The Foundation's efforts to promote women's self-sufficiency here are mirrored by those of other grassroots organizations around the world. They provide ample evidence that, whether women are bumping against a glass ceiling or standing on a dirt floor, they are eager to be full partners in the development of their societies. And whether or not they have that opportunity will do much to determine our success or failure in promoting sustainable development around the world. We know from experience, after all, that when women have the knowledge and power to make their own choices, the cycle of poverty, in which too many countries remain ensnared, can be broken. Birth rates stabilize.
Environmental awareness increases.
The spread of sexually-transmitted disease slows. And socially constructive values are more likely to be passed on to the young. One of the most encouraging developments of our era is the coming together throughout the world of organizations and individuals dedicated to the challenge of advancing the status of women. This past week in Central America, for example, I participated in a meeting with our First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and women from each of the countries in that region. It was heartening to learn during this meeting that, thanks to the efforts of concerned NGO's, one country has approved a law requiring new members of Congress to pay any child support they may owe before they are allowed to serve.