Senator Hutchison and her 16 female Senate Colleagues Will Introduce a Resolution Calling for Womens Rights in North Africa and the Middle East
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Following weeks of tumult and protests in North Africa and the Middle East U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) is joining with all 16 of her female Senator colleagues in emphasizing the vital importance of womens rights and political participation as leaders in North Africa and the Middle East consider constitutional reforms and shape new governments.
In a resolution to be introduced next week the 17 Senators are reaffirming their commitment to representative and responsive democratic governments that respect womens rights and are calling on leaders in North Africa and the Middle East to include women when it comes to making decisions that will affect their lives.
In societies where women are equal where they have the right to vote and to hold office and where they are empowered to be leaders in their communities those nations are so much more likely to thrive. Those are the societies that bring up the next generation with the right values the solid education and the economic vitality to succeed" said Senator Hutchison.
According to reports while women have sacrificed and peacefully protested side by side with men in nations throughout North Africa and the Middle East there are signs that women are increasingly being sidelined from the formation of new governments. In Tunisia according to press reports only two women have been appointed to the transitional government and in Egypt not a single woman has been appointed to the council in charge of revamping the constitution. The women of the Senate believe it is vital that women be included in making choices that will affect their lives.
The resolution is being led by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and is cosponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-California) Patty Murray (D- Washington) Barbara Boxer (D- California) Kay Hagan (D- North Carolina) Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) Maria Cantwell (D-California) Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) Jeanne Shaheen (D- New Hampshire) Susan Collins (R-Maine) Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire) Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) Lisa Murkowski (ID- Alaska) Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York).
