1996.09.09 : UN Conference to Commemorate Beijing, New York, New York

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That was the message of the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing. And that is why all of us are here today. I can think of no more appropriate subject for this great hall, for this extraordinary organization.

In the aftermath of World War II, the U.N. was born to bring order to a world of chaos, to bring peace to a world in turmoil. For President Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt, the U.N. was a dream -- a dream where nations could become stronger standing together than we are standing apart, a dream that has lived here for more than 50 years.

For more than 50 years, this is the place where nations have reached across the boundaries of geography and race, of religion and culture to celebrate our collective humanity and reach our common goals. This is the place where we stamped sanctions on South Africa to protest the chains of Apartheid. This is the place where we offered a blanket of protection to refugees escaping war in Afghanistan and throughout the world. This is the place where we cleared new pathways to eradicate smallpox, to fight hunger in Somalia and the spread of disease in Zaire.

And, this is the place -- here, today -- that we will reignite the spirit of the Beijing Conference -- and recommit ourselves to lifting up the lives of women and families all over our globe.

I will never forget how it felt to stand in strength and solidarity with the 40,000 women and men who gathered last year in Beijing -- many of whom are here today in this room. We were farmers and factory workers, we were scientists and social workers, we were parents and government officials.

But, we were united around one belief, a belief eloquently expressed by First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton, who told the conference and the world that "Human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights." That theme echoed throughout the conference and created the foundation for our Platform for Action.

Listen carefully to these words: A Platform for Action. Not a Platform for Platitudes or Rhetoric. Not a Platform to create a commission or commission a study. A Platform for Action. And, a mandate for results.

Why? Because too many women and their families still die of preventable diseases. Too many women and their children still face the terror and tears of domestic violence. And, too many women are still denied access to education, proper nutrition, reproductive health and economic security.

We went to Beijing to focus a spotlight on these global challenges. And, each of our nations brought home a promise to meet them. In the United States, under President Clinton's leadership, we are making good on that promise.

Last year, on the eve of the Beijing Conference, the President announced the creation of the Interagency Council on Women -- a council which I chair. For the last year, members of the Council have reached deep into every Federal department and agency -- to uncover new ways -- better ways -- of serving women and children.

But, we have not only reached in, we have reached out -- working with the non-governmental organizations [NGOs] and other partners who planted the seeds of Beijing yesterday and will help them to grow and flourish tomorrow.

On September 28, the United States will be holding a satellite conference to talk to women throughout our nation about the distance we have traveled since Beijing and the mountains we have yet to climb. Because of your leadership, I'm proud to say that we will have a good story to tell -- a story of progress.

We are moving forward by insisting that women are part of every clinical research trial. Moving forward by dramatically increasing our commitment to breast cancer research, treatment, and prevention. Moving forward to ensure that all women have access to good reproductive health and full reproductive freedom. Moving forward with a new $100 million effort to develop a female microbicide -- so that women everywhere can protect themselves and their families from the scourge of HIV and AIDS. Moving forward to empower women and families to lift themselves up from poverty. And, moving forward by teaching young girls to say "no" to tobacco, drugs, and pre-marital sex and say "yes" to their health, their education, and their future -- that's progress.

We are also making it easier for women to own their own homes and buy a piece of the American Dream -- that's progress. Creating a toll free telephone hotline that victims of domestic violence can call from any place in United States, any day, any time -- that's progress. Asking corporations -- large and small -- to improve the benefits and working conditions for women -- that's progress.

Ensuring that girls always have the opportunity to study math and science and learn in an environment free from sexual harassment -- that's progress. And, helping women all over the world reap the benefits of political participation, legal power, and educational opportunity -- that's progress.

We know that women and families will only be safe in the United States if they are safe everywhere in the world. And, we see our role as an international partner committed to ensuring the health and safety of our global community, committed to stamping out both human viruses and human violations whenever and wherever they rear their ugly heads.

Sometimes taking on these issues is tough. Sometimes it's unpopular. But, it is always the right thing to do.

