By Thompson                                           H.C.R. No. 11
         76R1265 ELG-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of
 1-2     All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was adopted by the United
 1-3     Nations General Assembly on December 18, 1979, and achieved the
 1-4     status of international treaty two years later; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, So far, 161 nations have ratified or acceded to the
 1-6     convention's provisions and expressed an official commitment to
 1-7     provisions to eliminate discrimination against women and to foster
 1-8     and uphold gender equality; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, While women have made significant social, legal,
1-10     professional, educational, and political gains, much remains to be
1-11     accomplished in their continuing struggle throughout the world for
1-12     full equality and justice; and
1-13           WHEREAS, The convention provides a comprehensive framework
1-14     for promoting that honorable cause and for challenging the various
1-15     forces and practices that have created and sustained discrimination
1-16     based on gender against half of the world's population; and
1-17           WHEREAS, The spirit of the convention is rooted in the goals
1-18     of the United Nations that seek to affirm faith in fundamental
1-19     human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, and in
1-20     the equal rights of men and women; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Although the United States is considered a world
1-22     leader in human rights, holds a position of leadership in the
1-23     United Nations, and was an active participant in the drafting and a
1-24     signatory of the convention, it is one of the few nations that have
 2-1     not ratified the treaty; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, The United States should capitalize on this
 2-3     excellent opportunity to assert a strong moral stance and to join
 2-4     with other nations to promote one of the most fundamental human
 2-5     rights, equality, and to help create a world where women are no
 2-6     longer discriminated against; now, therefore, be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-8     hereby respectfully urge the president of the United States and the
 2-9     Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate to
2-10     designate the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of
2-11     All Forms of Discrimination Against Women as a high priority for
2-12     this nation and to enlist the cooperation of the full United States
2-13     Senate to expedite its ratification; and, be it further
2-14           RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
2-15     copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
2-16     the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of
2-17     the senate of the United States Congress, and to all members of the
2-18     Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this
2-19     resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a
2-20     memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.