    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 10, 2008]
    [Pages 342-345]
    [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 10, 2008

        Thank you all. Thank you all. Please be seated. Welcome to the White
    House for this celebration of Women's History Month and International
    Women's Day. And we're glad you're here.
        Every March, people around the world recognize accomplishments of
    strong, fearless women. I see a lot of many strong, fearless women in
    this room. [Laughter] And I feel right at home. After all, I was raised
    by one, and I married one. [Laughter]
        My advice to the next President is to surround him or her--
    [laughter]--with strong, fearless women. That's what I've

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    done. People have served--as Laura mentioned,
    people serving in senior positions in my administration have made great
    contributions to our country, people like Secretary Rice, Secretary Chao,
    Secretary Peters, Secretary
    Spellings, Trade Representative
    Schwab, White House spokesman Dana
    Perino.
        We've got a lot of strong women throughout our Government, and
    that's the way it should be. And it's made my job a lot easier, and I
    appreciate them serving our country with such class and dignity.
        I too welcome the Members of the United States Congress. Thank you
    all for coming. We're honored you're here. Thanks for serving.
        Members of the diplomatic corps--Laura and I
    had a opportunity to meet representatives from our U.S. Armed Services
    who are here, and we've got representatives of the Army, Marine Corps,
    Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Thank you all for coming. Thanks for
    wearing the uniform. Appreciate it.
        Appreciate the members of the diplomatic corps joining us. And I too
    want to congratulate the recipients of the International Women of
    Courage Award. Thank you all for coming. Why don't we have our award
    winners stand up. [Applause] Yes, thank you all. Thank you all.
        During Women's History Month, we honor the courage, foresight, and
    resolve of women who have strengthened our democracy: pioneers like
    Amelia Earhart, suffragists like Sojourner Truth, healers like Clara
    Barton, writers like Harriet Beecher Stowe. These women have helped our
    Nation live up to its ideals of liberty and justice for all. At the same
    time, they have changed the way America views its women, the way both
    men and women view America.
        We take pride in the progress women have made here at home, and we
    know that millions of women abroad are still working to secure their
    basic rights. And as they do, the United States of America proudly
    stands with them. We do so because we know that liberty is the
    birthright of every person. And we do so because it's in our national
    interest. Societies where half the population is marginalized, or worse,
    are less likely to be prosperous and hopeful and more likely to become
    incubators for hateful ideologies.
        So the United States is working to help build more hopeful and just
    societies for women. In Africa, our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief,
    called PEPFAR, and our malaria initiative are saving millions from the
    disease that devastate women. Our Millennium Challenge Corporation
    provides microloans that help women start their own businesses. Our
    international education initiatives have trained thousands of teachers
    and have provided hundreds of thousands of scholarships to help girls go
    to school.
        The United States works to help build more hopeful and just
    societies throughout the world and, in particular, the Middle East. In
    Afghanistan, the Taliban once beat women without reason and executed
    them without remorse. Today, because we acted, Afghanistan's women serve
    as teachers and doctors and journalists and judges. More than 80 members
    of Afghanistan's parliament are women. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein once used
    rape rooms to brutalize women and dishonor their families. Today,
    because we acted, Iraq's women voted in a free and democratic elections.
    They live under a Constitution that protects women's rights. Freedom is
    powerful, and freedom is precious, and freedom belongs to all, and
    freedom will yield the peace we long for.
        The United States is proud to be a part of the global advance of
    women's rights. Yet one thing history shows us is that the cause of
    women's rights is inseparable from the cause of human rights. So on this
    International Women's Day, we honor the women who work to secure both
    their liberty and the liberty for others.
        America honors women like Madawi Al Hassoun of Saudi Arabia. An educator turned entrepreneur, she
    was one of the

