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 re-
ferred 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, in-
cluding 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;
•HCON 39 IH
Whereas First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Honorary
Chair of the United States delegation, addressed the
Fourth World Conference on Women, re-stating the com-
mitment of the United States to the Universal Declara-
tion 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 under-
take to ‘‘make equal rights a fundamental principle of
law; to enforce those rights and to remove barriers to ex-
ercise 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 Con-
vention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimina-
tion 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 con-
ference 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 Ameri-
cans: (1) empowering women and strengthening families;
•HCON 39 IH
(2) improving the economic security of women, including
access to credit and balancing work and family respon-
sibilities; (3) ensuring the human rights of all women
with particular emphasis on freedom from violence; and
(4) enhancing the health of women throughout their life-
span: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) reaffirms the universal nature of human
rights and the principle that women’s rights are
human rights;
(2) supports the inter-agency council on women,
established by the Clinton Administration, which is
working to implement United States Government
commitments made at the United Nations Fourth
World Conference on Women, in partnership with
the nongovernmental organization community, and
to develop a long-term plan to promote the
empowerment of women and advancement of their
status;
(3) expresses its support for action on the Con-
vention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimi-
nation Against Women;
(4) considers that dedication to enacting the
United States commitments to promote—
•HCON 39 IH
(A) economic security, including access to
credit and balancing work and family respon-
sibilities;
(B) the human rights of women with par-
ticular emphasis on the elimination of violence
against women;
(C) the health of women and children;
(D) the empowerment of women and the
strengthening of families; and
(E) women’s legal status and political par-
ticipation;
would benefit not only all of the citizens of the
United States but also citizens around the world by
contributing to a freer, more stable, and more equi-
table world based on law and respect for the dignity
of every human being;
(5) encourages the United States Government
to build on the strong partnership of nongovern-
mental organizations and governments that devel-
oped during the United Nations Fourth World Con-
ference on Women; and
(6) urges governmental actions that uphold and
enact the tenets of the platform for action and the