That's why, through words and actions, we have stood with our brothers and sisters around the world to lead on the tough issues, to make it clear that all children must have the basic necessities of life. And all women must have the tools they need to safeguard their reproductive health and control their reproductive destinies.

Whether it's happening to our daughters here or anywhere else in the world, we have condemned -- and will continue to condemn -- the horror and sheer inhumanity of genital mutilation.

We have made it clear that rape as a weapon of war is a crime against all of humanity. And, we have said that we will do everything in our power to stop those who would dare to traffic women and children for prostitution and slavery. It is violence. It is exploitation. It is an atrocity. And, it must be stopped.

But, there is something else we all must do. Because, everyday in communities here and abroad these issues affecting women and families are being debated. The details are being ironed out. The deals are being brokered. And, the decisions are being signed, sealed and delivered. But too often, there is something very important missing -- women's voices. As we said so clearly in Beijing: That must change.

In the United States, women are 52 percent of the population -- not a "special interest" -- 52 percent of the population.

When decisions are being made about our health, when decisions are being made about our families, when decisions are being made about our communities, and when decisions are being made about our countries, we must be sitting at the table.

It is not that women are better than men or smarter than men. It's because we have unique voices that must be heard, valued and woven into every decision that affects our families and our nations.

We have been so successful in this Administration that we sometimes joke that we are finally in the age when a policy issue can be proposed by a woman analyst at a Federal department, funneled through a female Cabinet Secretary and a female policy advisor at the White House never touching a man's hands until it reaches the President's desk for his approval.

This quantum leap couldn't have happened without the leadership and commitment of this President and this First Lady.

Preparing a woman for a top policy position takes decades. It takes decades of women and men working together, decades of teaching young girls that they can aspire to anything and opening the doors of opportunity so that they can really do so -- from grammar school to law school, and from junior internships to senior partnerships.

Last month, the world watched in awe as the female Olympians took Atlanta -- and the entire world -- by storm. But, champions like Amy Van Dyken, Gail Devers, and Shannon McMillan didn't just stumble upon their Gold Medals. They had years of dedication, family, skill, character, and, of course, in my country -- a federal law -- Title IX on their side.

Enacted more than 20 years ago, Title IX had a simple goal: to ensure that resources dedicated to school sports are divided fairly between men and women. Fairness: nothing more, and nothing less. That simple act of justice opened the flood gates of opportunity for women in sports. Two decades later we are seeing the results -- not only at the Olympics, but on basketball courts, soccer fields and playgrounds all over America.

We need to ensure that all women in this country -- and in every country -- have the same opportunity to fulfill their dreams -- whatever they are.

Whenever I am speaking to a group of young women, I like to remind them that they are the first generation that can aspire to be anything they want to be -- anything. Not only doctors and lawyers. Not only mothers and astronauts. Not only CEOs and Cabinet Secretaries. But Presidents and Prime Ministers.

We have to make sure that every young girl believes that it is possible, that if they want it, and if they are willing to work for it, we will give them every opportunity to achieve it.

Just one year ago, I was on my way to hear First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton speak to NGOs in Hairou -- a speech that would turn out to be one of the highlights of the conference. But I almost missed it. There I was, standing drenched in the pouring rain, when we were confronted by Chinese guards determined to keep us out of the auditorium.

Well, I don't think they were counting on a Wisconsin Badger. I've seen enough Wisconsin football victories to know how to block effectively. When they pushed us, we pushed back. And, we got in.

As I said at the time, the woman's movement has overcome far bigger obstacles. And, we will again. We will again. But, only if we join hands -- all of us -- from government agencies to NGOs and from Business leaders to community leaders. Only if we push forward despite the setbacks, despite the obstacles. And, only if we reach out to men, especially young men, because our fight cannot -- and should not -- be won without them. And, because our issues are not women's issues. They are family issues. They are global challenges. And, together we must meet them.

And, we must do it not only for the sake of women but for the sake of every person on this earth -- for every child who has a mother, for every man who has a daughter, for every family, for every nation. For all of our futures.

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Beijing Women's Conference, One Year Later,