Whereas, August twenty-sixth is called Women’s Equality Day when, after the perseverance and

courage of many women eight-six years ago, women gained the right to vote; and

Whereas, It is the fifteenth anniversary of the Clothesline Project, a project developed to give women their personal testimony and raise awareness of the domestic violence and other atrocities committed against women; and

Whereas, the United Nations Resolution 1325 calls on all actors involved in negotiating and implementing peace agreements to adopt a gender perspective that includes the special needs of women and girls during repatriation and resettlement, rehabilitation, reintegration and post-conflict reconstruction; and

Whereas, this day is to be memorialized to give every woman her voice for independence and freedom from violence;

Now, therefore, I, Tom Potter, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim August 26, 2008 to be

Women’s Equality Day

in Portland, and encourage all residents to observe this day.