    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [March 7, 2006]
    [Pages 413-416]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Celebration of Women's History Month and International
    Women's Day
    March 7, 2006

        Thank you all. Thank you, Laura. Welcome to
    the White House. We like to call this the people's house. I want to
    remind people from around the world that we're only temporary occupants
    here, but we're trying to make the most of our time here.
        I want to welcome you all as we celebrate Women's History Month and
    International Women's Day. Thanks for coming. We recognize the many
    contributions women have made to our country. We also honor those who
    have helped bring equality and freedom to women around the world.
        A lot of strong women have influenced my life--[laughter]--beginning
    with my mother. [Laughter] She told me to say
    that, by the way. [Laughter] I am blessed to have a strong wife. And we are raising two young women to become independent,
    capable risk takers--[laughter]--so that they can realize their dreams.
        I have been blessed to have strong women in my Government. My
    administration is better off to have really capable women who feel
    comfortable marching in the Oval Office and giving the President their
    frank advice. [Laughter]
        I want to thank Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, who is with us; Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings--she's been giving me frank advice ever
    since I was the Governor of Texas. [Laughter] I want to thank Karen
    Hughes--Ambassador Karen Hughes, the Under
    Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. She's been really
    giving me a lot of advice. [Laughter] Paula Dobriansky, the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global
    Affairs; Harriet Miers, my attorney--by the

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    way, for those of you who aren't familiar with America, it's always good
    to have a good attorney. [Laughter] Harriet Miers is my attorney. She
    gives me legal advice.
        Fran Townsend is in charge of
    our--part of the National Security Council in charge of homeland
    security. Protecting our homeland is a vital part of America, and I rely
    upon a very capable, strong woman to give me good advice.
        I want to thank my friend Pat Brister, who is the U.S. Representative to the United Nations
    Commission on the Status of Women, for joining us. Pat is--there she
    is--from Louisiana, where Laura and I will be
    tomorrow, by the way.
        I want to thank Congresswoman Judy Biggert from the State of Illinois. She's with us. For those of
    you who are unfamiliar with our Congress, we have a lot of very capable
    women who are running for office and have become elected--and making a
    big difference in the Halls of Congress. I appreciate the members of the
    diplomatic corps who have joined us. Thank you all for coming. It's good
    to see so many ambassadors and ambassadresses here today. [Laughter]
        I want to thank the members of the United States-Afghan Women's
    Council who are here. You all are making a significant difference in the
    lives of people who are beginning to feel the freshness of the light of
    democracy. And as Laura mentioned, we were in
    Afghanistan with President Karzai. And there's
    nothing better than being in a country that's beginning to realize the
    benefits of freedom; particularly, women who have been completely
    suppressed under the Taliban are now beginning to see the beautiful--
    breathe that beautiful air of a free society. And so I want to thank the
    members of the United States-Afghan Women's Council for being so
    diligent and caring and staying with this important issue--that issue
    being the freedom of women in Afghanistan.
        I want to thank the members of the International Republican
    Institute and the National Endowment for Democracy. Thank you for
    hosting our international delegates. Thank you for helping them in their
    training exercises and sharing expertise and compassion. I want to thank
    the delegations from Afghanistan and Iraq and around the world for
    joining us today. You're welcome in the United States of America; I hope
    you feel that way.
        The struggle for women's rights is a story of strong women willing
    to take the lead. That's particularly true in the United States of
    America, where women like Susan B. Anthony and Alice Stone Blackwell and
    Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Rosa Parks changed the course of our Nation's
    history. Our history was altered because strong women stood up and led.
    These women broke down barriers to equality. We weren't always an equal
    society in America, and it required strong leadership to help make
    America a more equal place. And we're a better place because of the
    leadership of women throughout our history.
        Women today are shaping the future of America as scientists and
    entrepreneurs and teachers and astronauts. They serve our Nation with
    honor and distinction in our Armed Forces. The distinguished leadership
    of women like Secretary of State Condi Rice--where is she--she had an excused absence--
    [laughter]--and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has helped open doors for women for future generations.
        Across the world, the increasing participation of women in civic and
    political life has strengthened democracies. A democracy is strong when
    women participate in the society. The nation of Liberia recently elected
    its first woman President, and
    Laura and Secretary Rice were there to witness her swearing-in. I look
    forward to welcoming her to America, by the way.
        Women lead Governments in Germany, in
    Chile, and the
    Philippines. In Rwanda, nearly half
    of the members of Parliament are women. And women are now holding more
    parliamentary seats in nations like Morocco and Jordan and Tunisia.

