2020 -- H 7972

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LC005187

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING MARCH 8, 2020, AS "INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY" IN THE STATE

OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Donovan, Mattiello, Ajello, Ackerman, and Carson

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, International Women's Day has been observed since the early 1900s, at a

time when women's oppression and inequality were causing women to become more vocal,

active, and demanding of change; and

     WHEREAS, The first National Women's Day was observed in the United States on

February 28, 1909, where women protested and demanded shorter hours, better pay, and voting

rights; and

     WHEREAS, The first countries to honor International Women's Day in 1911 were

Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, with more than one million women and men

attending International Women's Day rallies, demanding women's rights including the right to

work, vote, to hold public office, and an end to discrimination in general; and

     WHEREAS, In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 8th as

International Women's Day throughout the world, a day that is celebrated in the United States and

globally; and

     WHEREAS, International Women's Day has grown exponentially, nationally and

internationally, in developed and developing countries alike; and

     WHEREAS, The United Nations declared the 2020 theme for the International Women's

Day to be #EachForEqual, exalting the fact than an equal world is an enlightened world in which

gender inequality, pay inequality, sexual harassment and sexual violence will no longer be

tolerated in business, in boardrooms, in State Houses or the White House, and not even in

Hollywood; and

     WHEREAS, In a world where gender parity and equality remain elusive, the world will

continue to see sweeping and revolutionary movements like #TimesUp and the #MeToo

Movements; and

     WHEREAS, Although those statistics can be daunting and dim, there are nonetheless

numerous bright spots which we can now recognize and celebrate. Today, the Rhode Island

General Assembly recognizes International Women's Day 2020 by celebrating "Doctors of

Distinction," honoring seven Doctors of Distinction who, in particular, have changed the world

through their advocacy, care, passion and diligence. They are: Doctors Jody Underwood, Angela

Anderson, Maryellen Butke, Megan Ranney, Iris Tong, Lindsay Orchowski, and Carolina

Fonseca-Valencia; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby recognizes these seven prestigious, smart, elite and distinguished

women who have blazed educational trails and broken glass ceilings to land at the top of their

institutions. This House furthermore encourages all citizens to celebrate and pay tribute to the

contributions of these women, and all women, nationally and in the State of Rhode Island; and be

it further

     RESOLVED, That this House hereby recognizes March 8, 2020, as "International

Women's Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the first woman Governor of the State of Rhode

Island, the Honorable Gina Raimondo.

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