U.S. ratification would lend 
     weight to the Treaty and provide valuable support to women 
     seeking reforms in countries around the world.
       Amnesty International USA encourages members of the U.S. 
     House of Representatives to move quickly towards passage of 
     H. Res. 32 and encourages all members of the legislative body 
     to actively work to stop violence against women throughout 
     the world.
                                  ____

       To the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee: The U.S. National 
     Committee for UNIFEM is in full support of H. Res. 32 which 
     denounces the practices of female genital mutilation, 
     domestic violence, acid burning, dowry deaths, and other 
     gender-based persecutions and expressing the sense of the 
     House of Representatives that participation, protection, 
     recognition, and independence of women is crucial to 
     achieving a just, moral, and honorable society.
       Violence against women and girls is one of the most 
     widespread violations of human rights. Since 1976, UNIFEM 
     (the women's

[[Page 26892]]

     fund at the UN) has provided financial and technical 
     assistance to innovative programs focusing on ending gender-
     based violence including initiatives to eliminate FGM, dowry 
     murders and domestic violence. In 1996, the UN General 
     Assembly established the UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions 
     to Eliminate Violence Against Women. Managed by UNIFEM, the 
     Trust Fund is the only multilateral grant-making mechanism 
     that supports local, national and regional efforts to combat 
     violence. While the Trust Fund has provided over $13 million 
     to 226 projects in over 100 countries, the need for stricter 
     laws, education and advocacy efforts to end gender-based 
     violence persist.
       The U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM is one of 16 
     national committees that support UNIFEM. We work to increase 
     the visibility of UNIFEM in the U.S. and promote campaigns 
     and events to support UNIFEM's four strategic areas: reducing 
     women's poverty, ending gender-based violence, halting the 
     spread of HIV/AIDS and supporting women's leadership. We are 
     devoted to working toward a world where women and girls live 
     free from violence, poverty and inequality. With Congress's 
     support of this bill, we can ensure that we come one step 
     closer to this goal. We applaud your efforts.
           Sincerely,

                                        Carol Poteat Buchanan,

                                President, U.S. National Committee
     for UNIFEM.
                                  ____

                                                        Council on


                                   American-Islamic Relations,

                                  Washington, DC, October 8, 2007.
     Hon. Sheila Jackson-Lee,
     Rayburn House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman Jackson Lee: The Council on American-
     Islamic Relations (CAIR) expresses its support for H. Res. 
     32, denouncing female genital mutilation, domestic violence, 
     ``honor killings,'' acid burning, dowry deaths, and other 
     gender-based human rights violations against women.
       CAIR joins in calling for an end to such barbaric 
     practices.
       Perpetrators of these barbaric acts claim any number of 
     philosophical, political or religious justifications. CAIR, 
     drawing on our faith's admonition to establish justice, 
     stands with those who reject such justifications.
       CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 
     33 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. 
     Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, 
     encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American 
     Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual 
     understanding.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Nihad Awad,
                                               Executive Director.

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in support of House 
Resolution 32 the Denouncement to the Suppression of Women.
  Thousands of women a year fall victim to societies that deem them 
unworthy and in turn suffer at the hands of discrimination and 
violence. We must recognize that this violence is a manifestation of 
historically unequal power relations between men and women and it must 
be eliminated. Too many women are continuously tortured, beaten, 
mutilated and assaulted by husbands, fathers, and complete strangers 
without hope for support or promise of a safe haven to run to.
  Domestic violence is the major cause of death and disability for 
women aged 16 to 44, accounting for more death and ill-health than 
cancer or traffic accidents. More than 60 million women are ``missing'' 
from the world today as a result of sex-selective abortions and female 
infanticide. The World Health Organization has reported that up to 70 
percent of female murder victims are killed by their male partners.
  As Americans, citizens striving to preserve human life and oppose the 
discrimination of any person, we must move to impair these malevolent 
occurrences in full force.
  United, we must denounce these demeaning practices and fervently 
demand an end to this persecution and a commitment to preserving the 
rights of female populations all over the world. No longer can we stand 
silent while thousands of women fall victim to cultural prejudice and 
international trafficking. I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  The preservation of female rights must be a priority to this the 
110th Congress as we continue to work towards ensuring democratic 
ideals worldwide.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 32, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________