Women of the world enjoying fruits of Beijing conference

By Hillary Rodham Clinton

A year ago, thousands of people from around the world gathered in Beijing with a simple message: "Women's rights are human rights -- and human rights are women's rights."

It was a call to action, meant to galvanize citizens as well as nations. By the time the Unites Nations Fourth World Conference on Women had ended, 189 nations had agreed to act on issues affecting women and their families -- everything from education and health care to political participation and access to credit.

Today, in country after country, we see the fruits of Beijing -- in new laws, expanded rights and changing attitudes about the role of women in society.

Women in Namibia now have equal rights with men in marriage. Women in Fiji can now work past 6 in the evening. Women in Nepal may soon be allowed to own property. Women in Guatemala now can take advantage of scholarships to study political science at the national university. Women in India and Cameron may soon be better represented in government because of efforts to increase the number of women elected to office in those countries.

In Ecuador, new laws stipulate that a married man can no longer buy or sell family assets without his wife's consent. In Colombia, new laws protect women from domestic violence. In the Philippines, the government has pledged to impose tougher penalties for the crime of trafficking in women. In Brazil, the health ministry is providing free breast and uterine exams to help fight cancer. In Egypt, the practice of genital mutilation is now banned in government health facilities. And in China, plans are underway to help rural women escape poverty by teaching them vocational skills and literacy.

Here in the United States, the Beijing conference has ushered in changes as well.

By the time the American delegation had returned home, the President had set up a special council to make sure that the Beijing agenda didn't die on the vine. The council brings together representatives from each federal agency to develop policies that support the advancement of women and girls in the United States.

The results are impressive: The federal government is doing more to toughen laws against domestic violence and improve enforcement and prevention of the tragic crime. There are initiatives underway to expand housing opportunities for women, protect them from environmental hazards, and increase research and treatment of diseases like breast cancer. Federal agencies also are encouraging financial institutions to make loans to women to start their own businesses and asking companies to adopt family-friendly policies in the workplace.

But Beijing didn't just inspire action on the part of the federal government.

Last weekend, Americans held conferences at more than 450 sites around the country to talk about activities in their own communities. For two hours, some of the U.S. delegates and I were able to share insights and experiences via satellite with audiences gathered at these sites.

What we learned is that the energy and excitement of Beijing is rippling out across our country -- to state houses, town halls and community organizations.

In Woodbridge, New Jersey, volunteers are working with the Mayor's office to develop a domestic violence help-line. In Maryland, women in the state legislature are using the Beijing platform to guide their legislative agenda. Mayors from Cleveland to Oakland are working to expand opportunities for girls and women.

One of my favorite examples comes from Louisville, Kentucky, where students at a local high school put on a day-long conference in which boys explored negative images of women in the media.

Elsewhere, woman scientists are renewing their commitments to mentor younger women in the sciences, and high school girls are launching their own letter-writing campaigns to protest sexual harassment on the Internet. And in San Antonio, college students -- men and women -- held a march to protest domestic violence in their community.

I'm convinced that Beijing was a historic step forward to achieving equal rights for women and girls here and home and around the world. Thanks to the conference, and the momentum it generated, we are moving closer to the day when women's rights and human rights are viewed as one and the same thing.

-- Creators Syndicate