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    first Saudi women to work alongside men in mixed businesses--in a mixed
    business environment. Ms. Hassoun was the first female director of the
    women's branch of one of Saudi's largest banks. She manages her own
    successful business now. Ms. Hassoun was also one of the first female
    candidates in Saudi Arabia to run for office. And today, she serves as
    an appointed member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce. As she has
    broadened the possibilities of Saudi women, Ms. Al Hassoun has also
    worked to bring greater economic freedom and prosperity to her own
    nation. She's on the forefront of change, and the United States strongly
    supports her.
        America honors Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. Early in her life, this woman waited tables
    to put herself through school at Harvard. She became an economist who
    returned to Liberia to serve her country, only to see it destroyed by
    brutal warlords and dictators. In 2005, Liberians reclaimed their
    freedom and chose Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to become the first woman ever
    elected President on the continent of Africa. Laura and I just recently visited the President.
        I was impressed by how strong she
    is as a leader, and she's committed to fighting disease and working to
    make Liberia's Government more transparent and honest. You know, the
    Liberians call President Johnson the ``Iron Lady'' and ``Ma.''
    [Laughter] I'm proud to call her friend. She's a great lover of liberty,
    and we will support her.
        America honors women like Irina Kozulina. Irina's husband Aleksandr
    Kozulin is serving a 5-year prison
    sentence for protesting Belarus's fraudulent 2006 elections. Irina
    worked relentlessly for her husband's freedom. In doing so, she became a
    leading voice for all political prisoners held captive by the
    Lukashenko regime.
        Irina was also very prominent in the breast cancer awareness
    campaign in Belarus. A few weeks ago, the disease claimed her life. The
    Lukashenko regime refused to release
    her husband to be with his wife in his
    final days. That's the definition of brutality. And the United States
    calls upon that Government to release Aleksandr Kozulin immediately,
    just like they ought to release every other political prisoner in
    Belarus. It's important for people to understand that this good woman,
    Irina, set the stage for what we hope Belarus to become, a free and just
    and open society.
        America honors women like Marta Beatriz Roque Cabello of Cuba. An economist and former math
    professor, Marta Beatriz is now a leader of a movement for a free Cuba.
    She spent years in Castro's dungeons for
    her activism. Because she spoke out about the universality of freedom,
    she has spent time in jail. She was recently released from her prison
    term because of her poor health. Yet neither her health nor the threat
    of danger has deterred this good woman, this pioneer for liberty.
        Just last week, Marta was
    one of the 10 opposition leaders beaten by Cuban police and security
    forces for distributing copies of the universal declaration for human
    rights. This courageous woman knows that freedom is not going to come to
    Cuba by trading one oppressive Castro
    regime for another. Today I have a message
    for the people of Cuba: Viene el dia de su libertad. Your day of freedom
    is coming. And until that day, the United States will stand with all the
    dissidents working together to bring freedom to Cuba, including a brave
    woman named Marta Beatriz Roque Cabello.
        America honors women like Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma. For 12 of the last 18 years, this extraordinary
    woman has been kept under house arrest by Burma's brutal military
    regime. Her only crime was to lead a political party that enjoys the
    overwhelming support of the Burmese people. During the long and lonely
    years of Daw Suu Kyi's imprisonment, the people of Burma have suffered
    with her. Aung San Suu Kyi has never wavered. Her courage

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    and her writings have inspired millions, and in so doing, have put fear
    into the hearts of the leaders of the Burmese junta.
        And that's why the regime has called a vote in May to ratify a
    dangerously flawed constitution, one that bars Suu from ever leading--leaving her country. Aung San Suu Kyi
    has said to the American people, ``Please use your liberty to promote
    ours.'' We're doing all we can, and we will continue to do so until the
    tide of freedom reaches the Burmese shores and frees this good, strong
    woman.
        Americans are inspired by the examples of these women and the women
    we honor here today. We will continue to support their work and the work
    of women across the world who stand up for the freedom of their people.
        One of America's finest poets was a woman named Emma Lazarus, who is
    most famous for writing the verses carved into the base of the Statue of
    Liberty. Those verses describe the copper icon as ``a mighty woman with
    a torch'' to light the way for all ``yearning to breathe free.'' During
    Women's History Month and at this celebration of International Women's
    Day, we are proud that the most recognizable symbol of America's love
    for freedom is ``a mighty woman.'' And we reaffirm our commitment to
    light the way for all--both women and men--``yearning to be free.''
        And now, I'd like to ask Laura and Secretary
    Chao and Secretary Peters and the Members of Congress who are here to join me on
    stage as I proudly sign Women's History Month proclamation.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:17 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to White House Press Secretary Dana
    Perino; President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus; and former President
    Fidel Castro Ruz and President Raul Castro Ruz of Cuba. The transcript
    released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks
    of the First Lady. The Women's History Month proclamation is listed in
    Appendix D at the end of this volume.