Under Secretary Hughes traveled to France, October 3-5, 2006. She addressed the Deauville International Women's Forum, an annual gathering of women leaders in business and government from around the world. She spoke on the topic of "Women as Agents of Change," and participated in a panel discussion at the Forum.

While in France, Under Secretary Hughes met with French Government officials and parliamentarians. Following up on the First Lady's announcement of the Global Cultural Initiative, she visited the Louvre Museum and the Institute of the Arab World, where she toured a newly opened exhibit on Venice and the Orient, which is being co-curated by the New York Metropolitan Museum. She also visited the American Hospital of Paris, which is commemorating its Centennial this fall.