,,iii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ig ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #d1 #bjae ,mrs4 ,shaheen 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,kirk1 ,ms4 ,mikulski1 ,mrs4 ,boxer1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 and ,mr4 ,whitehouse7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,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 have fundamental human rights1 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 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 ,september #bd1 #bjad1 ,president ,barack ,obama highlighted the ,united ,states support for the advancement of women1 noting3 ,where women are full participants in a country's politics or economy1 societies are more likely to succeed4 ,and that's why we support the participation of women in parliaments and peace processes1 schools1 and the economy42 ,whereas women remain underrepresented in conflict prevention and conflict resolution efforts1 despite proven success by women in conflict-affected regions in moderating violent extremism1 countering terrorism1 resolving disputes through nonviolent mediation and negotiation1 and stabilizing societies by improving access to peace and security services1 institutions1 and decisionmaking venues2 ,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 includes 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 states the following3 ,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 the ,national ,action ,plan requires the ,national ,security ,council staff to coordinate a comprehensive review of1 and update to1 the ,national ,action ,plan in #bjae with consultation from international partners and civil society organizations2 ,whereas according to the ,bureau of ,international ,narcotics and ,law ,enforcement ,affairs of the ,department of ,state1 women's full and meaningful participation in security forces vastly enhances their effectiveness2 ,whereas the ability of women and girls 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 ,united ,nations ,educational1 ,scientific and ,cultural ,organization1 two-thirds of the #gha1jjj1jjj illiterate people in the world are female2 ,whereas according to the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 compared to uneducated women1 educated 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 wage42 ,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 ,united ,nations ,population ,fund1 women have access to fewer income-earning opportunities and are more likely to manage the household and engage in agricultural work1 making women more vulnerable to economic insecurity caused by natural disasters and long-term changes in weather patterns2 ,whereas according to the ,world ,bank1 women own or partly own more than 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 services compared to men2 ,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 #ba4i 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 the ,world ,health ,organization1 approximately #hjj women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day1 with #ii percent of all maternal deaths occurring in developing countries2 ,whereas according to the ,united ,nations ,population ,fund1 more than #bjj1jjj1jjj women and girls around the world would like to access family planning services but are unable to do so2 ,whereas according to data from the ,world ,bank1 women between the ages of #ae and #dd are at a greater risk of rape and domestic violence than cancer1 war1 traffic accidents1 and malaria combined2 ,whereas1 on ,august #aj1 #bjab1 ,president ,barack ,obama announced the ,united ,states ,strategy to ,prevent and ,respond to ,gender-,based ,violence ,globally1 the first interagency strategy to address gender-based violence around the world2 ,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 ,barack ,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 the ,world ,health ,organization1 suicide is the leading cause of death for girls ages #ae to #ai1 followed by complications from pregnancy and childbirth2 ,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 ,whereas #bjae marks the #bjth anniversary of the ,fourth ,world ,conference on ,women1 where #ahi countries committed to the ,beijing ,declaration and ,platform for ,action to integrate gender equality into all dimensions of society2 ,whereas #bjae marks the deadline for meeting the ,united ,nations ,millennium ,development ,goals1 and progress towards meeting the targets for gender equality and women's empowerment remains uneven2 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 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 individuals in the ,united ,states and around the world1 including women who are human rights defenders1 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 7#e7 supports international calls for a ,post-#bjae ,development ,agenda to include a stand-alone goal to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment2 and 7#f7 encourages the people of the ,united ,states to observe ,international ,women's ,day with appropriate programs and activities4