PRINTER'S NO. 2190
No. 372 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, FERLO, CONTI, TARTAGLIONE, C. WILLIAMS,
PUNT, BOSCOLA, PIPPY, WASHINGTON, EARLL, RAFFERTY, O'PAKE,
FONTANA, PILEGGI, BRIGHTBILL, KASUNIC, WENGER, ERICKSON,
D. WHITE, WONDERLING, LOGAN, ARMSTRONG, BROWNE, LAVALLE AND
M. WHITE, OCTOBER 17, 2006
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 17, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing November 25, 2006, as "International Day for the
2 Elimination of Violence Against Women," noting the
3 commencement of 16 days of activism against gender violence
4 and commending the Zonta Three Rivers North Organization.
5 WHEREAS, In the United States approximately 700,000 women are
6 raped or sexually assaulted each year, with 14.8% of women
7 reporting having been raped before the age of 17; and
8 WHEREAS, A woman is raped every six minutes in the United
9 States; and
10 WHEREAS, A woman is physically battered every 15 seconds in
11 the United States; and
12 WHEREAS, It is estimated by international service
13 organizations that a quarter of all women are raped in their
14 lifetime; and
15 WHEREAS, Depending upon the country in which they live, 25%
16 to 75% of women are regularly beaten at home; and
17 WHEREAS, In 2004 there were more than 17 million women living
1 with HIV/AIDS; and
2 WHEREAS, Since 1985 the percentage of adult women living with
3 HIV/AIDS worldwide has risen from 35% to 47%; and
4 WHEREAS, Violence against women is global and is one of the
5 most pernicious and widespread violations of human rights; and
6 WHEREAS, One in three women suffers some form of violence in
7 her lifetime; and
8 WHEREAS, Until women can live free from physical, sexual and
9 psychological violence, they do not live with full human rights;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, The Zonta Three Rivers North Organization,
12 established in 1980, is an affiliate of Zonta International, an
13 organization founded in 1919 to advance the status of women
14 worldwide through service and advocacy, politically, legally and
15 professionally; and
16 WHEREAS, Zonta International has nearly 33,000 individual
17 members in more than 1,249 Zonta Clubs in 68 countries and
18 geographic areas; and
19 WHEREAS, Zonta Three Rivers North significantly impacts the
20 lives of women in the Pittsburgh area by raising funds which are
21 distributed to support women's scholarships locally through
22 HEARTH, Crisis Center North, North Hills Community Outreach,
23 P.O.W.E.R. and Girls Hope, and to support women's initiatives
24 globally through Unifem, Heifer International and Zonta
25 International; and
26 WHEREAS, Zonta Three Rivers North has joined with Zonta
27 International to call for the worldwide adoption of November 25,
28 2006, as "International Day for the Elimination of Violence
29 Against Women" and as the first day of a 16-day period of
30 activism against gender violence; therefore be it
20060S0372R2190 - 2 -
1 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize November 25, 2006, as
2 "International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against
3 Women"; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the Senate note that this day commences 16
5 days of international activism against gender violence; and be
6 it further
7 RESOLVED, That the Senate commend Zonta Three Rivers North
8 for its excellent work in service to women in the Pittsburgh
9 area and through Zonta International and for all the efforts of
10 its members to end physical, emotional and psychological
11 violence against women.
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