IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 39

Supporting the commitments of the United States announced at the United

Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China,

in September 1995.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 6, 1997

Mrs. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. FROST, Mr.

PAYNE, Mr. YATES, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. STARK, and

Mr. OLVER) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Supporting the commitments of the United States announced

at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on

Women, held in Beijing, China, in September 1995.

Whereas the United Nations Fourth World Conference on

Women, convened in Beijing, China, in September 1995,

was attended by representatives from 188 countries, including the United States;

Whereas global consensus on a platform for action was

achieved at the conference;

Whereas the participating nations have agreed to use their

resources from the private and public sector to further

economic and social progress for all people;
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Whereas First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Honorary

Chair of the United States delegation, addressed the

Fourth World Conference on Women, re-stating the commitment of the United States to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and proclaiming that ‘‘human

rights are women’s rights . . . and women’s rights are

human rights’’;

Whereas former Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright, United

States Permanent Representative to the United Nations

and Chair of the United States delegation, announced the

commitments the United States Government will undertake to ‘‘make equal rights a fundamental principle of

law; to enforce those rights and to remove barriers to exercise these rights’’;

Whereas the people and Government of the United States

support the promotion and protection of human rights

and the status of women’s rights as neither separable nor

different from those of men;

Whereas President Clinton has made ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women a top priority;

Whereas the United States seeks a continuing dialogue with

all governments concerning human rights;

Whereas comprehensive plans for human rights action have

been proposed in the platform for action of the conference which acknowledge that global property, peace,

and democratization are closely linked with the fortunes

and freedoms of the world’s women; and

Whereas the United States has stated its intent to undertake

commitments in areas of critical concern to all Americans: (1) empowering women and strengthening families;
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(2) improving the economic security of women, including

access to credit and balancing work and family responsibilities; (3) ensuring the human rights of all women

with particular emphasis on freedom from violence; and

(4) enhancing the health of women throughout their lifespan: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) reaffirms the universal nature of human

4 rights and the principle that women’s rights are

5 human rights;

6 (2) supports the inter-agency council on women,

7 established by the Clinton Administration, which is

8 working to implement United States Government

9 commitments made at the United Nations Fourth

10 World Conference on Women, in partnership with

11 the nongovernmental organization community, and

12 to develop a long-term plan to promote the

13 empowerment of women and advancement of their

14 status;

15 (3) expresses its support for action on the Con16 vention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimi17 nation Against Women;

18 (4) considers that dedication to enacting the

19 United States commitments to promote—
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1 (A) economic security, including access to

2 credit and balancing work and family respon3 sibilities;

4 (B) the human rights of women with par5 ticular emphasis on the elimination of violence

6 against women;

7 (C) the health of women and children;

8 (D) the empowerment of women and the

9 strengthening of families; and

10 (E) women’s legal status and political par11 ticipation;

12 would benefit not only all of the citizens of the

13 United States but also citizens around the world by

14 contributing to a freer, more stable, and more equi15 table world based on law and respect for the dignity

16 of every human being;

17 (5) encourages the United States Government

18 to build on the strong partnership of nongovern19 mental organizations and governments that devel20 oped during the United Nations Fourth World Con21 ference on Women; and

22 (6) urges governmental actions that uphold and

23 enact the tenets of the platform for action and the
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1 commitments of the United States made at the con2 ference.

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