,,iii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #cgf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #f1 #bjad,mrs4 ,shaheen 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,kirk1 ,mrs4 ,boxer1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,ms4 ,mikulski1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,mr4 ,udall of ,colorado1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mr4 ,begich1 ,ms4 ,murkowski1 and ,ms4 ,landrieu7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,march #aa1 #bjad,reported by ,mr4 ,menendez1 without amendment ,march #ac1 #bjad;,considered and agreed to with an amended preamble ,,resolution ,supporting the goals of ,international ,women's ,day4 ,whereas there are more than #c1ejj1jjj1jjj women in the world today2 ,whereas women around the world participate in the political1 social1 and economic life of their communities1 play a critical role in providing and caring for their families1 contribute substantially to the growth of economies and the prevention of conflict1 and1 as both farmers and caregivers1 play an important role in advancing food security for their communities2 ,whereas the advancement of women around the world is a foreign policy priority for the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 on ,november #ae1 #bjac1 ,secretary of ,state ,john ,kerry stated3 ,creating opportunities for women is not just the right thing to do4 ,it's also a strategic necessity4 ,societies where women are safe1 where women are empowered to exercise their rights and to move their communities forward--these societies are more prosperous and more stable--not occasionally1 but always42 ,whereas1 on ,december #ai1 #bjaa1 the ,obama ,administration launched the first ,united ,states ,national ,action ,plan on ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security 7referred to in this preamble as the ,national ,action ,plan7 that included a comprehensive set of national commitments to advance the active participation of women in decisionmaking relating to matters of war and peace2 ,whereas the ,national ,action ,plan states3 ,deadly conflicts can be more effectively avoided1 and peace can be best forged and sustained1 when women become equal partners in all aspects of peace-building and conflict prevention1 when their lives are protected1 their experiences considered1 and their voices heard42 ,whereas women remain underrepresented in conflict prevention and conflict resolution efforts1 despite proven successes by women in conflict-affected regions in moderating violent extremism1 countering terrorism1 resolving disputes through non-violent mediation and negotiation1 and stabilizing their societies by improving access to peace and security services1 institutions1 and decisionmaking venues2 ,whereas the ability of women to realize their full potential is critical to the ability of a country to achieve strong and lasting economic growth and political and social stability2 ,whereas according to the ,international ,monetary ,fund1 focusing on the needs and empowerment of women is one of the keys to human development2 ,whereas according to the ,global ,gender ,gap ,report #bjac published by the ,world ,economic ,forum1 reducing gender inequality enhances productivity and economic growth2 ,whereas according to the ,united ,nations ,educational1 ,scientific and ,cultural ,organization1 two-thirds of the #ggd1jjj1jjj illiterate people in the world are female2 ,whereas according to the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 8educated women are less likely to marry early and more likely to have smaller and healthier families4 ,they are also more likely to get a job and earn a higher wage402 ,whereas according to the ,food and ,agriculture ,organization of the ,united ,nations1 the majority of women living in rural areas of the developing world are heavily engaged in agricultural labor1 yet they receive less credit1 land1 agricultural inputs1 and training than their male counterparts2 ,whereas according to the ,world ,bank1 women own or partly own over one-third of small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries1 and #dj percent of the global workforce is female1 yet1 women entrepreneurs and employers have disproportionately less access to capital and other financial services2 ,whereas despite strides in recent decades1 women around the world continue to face significant obstacles in all aspects of their lives1 including underrepresentation in all aspects of public life1 denial of basic human rights1 and discrimination2 ,whereas despite achievements by individual female leaders1 women around the world are still vastly underrepresented in high-level positions and in national and local legislatures and governments and1 according to the ,inter-,parliamentary ,union1 women account for only #ba4d percent of national parliamentarians2 ,whereas #a in #c women around the world has experienced some form of gender-based violence1 and #a in #d women has suffered abuse during pregnancy2 ,whereas according to ,,un ,women1 violence against women causes more death and disability for women and girls between the ages of #ae and #dd than cancer1 war1 traffic accidents1 and malaria combined2 ,whereas1 on ,august #aj1 #bjab1 ,president ,obama announced the first interagency ,strategy to ,prevent and ,respond to ,gender-,based ,violence ,globally2 ,whereas violence against women and girls impedes progress in meeting many international global development goals1 including efforts to stem maternal mortality and the spread of ,,hiv_/,,aids2 ,whereas1 on ,october #aa1 #bjac1 ,president ,obama stated that the practice of child marriage was a threat to fundamental human rights2 ,whereas according to the ,international ,center for ,research on ,women1 one-third of girls worldwide are married before the age of #ah and #a in #i girls are married before the age of #ae2 ,whereas according to ,save the ,children1 pregnancy-related complications are a leading cause of death among girls between the ages of #ae and #ai in developing countries2 ,whereas according to the ,united ,nations ,population ,fund1 women have access to fewer income-earning opportunities and tend to manage the household and partake in agricultural work1 thus increasing their vulnerability to natural disasters and long-term changes in weather patterns2 ,whereas it is imperative to alleviate violence and discrimination against women and afford women every opportunity to be full and productive members of their communities2 and ,whereas ,march #h is recognized each year as ,international ,women's ,day1 a global day to celebrate the economic1 political1 and social achievements of women past1 present1 and future1 and a day to recognize the obstacles that women still face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 supports the goals of ,international ,women's ,day2 7#b7 recognizes that the empowerment of women is inextricably linked to the potential of countries to generate economic growth1 sustainable democracy1 and inclusive security2 7#c7 recognizes and honors the women in the ,united ,states and around the world who have worked throughout history to ensure that women are guaranteed equality and basic human rights2 7#d7 reaffirms the commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women and girls1 to ensuring the safety and welfare of women and girls1 to pursuing policies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls worldwide1 and to promoting meaningful and significant participation of women in all aspects of their societies and communities2 and 7#e7 encourages the people of the ,united ,states to observe ,international ,women's ,day with appropriate programs and activities4