III 

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 


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•SRES 392 IS

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; 


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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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates March 8, 2006, as ‘‘International 

3 Women’s Day’’; 

4 (2) reaffirms its commitment to— 

5 (A) end discrimination and increase the 

6 participation of women in decision-making posi7 tions in government and in the private sector; 

8 (B) end and prevent violence against 

9 women; 

10 (C) pursue policies that guarantee the 

11 basic rights of women both in the United States 

12 and around the world; 

13 (D) improve access to quality health care 

14 for women; 

15 (E) protect the human rights of women 

16 and girls during and after conflict and to supVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:06 Mar 09, 2006 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR392.IS SR392

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1 port the integration of gender perspectives in 

2 peacekeeping missions and post conflict proc3 esses; and 

4 (F) end the trafficking of women and girls; 

5 and 

6 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

7 to observe International Women’s Day with appro8 priate programs and activities. 

Æ 


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