Honoring Women's History Month, the 99th Anniversary of International Women's Day and Declaring March 8, 2008 as "International Women's Day in Philadelphia."

WHEREAS, The month of March is nationally recognized in the United States as Women’s History Month; and

WHEREAS, March 8 was first designated as International Women’s Day in 1909, 99 years ago, it has been officially observed and promoted by the United Nations since 1975 and in many countries is a national holiday; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, women make up half of the world population and the continuing struggle for women’s rights and gender equality is not limited to the United States, but its goals and ideas are influencing the women’s rights movement worldwide; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, women still suffer from many inequalities in education, healthcare, employment, economic security as well as gender-based violence; and

WHEREAS, The number of women elected to government offices and leadership positions has steadily increased, there is still plenty of work to be done on this issue; and

WHEREAS, The theme for 2008 International Women’s Day is “Financing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment”; and

RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Declares and recognizes March 8, 2008 as “International Women’s Day” in the City of Philadelphia; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognized the efforts of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, National Organization of Women, YWCA of Philadelphia and AFSCME District Council 47-Local 2187 in organizing the International Women’s Day activities in our city which will focus local and worldwide attention on women’s struggles for equality and economic empowerment in conjunction with the celebration of Women’s History Month; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution will be presented to the Philadelphia International Women’s Day Committee Chair as evidence of the sincere sentiment of this legislative body.

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