This is critical because, as we scan the horizon today, we see that despite the great strides made in recent decades, women remain an undervalued and underdeveloped human resource. This is not to say that women have trouble finding work. In many societies, in addition to bearing and nurturing the children, women do most of the non-child related work. But often, women are barred from owning land and permitted little if any say in government, while girls are often excluded from schools and provided less nourishment than boys. In our diplomacy, we are working with others to change that because we know from experience that when women's voices are heard and choices heeded, societies are better able to break the chains of poverty.
Birth rates stabilize.
Environmental awareness increases. The spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted disease slows. And socially constructive values are more likely to be passed on to the young. And when they do, communities and nations will thrive. Vice-President Gore has also been an outstanding leader in advancing the status of women, and I was delighted to learn that Tipper Gore will be addressing your conference this afternoon.