MIKULSKI, CARDIN, BIPARTISAN SENATE COALITION INTRODUCE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) together with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and a bipartisan coalition of Senators today announced that they have introduced a resolution to recognize March 8, 2015 as International Women’s Day (IWD) and commemorate the achievements of women around the world.

“International Women's Day reminds us to celebrate the contributions women make around the world and here at home,” Senator Mikulski said. “Every day, women fight to build stronger economies, improve conditions for families and communities, and inspire the next generation of young girls. That's why I fight every day to make sure that women are at the table and empowered to make a difference.”

“Empowering women is one of the most critical tools in our tool box to fight poverty and injustice. All of us – women and men alike – can help by supporting women’s efforts to claim their legal rights, to be free from violence, earn a decent income, get an education, grow food for their families, and make their voices heard in their communities and beyond,” said Senator Cardin. “Twenty years since Beijing, we’ve made progress integrating the unique needs of women into our domestic and international policies, but there is much more work to be done.”

The International Women’s Day resolution celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future while also recognizing the obstacles women continue to face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities. International Women’s Day takes place annually on March 8.

In support of the goals of IWD, the resolution also affirms the advancement of women as a foreign policy priority for the United States. It notes that the ability of women to realize their full potential through education and economic empowerment is critical to a nation’s ability to achieve strong and lasting economic growth, as well as political and social stability. Specifically, the bipartisan resolution highlights the underrepresentation of women in all aspects of public life, the denial of basic human rights for women in select countries, as well as the threat of violence and abuse too many women around the world continue to face.

In addition to Senators Mikulski, Cardin and Shaheen, the bipartisan resolution is cosponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).