[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6034-6035]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING AND SUPPORTING WOMEN IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 33, S. Res. 109.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 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.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendments 
at the desk be agreed to, the resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the 
preamble, as amended, be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendments (Nos. 301 and 302) were agreed to, as follows:


                           amendment no. 301

                   (Purpose: To amend the resolution)

       On page 4, beginning on line 12, strike ``, and supports'' 
     and all that follows through ``these rights'' on line 14.


                           amendment no. 302

                    (Purpose: To amend the preamble)

       In the ninth whereas clause of the preamble, strike ``the 
     United Nations Security Council and''.

  The resolution (S. Res. 109), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, as amended, reads as 
follows:

                              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 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;

[[Page 6035]]

       (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;
       (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.

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