III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 90 

Supporting the goals of ‘‘International Women’s Day’’ and recognizing this 

year’s centennial anniversary of International Women’s Day. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 3, 2011 

Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. SNOWE, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. 

DURBIN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BEGICH, 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE, and Mrs. MURRAY) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals of ‘‘International Women’s Day’’ and 

recognizing this year’s centennial anniversary of International Women’s Day. 

Whereas there are more than 3,300,000,000 women in the 

world today; 

Whereas women around the world participate in the political, 

social, and economic life of their communities, play a critical role in providing and caring for their families, contribute substantially to the growth of economies, and, as 

both farmers and caregivers, play an important role in 

advancing food security for their communities; 


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•SRES 90 ATS 

Whereas President Barack Obama said, ‘‘[o]ur common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men 

and women – to reach their full potential’’; 

Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, 

‘‘Put simply, we have much less hope of addressing the 

complex challenges we face in this new century without 

the full participation of women. Whether the economic 

crisis, the spread of terrorism, regional conflicts that 

threaten families and communities, and climate change 

and the dangers it presents to the world’s health and security, we will not solve these challenges through half 

measures. Yet too often, on these issues and many more, 

half the world is left behind.’’; 

Whereas the ability of women to realize their full potential is 

critical to the ability of a nation to achieve strong and 

lasting economic growth and political and social stability; 

Whereas according to the 2010 World Economic Forum 

Global Gender Gap Report, ‘‘reducing gender inequality 

enhances productivity and economic growth’’; 

Whereas according to the International Monetary Fund, ‘‘focusing on the needs and empowerment of women is one 

of the keys to human development’’; 

Whereas despite some achievements made by individual 

women leaders, women around the globe are still vastly 

underrepresented in high level positions and in national 

and local legislatures and governments and, according to 

the Inter-Parliamentary Union, women account for only 

19.2 percent of national parliamentarians; 

Whereas although strides have been made in recent decades, 

women around the world continue to face significant obstacles in all aspects of their lives including denial of 


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basic human rights, discrimination, and gender-based violence; 

Whereas according to the World Bank, women account for 

approximately 70 percent of individuals living in poverty 

worldwide; 

Whereas according to UNESCO, women account for 64 percent of the 796,000,000 adults worldwide who lack basic 

literacy skills; 

Whereas according to the International Center for Research 

on Women, there are more than 60,000,000 child brides 

in developing countries, some of whom are as young as 

7 years old; 

Whereas according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 

the majority of women living in rural areas of the developing world are heavily engaged in agricultural labor, yet 

they receive less credit, land, agricultural inputs, and 

training than their male counterparts; 

Whereas according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, women in developing countries are disproportionately affected by changes in climate because of 

their need to secure water, food, and fuel for their livelihood; 

Whereas according to the World Health Organization, as 

many as 1 in 5 women report being sexually abused before the age of 15; 

Whereas March 8 is recognized each year as 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; and 


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Whereas the milestone 100th anniversary of International 

Women’s Day is a testament to the dedication and determination of women and men around the world to address 

gender inequality: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals of ‘‘International Wom3 en’s Day’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the significance of the 100th an5 niversary of International Women’s Day; 

6 (3) recognizes that the empowerment of women 

7 is inextricably linked to the potential of nations to 

8 generate economic growth and sustainable democ9 racy; 

10 (4) recognizes and honors the women in the 

11 United States and around the world who have 

12 worked throughout history to ensure that women are 

13 guaranteed equality and basic human rights; 

14 (5) reaffirms its commitment to ending dis15 crimination and violence against women and girls, to 

16 ensuring the safety and welfare of women and girls, 

17 and to pursuing policies that guarantee the basic 

18 human rights of women and girls worldwide; and 

19 (6) encourages the people of the United States 

20 to observe International Women’s Day with appro21 priate programs and activities. 

Æ 


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