HR1043 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1043 LRB095 20284 KXB 47262 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Every year thousands of events are held globally to honor women, celebrate their achievements throughout history, advocate for gender equity, and renew opportunities to achieve their potential; and

WHEREAS, In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding voting rights, shorter working hours, and better pay; this year marks the centennial of the march in New York City, providing a special incentive to celebrate International Women's Day; and

WHEREAS, The first National Woman's Day was observed across the United States on 28 February in 1909; in 1910 in Copenhagen, an International Women's Day was proposed to honor the women's rights movement and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women; over 100 women from 17 countries unanimously agreed to the proposal; three of these women were later elected the first women to the parliament of Finland; and

WHEREAS, For decades, International Women's Day has grown from strength to strength annually; for many years the United Nations has held an annual International Women's Day conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political, and economic processes; and

WHEREAS, 1975 was designated as International Women's Year by the United Nations; women's organizations and governments around the world have also observed International Women's Day annually, holding large-scale events that honor women's advancements, and with diligent reminders of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life; and

WHEREAS, International Women's Day is now an official holiday in many countries; the tradition sees men honoring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, and other women with flowers and small gifts; in some countries International Women's Day has the equivalent status of Mother's Day, where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers; and

WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides global connections among women regardless of age, class, education, ethnicity, geography, language, profession, race, or sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides recognition and celebration of women throughout the centuries; and

WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides acknowledgement that the human rights of women need to be recognized and guaranteed; and

WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides educational opportunities to address gender equity; and

WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides inspiration to work together for gender equity in every part of the world; and

WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides governments around the world the opportunity to address the economic, political, and social barriers to gender equity; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we salute the centenary of International Women's Day in the State of Illinois and join in this global celebration to act locally and network globally.