2010 India Press Releases
U.S. Ambassador Commemorates Women's History Month
March 11, 2010
NEW DELHI -- The U.S. Ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer said, “During the month of March, the people of the United States of America join to celebrate the contributions of women to our nation’s vibrant history and culture, a history and culture built on the ideals of freedom, equality and democracy cherished by our two countries.
India is a remarkable place to celebrate the stature and accomplishments of women. Women have blazed the paths of India’s rich history and hold the promise for its bold future. It is no surprise that India boasts a female president, leader of the Congress Party, speaker of Parliament, former prime minister, and the first woman to be elected as president of the UN General Assembly. Everyone across the world recognizes Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa, whose work in India has inspired the lives of us all.
As I’ve traveled across this immense and beautiful country, from Chennai to New Delhi, and from Udaipur to Kolkata, meeting Indians from all walks of life, I am reminded daily of the reverence paid to Indian women, and to the family and social values our two countries share and cherish. I’ve had the honor to host women at Roosevelt House who were liberated from the oppressive and demeaning work of “scavengers” – cleaning human waste by hand – and have achieved true social integration. I’ve met with women community leaders across this country who shared their moving stories of lives transformed through maternal health programs, vocational education, and microenterprise loans.
Our countries recently launched the U.S.-India Women’s Empowerment Dialogue, covering issues from women’s social and economic empowerment, to micro-finance, education, and healthcare. Together, our countries can learn much from each other’s experiences as we pave the way toward a future recognizing woman’s vital contributions to the prosperity, strength, and security of our world.
The United States and India are testament to the fact that the health and wellbeing of a nation come in direct proportion to the freedom and empowerment of its women. I welcome this opportunity to recognize American and Indian women’s courageous contributions and achievements in the fight for equality.”