PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The 17 females in the U.S. Senate, led by Olympia Snowe of Maine, are calling on leaders in North Africa and the Middle East to include women when it comes to making decisions that affect their lives.
Snowe is the sponsor of a resolution to be introduced next week that reaffirms the senators’ commitment to representative and responsive democratic governments that respect women’s rights.
They say there are signs in North Africa and the Middle East that women are increasingly being sidelined from the formation of new governments. For example, they say not a single woman has been appointed to a council in Egypt in charge of revamping the constitution.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins and New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte also support the resolution.
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