Wednesday, March 8, 2006

President Bush celebrated Women's History Month and International Women's Day, saying that "America will help women stand up for their freedom, no matter where they live."

Joined at the White House event by female leaders from Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush said democracies reach their potential only when women are allowed to fully participate in society.

Liberia, for example, recently elected its first female president -- the first woman to lead an African nation -- and women head the governments of Germany, Chile and the Philippines. Bush noted that nearly half of the members of Rwanda's parliament are women and that women hold increasing numbers of parliamentary seats in Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia.

He singled out Iran, North Korea and Burma as nations that are suppressing women's rights.

"As women become a part of the democratic process, they help spread freedom and justice and, most importantly of all, hope for a future," Bush said.

-- Associated Press