WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and a bipartisan coalition of Senators in announcing a resolution to recognize March 8, 2016 as International Women’s Day and commemorate the achievements of women around the world. The International Women’s Day resolution, co-sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Was.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women while recognizing the obstacles women continue to face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities.

“International Women’s Day is an important reminder of how far the world has come and how much we still need to do. Yes, things are better than they’ve been, but at this rate it will take nearly 120 years for the world to reach global gender parity – that’s just too long,” said Murphy. “The United States and our allies must make women and girls’ human rights, education, economic opportunity, and inclusion in the political process a top foreign policy priority.”

“Recognizing International Women’s Day sends an important message around the globe that the United States continues to be a leader in encouraging social, political and economic equality for women and girls,” said Shaheen. “When girls and women succeed, their families succeed, their communities succeed, and their countries succeed. International Women’s Day is an opportunity to renew our commitment to advancing global gender equality.”

“With this resolution, the U.S. Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to International Women’s Day and the pursuit of a world that not only empowers women, but also recognizes the important contributions that women are making across the globe,” Collins said. “It is imperative that we continue to pursue policies that guarantee the basic human rights of our mothers, daughters, and sisters around the world.”

In support of the goals of International Women’s Day, the resolution also affirms the advancement of women as a foreign policy priority for the United States. It also 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 most aspects of public life, the denial of basic human rights for women in many countries, and the threat of violence and abuse that too many women around the world continue to face. 

The full text of the resolution is available here.