By: Thompson, S. H.C.R. No. 47 73R4465 MPC-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 1-2 Discrimination Against Women was adopted by the General Assembly of 1-3 the United Nations in 1979 and achieved the status of international 1-4 treaty two years later; and 1-5 WHEREAS, So far, 119 nations have ratified the treaty and 1-6 expressed an official commitment to provisions to eliminate 1-7 discrimination against women and to foster and uphold gender 1-8 equality; and 1-9 WHEREAS, The spirit of the convention is rooted in the goals 1-10 of the United Nations to affirm faith in fundamental human rights, 1-11 in the dignity and worth of all people, and in the equal rights of 1-12 men and women; and 1-13 WHEREAS, While women have made significant social, legal, 1-14 professional, educational, and political gains, much remains to be 1-15 accomplished in their continuing struggle throughout the world for 1-16 full equality and justice; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The convention provides a comprehensive framework 1-18 for promoting that honorable cause and for challenging the various 1-19 forces and practices that have created and sustained discrimination 1-20 based on gender; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The United States, which has signed but not yet 1-22 ratified or implemented the treaty, has an excellent opportunity in 1-23 its capacity as a world leader to assert a strong moral stance and 1-24 to join with other nations to promote this most fundamental human 2-1 right, equality; now, therefore, be it 2-2 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas 2-3 hereby strongly encourage the president of the United States and 2-4 the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate to 2-5 designate the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of 2-6 All Forms of Discrimination Against Women as a high priority for 2-7 this nation and to enlist the cooperation of the full United States 2-8 Senate to expedite its ratification; and, be it further 2-9 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 2-10 copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to 2-11 the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of 2-12 representatives of the United States Congress, and to all members 2-13 of the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that it be 2-14 officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the 2-15 Congress of the United States of America.