Bill Text: NJ AR32 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses opposition to Iran's election to Commission on the Status of Women.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee [AR32 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR32-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MARY PAT ANGELINI
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Gove, Casagrande, N.Munoz, Lampitt, Spencer and Tucker
SYNOPSIS
Expresses opposition to Iran's election to Commission on the Status of Women.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Assembly Resolution expressing opposition to Iran's election to the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women.
Whereas, On April 28, 2010, the Islamic Republic of Iran was elected to a seat on the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women, an organization dedicated exclusively to "evaluate progress, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide;" Iran, along with ten other nations, was elected by acclamation, meaning that an open vote was not required by the member countries, including the United States; and
Whereas, The Islamic Republic's government, in contrast to the commission's stated mission, has taken steps to deter women's progress, and the regressive regime has systematically discriminated against women in every sphere of society; mothers of individuals who participated in the protests following the disputed presidential election have been detained by the government, and women who peacefully seek changes to laws that limit their social and political freedoms are charged with threatening national security, arrested, interrogated, beaten, and imprisoned; and
Whereas, Currently, 65% of university students in Iran are women, but recently, the government instituted a 50-50 gender quota for university placement in certain areas of study; the quota effectively curtails the number of women accepted to university who pass rigorous entrance examinations in favor of men who may be less qualified; further limiting a woman's access to education, legislation was introduced last year that would require a woman to attend school in her hometown, even if test scores allowed her entrance into better universities located in Tehran; and
Whereas, In almost all aspects of life, women's rights are restricted; a woman is unable to choose her husband, cannot work without her husband's consent, has no right to divorce or to the legal guardianship of her children, and has no protection from violent treatment in public places, if her style of dress does not meet the standards of the morality police; additionally, child care centers throughout the country are being closed, hampering a woman's ability to work outside the home, and governmental programs to promote family planning are slowly being eliminated; and
Whereas, These discriminatory practices reinforce the opinion held by Iranian activists and critics of Iran's human rights record that the Islamic Republic does not believe in gender equality, and its membership on the Commission on the Status of Women could have highly negative ramifications for an organization responsible for monitoring the success countries throughout the world are making in improving women's rights; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper for the General Assembly to express its opposition to Iran's election to the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women, and to urge every member of New Jersey's Congressional delegation to voice its opposition to the United Nation's decision to seat Iran on a commission whose stated mission is to promote the rights of women throughout the world; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly expresses its opposition to Iran's election to the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women, and urges every member of New Jersey's Congressional delegation to voice its opposition to the United Nation's decision to seat Iran on a commission whose stated mission is to promote the rights of women throughout the world.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and every member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.
STATEMENT
This resolution expresses opposition to Iran's election to the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women, and urges every member of New Jersey's Congressional delegation to voice its opposition to the United Nation's decision to seat Iran on a commission whose stated mission is to promote the rights of women throughout the world.
