Ambassador
Ambassador's Speech
AMBASSADOR'S REMARKS FOR TOAST FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
March 10, 2009
Thank you for joining us here today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day. It is remarkable how far we have come as a global society in recognizing women as equal partners at home, in the workplace, and the world. We have women presidents, women diplomats, women military and police officials. Women astronauts have now brought new meaning to the phrase “the sky is the limit.” Each of you here today has been a positive catalyst for change in your respective discipline and community, and we salute you for that.
According to the United Nations, the theme of this year's International Women's Day is "women and men united to end violence against women and girls." Amid the extraordinary leaders gathered here today, I’d like to single out two women in particular for their work in defending the rights of victims of domestic and sexual violence. Countless victims of domestic and sexual violence suffer in silence out of fear and shame. The two women we honor here today, would not accept this state of affairs. They said “enough is enough” and began working on practical solutions to assist and empower victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Our first honoree, Ms. Felipa “Nelida” Borquez has championed for over 20 years women’s rights to live free of domestic and sexual violence. As director for a network of domestic violence centers in La Matanza, she has launched a public awareness campaign to educate women that by law, they have the right to file domestic violence complaints at any police station, not just stations dedicated to women’s issues. For her efforts, we nominated her for the 2009 State Department’s International Woman of Courage, and I am happy to announce that she was one of three finalists for the award in the Western Hemisphere. Mrs. Borquez, may I ask that you please come forward to receive a certificate of recognition for your remarkable work.
We present this certificate of recognition to Mrs. Nelida Borquez. Her courage and leadership have empowered victims of domestic violence to defend their right to live in a world free from domestic and sexual violence.
Present certificate. Photo op.
Our second honoree, is Federal Police Commissioner Ester Mabel Franco. In 1995, Commissioner Franco created the Federal Police’s first center to assist victims of sexual violence. This division collaborates in investigations to collect evidence for use by judicial officials to prosecute perpetrators of sexual assault, leading to the highest number of cases filed with the courts in ten years in 2008. Recognizing that victims of sexual violence suffer trauma as they recount their experience during the investigative process, Franco has instituted procedures to instill confidence and trust between the victims and her police division. Commissioner Franco, may I ask that you please come forward to receive a certificate of recognition for your remarkable work.
We present this certificate of recognition to Commissioner Ester Mabel Franco. Her leadership and efforts to serve and protect victims of domestic and sexual violence has empowered countless women to come forward to report the crime and denounce their abuser.
Present certificate and photo op.
And now, let us raise our glasses in honor of all the outstanding women gathered here today. Salud!