ACR 149, as introduced, Weber. Femicide and Gendercide Prevention and Awareness Month.
This measure would proclaim May 2014, and each month of May thereafter, Femicide and Gendercide Awareness and Prevention Month.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, According to estimates by the United Nations
2(UN), up to 200 million women and girls are demographically
3missing, which implies that the number of missing women, killed
4for gender-related reasons, is of the same magnitude as the
5estimated 191 million human beings who have lost their lives
6directly or indirectly as a result of all the conflicts and wars of the
720th century; and
8WHEREAS, The kidnapping by militants of approximately 300
9Nigerian girls from Chibok Government Girls Secondary School
10in April 2014 has caused a worldwide outcry for their release and
11has brought world attention once again to crimes against girls and
12women; and
P2 1WHEREAS, This type of gender-related violence has become
2too common globally and has been identified by the world
3community by the terms “femicide” or “feminicide.” The term
4femicide was introduced in 1976 by feminist author Dr. Diana
5E.H. Russell while testifying at the International Tribunal on
6Crimes Against Women in Brussels, and means the killing of
7females by males because they are females, or the misogynous
8murder of women by men. Another applicable term is “gendercide,”
9which was first coined by American feminist Mary Anne Warren
10in her 1985 book, “Gendercide: The Implications of Sex Selection,”
11and refers to gender-selective mass killing; and
12WHEREAS, Examples of femicide have been occurring in cities
13such as Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, since 1992, where more than 1,400
14women and girls have been killed; and
15WHEREAS, Examples of gendercide have been common
16practice in countries such as China and India, where the UN
17estimates over 200 million baby girls have been killed because
18they are undesirable and even unacceptable; and
19WHEREAS, Women live in a very insecure world where many
20fall victim to gender selective abortion and infanticide; other
21women do not receive the same amount of food and medical
22attention as their brothers, fathers, and husbands; other women
23fall prey to sexual offenders, honor killings, and acid attacks, most
24often for refusing a suitor; and scores of women succumb to the
25special horrors and hardships that conflict, war, and postconflict
26situations reserve for girls and women; and
27WHEREAS, A shocking number of women are killed within
28their own walls through domestic violence; and
29WHEREAS, Rape and sexual exploitation remain a reality for
30countless women, and millions of women are trafficked, some sold
31like cattle; and
32WHEREAS, The State of California commends the Obama
33Administration for helping the international community, and the
34Nigerian government, by sending a team of military, law
35enforcement, and hostage negotiators to do everything they can to
36recover these young ladies; and
37WHEREAS, The State of California condemns, and desires to
38combat, all acts of violence against women, be it femicide,
39gendercide, sexual exploitation, or rape; and
P3 1WHEREAS, Educating the public about the evils of femicide
2and gendercide, including the adoption of a Femicide and
3Gendercide Awareness and Prevention Month, are effective tools;
4now, therefore, be it
5Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
6thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the
7month of May of 2014, and each month of May thereafter, as
8Femicide and Gendercide Awareness and Prevention Month; and
9be it further
10Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
11of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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