Bill Clinton

We have an historic opportunity to support the renaissance in Africa.

This is not an issue of party but of principle.

The United States has a vital stake in a stable, prosperous Africa.

I believe that the ratification of CEDAW is critical to our efforts to advance the status of women throughout the world.

Let that be our mission as we leave today.

I am pleased that Congress has taken an important step forward on legislation that will open a new era of U.S.-African trade and investment relations.

I'm so thrilled for you.

The rights of women are an issue of global importance—and one that is integral to our foreign policy.

The bill would give judges extensive authority to issue injunctions that would bind executive branch officials, authority normally reserved to judges who serve on Article III courts.

This impedes our efforts to ensure that women everywhere are treated fairly and have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

I'm delighted that the Secretary-General is here.

We cannot continue without some movement forward on the peace process.

I believe that the decision that the Secretary and other world leaders reached in the last few days gives us some hope that we can resolve this.

I will do everything that I can to convince the Congress that this is a treaty obligation of the United States to pay off these dues.

CEDAW is the most comprehensive and detailed international treaty developed to date relating to the rights of women.

H.R. 992 would allow claimants to manipulate federal court jurisdiction and waste scarce judicial resources.

Moreover, violence against women remains a widespread problem.

We'll be glad when you get here.

We believe that no option should be ruled in or out now.

This is not charity.

I thank the First Lady, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General for the accomplishments of the last 5 years.

We always say that human rights must be a central pillar of America's foreign policy, but that is meaningless if those rights are not fully enjoyed by half the people on the planet.

I am launching a variety of steps to combat the inhumane practice of trafficking of women.

The agreement on its own terms is clearly not a sellout.

Too many societies continue to shunt women to the sidelines, limiting their access to education, health care, and economic opportunity.