Women Plenary Session
1995
Hilary Clinton
Thank you very much, Gertrude
Mongella, for your dedicated work that has brought us to this
point, distinguished delegates, and guests:
I would like to thank the
Secretary General for inviting me to be part of this important United Nations Fourth World
Conference on Women. This is truly a celebration, a celebration of the
contributions women make in every aspect of life: in the home, on the job, in
the community, as mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, learners, workers,
citizens, and leaders.
It is also a coming together,
much the way women come together every day in every country. We come together in fields
and factories, in village markets and supermarkets, in living rooms and board
rooms. Whether it is while playing with our children in the park, or washing
clothes in a river, or taking a break at the office water cooler, we come
together and talk about our aspirations and concern. And time and again, our
talk turns to our children and our families. However different we may appear,
there is far more that unites us than divides us. We share a common future, and
we are here to find common ground so that we may help bring new dignity and
respect to women and girls all over the world, and in so doing bring new
strength and stability to families as well.
By gathering in Beijing, we are focusing world
attention on issues that matter most in our lives -- the lives of women and
their families: access to education, health care, jobs and credit, the chance
to enjoy basic legal and human rights and to participate fully in the political
life of our countries.
There are some who question the reason for this
conference. Let them listen to the voices of women in their homes, neighbourhoods,
and workplaces. There are some who wonder whether the lives of women and girls
matter to economic and political progress around the globe. Let them look at
the women gathered here and at Huairou -- the homemakers and nurses, the
teachers and lawyers, the policymakers and women who run their own businesses.
It is conferences like this that compel governments and peoples everywhere to
listen, look, and face the world’s most pressing problems.