women and politics

Supporting Goals of International Women 's Day

The popular image of women 's liberation and emancipation in the United States is that of bra burning females of the 1960 's . Burning of items of feminine wear on 7 September 1968 has been permanently etched into American women liberation history as a revolution though as Berkeley (1999 ) conclude that this was an innocuous sub event in the overall protests by members of New York Radical Women . From this glamorized event to the more substantial issue of International Women 's Day , America as well

as the World has come a long way . The Eighth of March every year sees the world celebrating International Women 's Day (IWD . This is a significant event and 2007 will mark the 30th anniversary of IWD . The UN established IWD in 1977 and provides an opportunity to celebrate the progress made in empowering women and to assess future challenges . IWD encourages the world to consider steps to bring about equality for women and girls in all their diversity and to celebrate the collective power of women past , present and future International Women 's Day , recognizes both the great strides women have made and the critical need to end discrimination and violence against women globally

It is therefore significant that a Resolution was introduced in the US House of Representatives on 8 February 2007 supporting the goals of the IWD and encourages ' the President of the US reaffirm his commitment to pursue policies to protect fundamental human rights and civil liberties , particularly those of women and girls (Resolution , 2006 The Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives on 8 February passed House Resolution No . 149 , a resolution sponsored by the Democrat Representative from Illinois , Jan Schakowsky . The bill had 83 co-sponsors , a majority of whom were Democrats

The Resolution calls on the US House of Representatives to support the goals of International Women 's Day , honour women around the world who have fought and continue to struggle for equality in the face of adversity , and reaffirm its commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women and to pursuing policies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls both in the United States and in other countries . The resolution also encourages the President to reaffirm his commitment to pursue policies to protect the health and human rights of women and girls and to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe March 8th , International Women 's Day , with appropriate programs and activities . The resolution will now go to the full House for a vote . This resolution was considered in Committee which has recommended that the House as a whole should consider it Although the Resolution has been placed on a calendar of business , the majority party leadership will determine the in which bills are considered and voted on . On February 15 , 2007 the House Foreign Affairs committee ed it to be reported by Voice Vote

This bill is...