,,iii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #hd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #h1 #bjag ,mrs4 ,shaheen 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,ms4 ,cantwell1 and ,mr4 ,wyden7 submitted the following resolution2 which was considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,supporting the goals of ,international ,women's ,day4 ,whereas1 as of ,march #bjag1 there are more than #c1fgb1jjj1jjj women in the world2 ,whereas women around the world-- 7#a7 have fundamental rights2 7#b7 participate in the political1 social1 and economic lives of their communities2 7#c7 play a critical role in providing and caring for their families2 7#d7 contribute substantially to economic growth and the prevention and resolution of conflict2 and 7#e7 as farmers and caregivers1 play an important role in the advancement of food security for their communities2 ,whereas the advancement of women around the world is a foreign policy priority for the ,united ,states2 ,whereas at his confirmation hearing1 ,secretary of ,state ,rex ,tillerson-- 7#a7 spoke about the importance of empowering women2 and 7#b7 noted that there is study after study to confirm that when you empower women in these developing parts of the world1 you change the future of the country2 ,whereas #bjag marks-- 7#a7 the #bbnd anniversary of the ,fourth ,world ,conference on ,women1 at which #ahi countries committed to integrating gender equality into each dimension of society2 and 7#b7 the #fth anniversary of the establishment of the first ,united ,states ,national ,action ,plan on ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security1 which includes a comprehensive set of commitments by the ,united ,states to advance the meaningful participation of women in decisionmaking relating to matters of war or peace2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,national ,action ,plan on ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security1 revised in ,june #bjaf1 states that deadly conflicts can be more effectively avoided1 and peace can be best forged and sustained1 when women become equal partners in all aspects of peacebuilding and conflict prevention1 when their lives are protected1 their voices heard1 and their perspectives taken into account42 ,whereas there are #fc national action plans around the world1 and there are several additional national action plans known to be in development2 ,whereas the joint strategy of the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development entitled ,department of ,state ,,usaid ,joint ,strategy on ,countering ,violent ,extremism and dated ,may #bjaf-- 7#a7 notes that women can play a critical role in identifying and addressing drivers of violent extremism in their families1 communities1 and broader society2 and 7#b7 commits to supporting programs that engage women as key stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism in their communities2 ,whereas1 despite the historical underrepresentation of women in conflict resolution processes1 women in conflict-affected regions have nevertheless achieved significant success in-- 7#a7 moderating violent extremism2 7#b7 countering terrorism2 7#c7 resolving disputes through nonviolent mediation and negotiation2 and 7#d7 stabilizing societies by improving access to peace and security-- 7,a7 services2 7,b7 institutions2 and 7,c7 venues for decisionmaking2 ,whereas1 according to the ,united ,nations1 peace negotiations are more likely to end in a peace agreement when women's groups play an influential role in the negotiation process2 ,whereas1 according to a study by the ,international ,peace ,institute1 a peace agreement is #ce percent more likely to last at least #ae years if women participate in the development of the peace agreement2 ,whereas1 according to the ,bureau of ,international ,narcotics and ,law ,enforcement ,affairs of the ,department of ,state1 the full and meaningful participation of women in security forces vastly enhances the effectiveness of the security forces2 ,whereas1 on ,august #cj1 #bjae1 the ,secretary of ,state and the ,secretary of ,state for ,foreign and ,commonwealth ,affairs of the ,united ,kingdom highlighted1 our goal must be to build societies in which sexual violence is treated--legally and by every institution of authority--as the serious and wholly intolerable crime that it is4 ,we have seen global campaigns and calls to action draw attention to this issue and mobilize governments and organizations to act4 ,but transformation requires the active participation of men and women everywhere4 ,we must settle for nothing less than a united world saying no to sexual violence and yes to justice1 fairness and peace42 ,whereas approximately #ae1jjj1jjj girls are married every year before they reach the age of #ah1 which means that-- 7#a7 #da1jjj girls are married every day2 or 7#b7 #a girl is married every #b seconds2 ,whereas1 according to ,,unicef-- 7#a7 approximately #a_/d of girls between the ages of #ae and #ai are victims of physical violence2 and 7#b7 it is estimated that #a in #c women around the world has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence2 ,whereas1 according to the #bjaf report of the ,united ,nations ,office on ,drugs and ,crime entitled ,global ,report on ,trafficking in ,persons-- 7#a7 #gi percent of all detected trafficking victims are women and children2 and 7#b7 while trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor are the most prominently detected forms of trafficking1 the trafficking of women and girls for the purpose of forced marriage is emerging as a more prevalent form of trafficking2 ,whereas #fjc1jjj1jjj women live in countries in which domestic violence is not criminalized2 ,whereas1 on ,august #aj1 #bjab1 the ,federal ,government launched a strategy entitled ,united ,states ,strategy to ,prevent and ,respond to ,gender-,based ,violence ,globally1 which is the first interagency strategy that-- 7#a7 addresses gender-based violence around the world2 7#b7 advances the rights and status of women and girls2 7#c7 promotes gender equality in ,united ,states foreign policy2 and 7#d7 works to bring about a world in which all individuals can pursue their aspirations without the threat of violence2 ,whereas1 in ,june #bjaf1 the ,department of ,state released an update to the strategy entitled ,united ,states ,strategy to ,prevent and ,respond to ,gender-,based ,violence ,globally1 based on internal evaluations1 lessons learned1 and consultations with civil society1 that underscores that preventing and responding to gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the ,u4,s4 government's commitment to advancing human rights and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls2 ,whereas the ability of women and girls to realize their full potential is critical to the ability of a country to achieve-- 7#a7 strong and lasting economic growth2 and 7#b7 political and social stability2 ,whereas1 according to the ,united ,nations ,educational1 ,scientific1 and ,cultural ,organization-- 7#a7 #b_/c of the #ggh1jjj1jjj illiterate individuals in the world are female2 and 7#b7 #acj1jjj1jjj girls worldwide are not in school2 ,whereas1 according to the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 as compared to uneducated women1 educated women are-- 7#a7 less likely to marry as children2 and 7#b7 more likely to have healthier families2 ,whereas1 although the ,united ,nations ,millennium ,project reached the goal of achieving gender parity in primary education in most countries in #bjae1 more work remains to be done to achieve gender equality in primary education worldwide by addressing-- 7#a7 discriminatory practices2 7#b7 cultural norms2 7#c7 inadequate sanitation facilities2 and 7#d7 other factors that favor boys2 ,whereas1 according to the ,united ,nations1 women have access to fewer income earning opportunities and are more likely to manage the household or engage in agricultural work than men1 making women more vulnerable to economic insecurity caused by-- 7#a7 natural disasters2 and 7#b7 long term changes in weather patterns2 ,whereas women around the world-- 7#a7 face a variety of constraints that severely limit their economic participation and productivity2 and 7#b7 are underrepresented in the labor force2 ,whereas closing the global gender gap in labor markets could increase worldwide gross domestic product by as much as #bh1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj by #bjbe2 ,whereas despite the achievements of individual female leaders-- 7#a7 women around the world remain vastly underrepresented in-- 7,a7 high-level positions2 and 7,b7 national and local legislatures and governments2 and 7#b7 according to the ,inter-,parliamentary ,union1 women account for only #bb percent of national parliamentarians and #ag4g percent of government ministers2 ,whereas1 according to the ,world ,health ,organization1 during the period beginning in #aiij and ending in #bjae1 global maternal mortality decreased by approximately #dd percent1 but approximately #hcj women die from preventable causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth each day1 and #ii percent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries2 ,whereas according to the ,world ,health ,organization-- 7#a7 suicide is the leading cause of death for girls between the ages of #ae and #ai2 and 7#b7 complications from pregnancy or childbirth is the second-leading cause of death for those girls2 ,whereas the ,office of the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees reports that women and girls comprise approximately #a_/b of the #fe1cjj1jjj refugees and internally displaced or stateless individuals in the world2 ,whereas it is imperative-- 7#a7 to alleviate violence and discrimination against women2 and 7#b7 to afford women every opportunity to be full and productive members of their communities2 ,whereas violence1 discrimination1 and harmful practices against women and girls are a direct result of negative social norms that undervalue females in society2 and ,whereas ,march #h1 #bjag1 is recognized as ,international ,women's ,day1 a global day-- 7#a7 to celebrate the economic1 political1 and social achievements of women in the past1 present1 and future2 and 7#b7 to recognize the obstacles that women 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 a country to generate-- 7,a7 economic growth2 7,b7 sustainable democracy2 and 7,c7 inclusive security2 7#c7 recognizes and honors individuals in the ,united ,states and around the world1 including women human rights defenders and civil society leaders1 that have worked throughout history to ensure that women are guaranteed equality and basic human rights2 7#d7 recognizes the unique cultural1 historical1 and religious differences throughout the world and urges the ,united ,states ,government to act with respect and understanding toward legitimate differences when promoting any policies2 7#e7 reaffirms the commitment-- 7,a7 to end discrimination and violence against women and girls2 7,b7 to ensure the safety and welfare of women and girls2 7,c7 to pursue policies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls worldwide2 and 7,d7 to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in every aspect of society and community2 7#f7 supports sustainable1 measurable1 and global development that seeks to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women2 and 7#g7 encourages the people of the ,united ,states to observe ,international ,women's ,day with appropriate programs and activities4