S-0155.1  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8008

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Spanel, Brown, Kohl‑Welles, Loveland, Fairley, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Snyder, Rasmussen, Wojahn, Shin, Heavey, Jacobsen, Fraser, Patterson, Haugen, Gardner, Goings, B. Sheldon, McAuliffe, Winsley, Costa, Franklin and Eide

Read first time 01/20/1999.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Urging the United States Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and to support the convention's continuing goals.

    TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE HONORABLE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, SECRETARY OF STATE:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 1979, became an international treaty on September 3, 1981, and as of December 1997, one hundred sixty-one nations have ratified or acceded to the convention's provisions; and

    WHEREAS, Although the United States is considered a world leader in human rights, supports and has a position of leadership in the United Nations, was an active participant in the drafting, and is a signatory of the convention, the United States is one of the few nations that has not ratified the treaty; and

    WHEREAS, The spirit of the convention is rooted in the goals of the United Nations and the United States that seek to affirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, and in the equal rights of men and women; and

    WHEREAS, The convention provides a comprehensive framework for challenging the various forces that have created and sustained discrimination based on sex against half of the world's population and the one hundred sixty-one nations that have ratified the convention have agreed to follow the convention prescriptions; and

    WHEREAS, Although women have made major gains in the struggle for equality in social, business, political, legal, and educational fields, there is much more to be accomplished; and through its support, leadership, and prestige, the United States can help create a world where women are no longer discriminated against and have achieved one of the most fundamental of human rights, equality;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and to support the convention's continuing goals.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the Honorable Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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