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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 392 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 392

      Designating March 8, 2006, as ``International Women's Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 8, 2006

Mr. Lugar submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
      Designating March 8, 2006, as ``International Women's Day''.

Whereas there continues to be discrimination against women and women are still 
        denied full political and economic equality;
Whereas discrimination is often the basis for violating the basic human rights 
        of women;
Whereas, worldwide, the lives and health of women and girls are endangered by 
        violence that is directed at women and girls simply because they are 
        female;
Whereas women bear a disproportionate burden of the poverty in the world and 
        constitute an estimated 75 percent of the world's poor;
Whereas, of the estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people trafficked across 
        international borders each year for forced labor, domestic servitude, 
        and sexual exploitation, 80 percent of the victims are women and girls;
Whereas violence against women is one of the most widespread violations of human 
        rights and it is estimated that 1 in 3 women will suffer some form of 
        violence;
Whereas the majority of the estimated 121,000,000 children in the world who are 
        denied a primary education are girls;
Whereas two-thirds of the estimated 875,000,000 illiterate adults in the world 
        are women;
Whereas, worldwide, women now account for half of all HIV and AIDS cases, and in 
        sub-Saharan Africa, young girls ages 15 to 24 are 3 times more likely to 
        be infected with HIV than young men;
Whereas gender inequality and sexual violence are significant factors causing 
        the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls;
Whereas HIV/AIDS is having a devastating effect on women in the United States, 
        and it is the leading cause of death among African American women ages 
        25 to 34;
Whereas two-thirds of the estimated 19,200,000 refugees in the world are women 
        and children;
Whereas, in armed conflict, women are targets of rape when it is used as a 
        tactic of war to humiliate the enemy and terrorize the population;
Whereas it is estimated that 515,000 women die every year as a result of 
        pregnancy and childbirth, and more than 99 percent of these deaths occur 
        in the developing world;
Whereas countries should take steps to ensure the full participation and 
        representation of women in political processes, conflict prevention, and 
        peacekeeping efforts;
Whereas, over the last century, March 8 has become known as ``International 
        Women's Day'', a day on which people come together to recognize the 
        accomplishments of women and to reaffirm their commitment to continue 
        the struggle for equality, justice, and peace; and
Whereas the people of the United States should be encouraged to participate in 
        International Women's Day: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates March 8, 2006, as ``International Women's 
        Day'';
            (2) reaffirms its commitment to--
                    (A) end discrimination and increase the 
                participation of women in decision-making positions in 
                government and in the private sector;
                    (B) end and prevent violence against women;
                    (C) pursue policies that guarantee the basic rights 
                of women both in the United States and around the 
                world;
                    (D) improve access to quality health care for 
                women;
                    (E) protect the human rights of women and girls 
                during and after conflict and to support the 
                integration of gender perspectives in peacekeeping 
                missions and post conflict processes; and
                    (F) end the trafficking of women and girls; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        International Women's Day with appropriate programs and 
        activities.
                                 <all>
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