Lynn C. Woolsey: “Mr. Speaker, this Friday is ``International Women's Day.'' I come before you today to celebrate one-half of the world's…”

“Mr. Speaker, this Friday is ``International Women's Day.'' I come before you today to celebrate one-half of the world's population. I come to pay tribute to women of every nation who care for their families, contribute to their work places, and make their communities stronger. They are true heroes, and deserve our recognition. Mr. Speaker, it has been over 6 months since the U.N. Sixth World Conference on Women took place in Beijing. At this conference, leaders from around the globe laid out a plan of action for improving the economic, social, educational, health, and political status of women worldwide. A key plank of that document is ratification of the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, or CEDAW, as this treaty is commonly known. CEDAW, which was drafted at the first women's conference in Mexico City in 1975, holds governments responsible for working to eliminate all forms of discrimination against all women. To date, CEDAW has been ratified by 144 countries, with one notable exception--the United States. Can you believe it?…”