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.