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        In the last 4 years, we have also seen women make great strides in
    Afghanistan and Iraq--countries where just a few years ago, women were
    denied basic rights and were brutalized by tyrants. Today in
    Afghanistan, girls are attending school. That speaks well for
    Afghanistan's future. Women hold about 20 percent of the seats in the
    National Assembly. Nobody could have dreamed that was possible 5 years
    ago. In last fall's elections, about 40 percent of the voters were
    women. In Iraq, women are voting in large numbers, and when the new
    Iraqi Parliament takes office, women will hold about one-quarter of the
    seats.
        The United States is working to increase opportunities for women in
    these two emerging democracies. Through the Iraqi Women's Democracy
    Initiative, we're providing funds for Iraqi women to receive training in
    political leadership and learn about the legislative process, the
    judicial system, and how to defend and promote human rights.
        In Afghanistan, we're helping women find ways to join the political
    process at the local level and to acquire the skills they need for
    advocacy and communication. We're working with the private sector in
    America to help Afghan women travel abroad to learn more about the
    political process and to be able to exchange ideas with fellow women,
    just like which is taking place here in America today.
        Our work to help build vibrant and functioning democracies in
    Afghanistan and Iraq is part of a larger effort to encourage progress
    across the broader Middle East. We refuse to accept the status quo in
    the United States of America, particularly when we find women repressed.
    As women become a part of the democratic process, they help spread
    freedom and justice and, most importantly of all, hope for a future.
        One important program is the Women's Democracy Network, which is
    holding its inaugural meeting this week in Washington. This conference
    provides an opportunity for women leaders around the world to connect
    with each other and serve as mentors for women in developing democracies
    so they can help shape the future of their nations.
        As we work to advance the equality of women in the world's newest
    democracies, we must remember that many women in other countries around
    the world are still struggling for basic rights in places like Iran and
    North Korea and Burma. America will help women stand up for their
    freedom, no matter where they live.
        Recently I welcomed two
    women from Belarus who were concerned
    about the repressive nature of their Government. We stand with the women
    in Belarus who advocate human rights in a runup to this month's
    election. America will continue to support courageous reformers around
    the world, women like Burmese dissident Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent years under house arrest for her efforts to
    bring democracy to her nation.
        We will continue to fight the threats to women across the world.
    We'll continue working with nations around the world to end the sexual
    exploitation and the trafficking of women and young girls. It breaks our
    hearts, our collective hearts, to realize many young girls are sold into
    sex slavery, and we will use our prestige to stop that evil process.
        We will continue working to fight the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
    America is proud to lead the world in the struggle to defeat this
    pandemic. We understand that by defeating the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, we
    will help children and women, who have been disproportionately affected
    by this horrible pandemic.
        We live in extraordinary times. These are exciting times. They are
    times that require a firm conviction in our beliefs that all people are
    created equal. We've seen the fall of brutal tyrants and the rise of
    democracy. We're also seeing women take their rightful place in
    societies that were once closed and

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    oppressive. And the United States welcomes the arrival of women into
    these oppressive societies. There's no doubt in my mind, empowering
    women in new democracies will make those democracies better countries
    and help lay the foundation of peace for generations to come.
        So Laura and I welcome you to the White
    House. We're really glad you're here. We're so glad you're here, we're
    about to throw a reception on your behalf. [Laughter] And we wish you to
    enjoy it.
        May God bless everybody here. May God bless your families, and may
    God bless our respective nations. Thank you for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:44 a.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Hamid Karzai of
    Afghanistan; former Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor;
    President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia; Chancellor Angela Merkel of
    Germany; President-elect Michelle Bachelet Jeria of Chile; President
    Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines; Irina Krasovskaya and
    Svyatlana Zavadskaya, widows of prodemocracy advocates who disappeared
    in Belarus; and Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for
    Democracy in Burma. The transcript released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary also included the remarks of the First Lady, who introduced
    the President. The Women's History Month proclamation of February 27 is
    listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.