Ambassador’s Remarks at Luncheon Honoring International Women of Courage nominee Dr. Isatou Touray

May 21, 2008

In 2007 The Department of State established the Secretary of State’s
international Women of Courage Award. Through this annual award
the United States honors the courage of extraordinary women
worldwide who have played transformative roles in their societies.
Each year, U.S. Embassies around the world are invited to nominate
women from their respective countries.

In 2007 Embassy Banjul nominated Hannah Forster, Executive Director of the African Center on Democracy and Human Rights Studies. We are delighted that she has joined us for today’s program. Thank you Dr. Forster for your continuing contributions to democracy and human rights.

In inaugurating this award, U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza 
Rice said that the empowerment of women is irrevocably tied to the
safety, security, and prosperity of the world.  The enfranchisement 
of women can no longer be a simple aspiration.

Women are essential agents in bringing about change and an often
overlooked resource in the preservation of human security, in 
overcoming transnational dangers, and in managing threats arising 
from tyranny, trafficking, poverty, and disease.

Achieving the United States' mission of advancing democracy, prosperity, 
and security worldwide is not possible without the empowerment of women.
If women cannot participate in the political process, there can be no real 
democracy. If women are deprived of economic opportunity, development 
is crippled.  If women are not educated, they cannot pass knowledge to 
their children, and there is no true security for the next generation.

Poverty is more rampant when women lack education and economic opportunity. Justice is thwarted when women are denied the right to play a political role in their nations. And in today’s modern world, no country can achieve lasting success and stability and security if half of its population is sitting on the sidelines. On that note we are encouraged by the leadership of women of The Gambia at all levels in the governance of the nation.

We in the international community should make sure that we hear the voices of women and account for their concerns whenever we seek to establish or to keep the peace. If we do that, we are actually making the job of keeping the peace easier.

Today we are honoring another Gambian woman of courage, Dr. Isatou Touray. To introduce her, please welcome U.S. Embassy Political Economic Officer, Menaka Nayyar.

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