The true honor is to be here, among so many women who have made a difference, in so many different ways, on behalf of the world s children, and the true honorees are the millions of mothers the world over, who have found the strength and the courage, in spite of tremendous obstacles, to better the lives of their children, themselves, and their communities. Mothers, as nurturers of our children, are guardians of our future. Woman as mother commands great respect in every religious tradition. The Prophet Mohammed states emphatically that the rights of the mother are paramount. The Prophet's followers accepted his teachings and brought about a revolution in their society s attitude towards women which proscribed social, economic, political rights, long before Western societies equal right to education, to conduct business, to own and inherit property and not to be coerced into marriage.
Every culture enshrines the concept of the mother.
The issue is how to translate that deep-seated respect into practical help for mothers the world over. It is so obvious that we sometimes forget, I suppose, that mothers are mothers because of their children. The bond between mother and child is a miracle in countless ways. It is because of mothers, often through great sacrifice, that children are born, survive and prosper. And it is because of children, often through great inspiration, that mothers achieve amazing things.