House Concurrent Resolution 71

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND ACKNOWLEDGING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH AND DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MARCH 2022 AS THE PERIOD OF OBSERVATION AND CELEBRATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi joins the global community in acknowledging the importance of women and the significantly profound contributions and advancement womankind has made to society, by standing in solidarity to observe International Women's Day on March 8, 2022, and International Women's Month throughout the month of March; and

WHEREAS, it has been stated by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that "International Women's Day is an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women's empowerment but also to critically reflect on those accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide. It is a day to recognize the extraordinary acts of women and to stand together, as a united force, to advance gender equality around the world"; and

WHEREAS, birthed out of a movement of the Socialist Party of America, which dedicated a day in February to honor the 1908 women's garment workers strike in New York in protest against harsh labor conditions, the conceptualized observations of International Women's Day first emerged in 1909; and

WHEREAS, in 1945, the Charter of the United Nations became the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between men and women, and 30 years subsequent thereto, the United Nations celebrated its first official International Women's Day during International Women's Year in 1975; and

WHEREAS, International Women's month, also known as Women's History month, began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California, through grassroots galvanization of the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, which planned and executed a "Women's History Week" celebration in 1978, by selecting the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women's Day; and

WHEREAS, gaining momentum, the movement spread across the country as many communities implemented acknowledging celebration, and in 1980, many women's groups and historians led by the National Women's History Project now known as the National Women's History Alliance, successfully lobbied for recognition, which resulted in President Jimmy Carter's issuance of the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as National Women's History week; and

WHEREAS, in 1987, seven years after the first official acknowledgement by a national official, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as "Women's History Month"; and

WHEREAS, in keeping the spirit of excellence from which this international observance has blossomed, the National Women's History Alliance selects an annual theme to highlight the significance of the cause, and this year's theme, "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope," is a tribute to all caregivers and front line workers as the pandemic continues, as well as in general, for all women who have provided healing and hope in numerous ways throughout history; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to lend its unwavering support to the remarkable women who have and continue to make great strides toward advancing the mission of gender equality and women's empowerment around the world:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and acknowledge International Women's Month and designate the month of March 2022 as the period of observation and celebration throughout the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.