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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Every year thousands of events are held globally
3 to honor women, celebrate their achievements throughout
4 history, advocate for gender equity, and renew opportunities to
5 achieve their potential; and
 
6     WHEREAS, In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York
7 City demanding voting rights, shorter working hours, and better
8 pay; this year marks the centennial of the march in New York
9 City, providing a special incentive to celebrate International
10 Women's Day; and
 
11     WHEREAS, The first National Woman's Day was observed across
12 the United States on 28 February in 1909; in 1910 in
13 Copenhagen, an International Women's Day was proposed to honor
14 the women's rights movement and to assist in achieving
15 universal suffrage for women; over 100 women from 17 countries
16 unanimously agreed to the proposal; three of these women were
17 later elected the first women to the parliament of Finland; and
 
18     WHEREAS, For decades, International Women's Day has grown
19 from strength to strength annually; for many years the United
20 Nations has held an annual International Women's Day conference
21 to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and
22 participation in social, political, and economic processes;

 

 

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1 and
 
2     WHEREAS, 1975 was designated as International Women's Year
3 by the United Nations; women's organizations and governments
4 around the world have also observed International Women's Day
5 annually, holding large-scale events that honor women's
6 advancements, and with diligent reminders of the continued
7 vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality
8 is gained and maintained in all aspects of life; and
 
9     WHEREAS, International Women's Day is now an official
10 holiday in many countries; the tradition sees men honoring
11 their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, and other women
12 with flowers and small gifts; in some countries International
13 Women's Day has the equivalent status of Mother's Day, where
14 children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers;
15 and
 
16     WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides global
17 connections among women regardless of age, class, education,
18 ethnicity, geography, language, profession, race, or sexual
19 orientation; and
 
20     WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides recognition
21 and celebration of women throughout the centuries; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides
2 acknowledgement that the human rights of women need to be
3 recognized and guaranteed; and
 
4     WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides educational
5 opportunities to address gender equity; and
 
6     WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides inspiration to
7 work together for gender equity in every part of the world; and
 
8     WHEREAS, International Women's Day provides governments
9 around the world the opportunity to address the economic,
10 political, and social barriers to gender equity; therefore, be
11 it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
14 salute the centenary of International Women's Day in the State
15 of Illinois and join in this global celebration to act locally
16 and network globally.