IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 86
Supporting the goals of International Women’s Day.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 8, 2001
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself, Mr. LANTOS, Mrs. LOWEY, Ms. PELOSI, Ms.
MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. CONYERS,
Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mrs. MEEK of
Florida, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. ESHOO, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Ms.
BALDWIN, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. MCCARTHY
of Missouri, Mrs.
NAPOLITANO, Mr. BARRETT, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. NORTON, Ms.
MCKINNEY, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut,
Mrs. BIGGERT, and Ms. CAPITO) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in
addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals of International Women’s Day.
Whereas all over the world women are contributing to the
growth of economies, participating in the world of diplo-
macy and politics, and improving the quality of the lives
of their families, communities, and nations;
Whereas women in the United States gained the right to vote
in 1920, but women in many other countries are still
fighting for their voices to be heard in the political proc-
ess;
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Whereas pervasive discrimination continues to deny women
full political and economic equality, and is often the basis
for violations of the basic human rights of women;
Whereas the lives and health of women continue to be endan-
gered by violence which is directed at them simply be-
cause they are women;
Whereas violence against women is a social problem affecting
women, children, and families around the world;
Whereas violence against women includes rape, genital muti-
lation, sexual assault, domestic violence, honor killings,
sexual trafficking in women, dowry-related violence, fe-
male infanticide, sex-selection abortion, forced pregnancy,
forced sterilization, forced abortion, and forced use and
nonuse of contraceptives;
Whereas the World Health Organization asserts that domes-
tic violence causes more death and disability among
women between the ages of 15 and 44 than cancer, or
than malaria and traffic accidents combined;
Whereas at least 1 out of every 3 women and girls has been
beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime;
Whereas at least 1 out of every 6 women and girls living in
the United States has been beaten or sexually abused in
her lifetime;
Whereas 1 out of every 4 women who have been pregnant has
been abused while pregnant;
Whereas illegal trafficking in women and children involves be-
tween 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 women and children each
year, of whom 50,000 are transported into the United
States;
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Whereas sexual violence, including marital rape, has been de-
nounced as a major cause of the rapid spread of HIV/
AIDS among women;
Whereas 130,000,000 girls and young women have been sub-
jected to female genital mutilation, and it is estimated
that 10,000 girls are at risk of being subjected to this
practice in the United States;
Whereas women still earn less, own less property, and have
less access to education, employment, and health care
than do men;
Whereas, on March 8, 1857, women working in clothing and
textile factories in New York City staged a landmark pro-
test against inhumane working conditions and low wages,
leading to the formation of the first women’s labor union,
the Women’s Trade Union League, to gain basic work-
place rights;
Whereas during the last century March 8 has become known
as International Women’s Day, and is a day on which
women, often divided by ethnicity, language, culture, and
income, come together to celebrate a common struggle for
equality, justice, and peace; and
Whereas the people of the United States should be encour-
aged to participate in International Women’s Day: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) supports the goals of International Women’s
Day;
(2) recognizes and honors the women in the
United States and in other countries who have
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fought and continue to struggle for gender equality
and women’s rights;
(3) reaffirms its commitment to ending dis-
crimination and violence against women, to ensuring
the safety and welfare of women, and to pursuing
policies that guarantee the basic rights of women
both in the United States and in other countries;
and
(4) encourages the President to—
(A) affirm his commitment to pursue poli-
cies to protect the health and rights of women;
and
(B) issue a proclamation calling upon the
people of the United States to observe Inter-
national Women’s Day with appropriate pro-
grams and activities.
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