2023 House Resolution 53

Whereas, March 8, 2023, marks the 112th anniversary of the celebration of International Women’s Day. Originally beginning in response to terrible working conditions and exploitation, 15,000 women took to the streets in New York protesting the terrible working conditions they endured. It is celebrated on March 8 of every year; and

Whereas, International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political, and social achievements of women in the past, present, and future. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements, regardless of divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments and, more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women; and

Whereas, In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation, and love towards women to a celebration for women’s economic, political, and social achievements; and

Whereas, The earliest Women’s Day observance was held in 1909 in New York and was organized in remembrance of the strike of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union. At the second International Women’s Conference in 1910, the first International Women’s Day was officially established to promote equal rights, including suffrage, for women. The following year, International Women’s Day was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. The efforts of early European pioneers led to women gaining the right to vote, to hold public office, and the establishment of many early prohibitions against employment sex discrimination; and

Whereas, In 1975, during the United Nations (UN) International Year for Women, the UN held its first official celebration of International Women’s Day. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed by member states. In adopting this resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women’s full and equal participation; and

Whereas, Beginning in 1996, International Women’s Day organizers began adopting a theme to each year’s celebrations that reinforces its commitment to women’s rights and world peace; and Successful campaigns centered on such themes as “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future” (1996) and “Women in Decision-Making” (2006); and

Whereas, Presidents of the United States have consecutively declared March to be Women’s History Month since 1988 after the National Women’s History Project petitioned the United States Congress in 1987 for recognition of Women’s History Month, and have since announced the 2021 theme of “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced continues to celebrate the Suffrage Centennial”; and

Whereas, On the occasion of 2010 International Women’s Day, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) drew attention to the hardships displaced women endure by spreading awareness of the displacement of populations as one of the gravest consequences of today’s armed conflicts; and

Whereas, There are more than 3.8 billion women in the world today. Women around the world participate in the political, social, and economic life of their communities, play a critical role in providing and caring for their families, contribute substantially to the growth of economies, and, as both farmers and caregivers, play an important role in advancing food security for their communities; and

Whereas, The advancement of women is a public policy priority for our country and the state of Michigan. The ability of women to realize their full potential is critical to the ability of a country and state to achieve strong and lasting economic growth and social stability; and

Whereas, Since 2018, the three highest governmental positions held in Michigan are all occupied by women: Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson; and

Whereas, 2020 saw a historic shattering of a glass ceiling with the election of Kamala Harris as the first African American female Vice-President of the United States. The hope is that someday soon the ultimate glass ceiling will be shattered with the election of the first female U.S. President; and

Whereas, 2022 was another year for women’s history, seeing Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson become the first African American woman to serve on the most esteemed court in the United States of America; and

Whereas, 2022 saw another monumental moment for the state of Michigan with the appointment of former State Representative Kyra Harris Bolden to the Michigan Supreme Court making her the first African American woman to serve on the highest court in the state; and

Whereas, Additionally in 2023, the state legislature saw great historical leaps in women representing all kinds of diverse entities, highlighted by Senator Winnie Brinks, who in 2023, became the first woman to serve as the majority leader in the Michigan Senate.

Whereas, Although strides have been made in recent decades, women around the world continue to face significant obstacles in all aspects of their lives, including underrepresentation in all aspects of public life, denial of basic human rights, and discrimination; and

Whereas, Despite some achievements by individual women leaders, women around the world are still vastly underrepresented in high level positions and in national and local legislatures and governments and, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, women account for only 25 percent of national parliamentarians; and

Whereas, Women remain underrepresented in conflict prevention and conflict resolution efforts, despite proven successes by women in conflict-affected regions in moderating violent extremism, resolving disputes through non-violent mediation and negotiation, and stabilizing their societies by improving access to peace and security services, institutions, and decision-making venues; and

Whereas, March 8 is recognized each year as International Women’s Day, a global day to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future, and a day to recognize the obstacles that women still face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare March 8, 2023, as International Women’s Day in the state of Michigan. We support the goals of International Women’s Day, recognize that the empowerment of women is inextricably linked to the potential of countries to generate economic growth, sustainable democracy, and inclusive security, honor the women in the United States and around the world who have worked throughout history to ensure that women are guaranteed equality and basic human rights, reaffirm the movement’s commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women and girls, to ensuring the safety and welfare of women and girls, and to pursuing policies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls worldwide, and encourage the people of Michigan to observe International Women’s Day with appropriate programs and activities.