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05 March 2008
Ambassador Brister Discusses U.S. Support of Women Worldwide
Ask America webchat transcript, March 4
Ambassador Patricia Brister, who heads the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, answered questions in a March 4 Ask America webchat on U.S. achievements in advancing the status of women.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Ask America Webchat Transcript
The U.S. Commitment to Women
Guest: Ambassador Patricia Brister
Date: March 4, 2008
Time: 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT)
Moderator: Welcome to today's webchat! You may begin sending in your questions now or you can join us live beginning at 13:30 GMT.
Moderator: Good day. We see your questions coming in. Nothing will appear on this screen until the chat begins at 13:30 GMT.
Ambassador Patricia Brister: Good Morning. Thank you for participating in this event. This is a first for me and I am very excited about it. I appreciate your taking time to submit your comments and questions and I will endeavor to answer them fully.
Moderator: If you are just joining us, welcome! Ambassador Brister is reviewing your questions now.
Question [YARIlosangeles]: Your excellency Ambassador Brister,
Thank you for your time in answering our questions. As you may well know, Islamic Republic of Iran is the biggest violator of Human Rights and specially Women's Right in Iran.
United States, honorably has done all it could. But there are other nations who turn the blind eyes on this issue and in fear of losing business with Mullah's, don't even support Women's activists in Iran who are subject to beating, torture and imprisonment just because they request women's rights.
What can United States do to make these nations also condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran on it's unfair treatment of the women and harassment of women's activists?
Thank you in advance for your kind consideration. Yari
Answer [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: The US is concerned about peacekeeping forces contributing to exploitation of women when troops aggravate the problem. Secretary of State Rice has been personally involved - diplomatically and programmatically - in women and conflict. In June, 2007, Secretary Rice and the Austrian Foreign Minister, on behalf of a network of women leaders called the Women Leaders' Working Group, wrote to the UN Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General to urge the UN to increase the number of women considered for UN special representative and special envoy positions, including as heads of peace operations.
Q [global325]: There is a large and growing community of Central Asian women in New York, who need support in a variety of social and health areas. Can a bridge of aid be established to support women in the [Central Asian Republics] and those already in the USA?
Ron Brinn
Global Health Strategies
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: In the US, the Trafficking in Persons office at the State Department funds non-governmental organizations to provide these services. Also, the US Family Justice Centers help victims of domestic violence. For information on these offices, please go to the US State Department website. [http://www.state.gov/g/tip/]
Q [Rukiya]: Please explain what role the government plays in ensuring that Muslim Women can exercise their rights as a minority group in the US.
What programs are put in place ensure that there is no gender-based discrimination in work opportunities for educated women.
Rukiya, Nairobi
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: The US has laws specifically enacted to ensure those who discriminate against women in the work place are harshly dealt with. We are also aware that discrimination against educated women in the workforce hinders a company from operating to its full potential. There are non-governmental organizations that use their influence to point-out these facts to businesses.
Q [pearl]: Women problem to me now is:
1) I need medical treatment rights (health care it is concerning with childen’s health, and lots other…);
2) marriage freedom rights (Chinese tradition made many women have not any rights to chose themselves husband for their marriage even if Chairman Mao give women free. Less ability man for the selfish sex and marriage, rumor, force,……by any way to push women,……);
3) job problem (Chinese men all dislike women beyong them even if women did lots of job, but still got less payment……)
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: The US has been at the forefront, particularly here at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, in advocating for availability of medical care for women and children. We point to President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which supports a variety of bilateral, regional, and multilateral initiatives.
In May 2007, President Bush announced that he would work with the US Congress to reauthorize PEPFAR. The President's five-year $30 billion proposal would double the US unitial 2003 commitment of $15 billion. Also, last year at CSW the US introduced and worked to pass a resolution on early and forced marriage. Again this year, we hosted a panel on child marriages. We take every opportunity to bring this situation to light and urge others to do the same.
Q [LC Karachi Participant]: In third world countries like Pakistan where women necessarily face gender inequality in every sphere of life, how can they attain a decisive position in politics?
Fauzia Shaheen, Pakistan
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: Each year at CSW there are discussions on the subject of women's roles in decision making. Delegates urge each country represented to actively support the role of women in political office. There are also NGO's that advocate on behalf of women who aspire to hold office in their respective countries.
Moderator: Welcome to those of you just joining us. Ambassador Brister continues to review your questions. Thank you for your patience.
Q [LC Karachi Participant]: A country like America, which believes in gender equality and it owes women politicians like Condalisa Rice and Hillary Clinton, in spite of these women being so powerful, do they sill face the gender biases in American Society and if yes, how they strive for their rights?
Fauzia Shaheen, Pakistan
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: When we see Secretary of State Rice meet with leaders from around the world, we know she carries the message of the commitment of the US to gender equality. We, as women, must always strive to ensure equality, recognizing it is an ongoing issue.
Comment [Dilshod2]: Hello!
We must keep care women! Becouse women are planet our life. Every person has mother and sister. Thank's God I have mother and sister, they are my life. I love them both of. So, peolpe also have such kind of these feelings. That's why we should care of them well. Nowdays, withaut women - world will be very boring! Women keep the world but we should care of them. They heart of the earth. They can do everything to improve our life! Respect! Thank you! So, I congratulate women with 'women's day 8 march!'
Moderator: Participants in today's webchat may be interested in visiting the U.S. State Department's new online publication "Women in Politics" which is available online at America.gov:
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/womenpolitics/
Q [Ms. Shah]: What do u think can be done for the women in conflict zones like Tribal region of Pakistan where Taliban on one hand and airstrikes by military forces on the other are hitting them hard during the on going US's war on terrorism?
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: As in an earlier response, I will reiterate the strong support of Secretary of State Rice in including women in conflict prevention and having a seat at the peace operations table.
Moderator: Ambassador Brister continues to answer your questions. We ask for your patience.
Q [rebma]: Given that Saudi Arabia is one of our closest allies in the Middle East, how are we using our leverage with them to help bring Saudi and other Middle Eastern women more rights and equality?
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: In all our statements at CSW and in other fora, we urge all states to include gender equality in their discussions. We will continue to call on our allies to consider this issue.
Q [rebma]: What efforts has the U.S. made to help booster women's political voice/action at home and, especially, abroad?
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: It is exciting to see women like Condeleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton in such high profile roles in this country. There are many non-governmental organizations that specifically encourage and support women in political roles.
Q [Abdi]: You’re Excellency Ambassador Brister,
What policies US government will contribute to Somali women’s? In term of Education, Empowering, greatly representative in Somalia cabinets and sharing democratization in Somalia affairs
A [Ambassador Patricia Brister]: The policies of the US government have been and continue to be to encourage countries to include women in their initiatives. President Bush has been a strong advocate of democratization and we fully believe empowering women will strengthen a country. We will continue to talk about that specific issue here at CSW
Ambassador Patricia Brister: Thank you, again, for participating in this webchat. I have enjoyed hearing from all of you and appreciate the questions and comments. Ambassador Pat Brister
Moderator: We wish to thank Ambassador Brister for joining us today. The webchat is now closed.
A full transcript of today's webchat will be available on our Ask America homepage usually within one business day.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
