Average afghan was 42 years. Today, its 62 years. And rising. In 2001, 9 of afghans had access to basic health care. Today, 60 of afghans live within an hour of basic health services. In 2001, there was only one television station and it was owned by the government. Today there are 75 stations. And only two and all of those but two are privately owned. And in 2001, there were virtually no cell phones in the country. Today, there are 18 million covering about 90 of residential areas. 80 of afghan women. Now have access to a cell phone meaning they are connected to their families, their friends, and most importantly, theyre connected to the world and the future. Thanks to entrepreneurs like roya, afghan women will now also be connected to the internet too. Ten years ago, it just would have been unfathomable to imagine this. But because so many individual acts of courage this is the future we are now watching afghan women build. Secretary clinton, laura bush, ambassadors rivera and russell powerfully remind us, when afghan women live longer and go to school in greater numbers, all afghan families and their communities will grow stronger. All afghans profit from more diverse, dynamic, and inclusive economy. And when afghan women hold Public Office at the local and national levels, all afghans being a stronger voice in their communities. That is the vision behind the United StatesNational Action plan on women, peace, and security which president obama directed to be implemented two years ago and hillary spoke about just a few minutes ago. And thats why we are committed to bringing the perspectives of women and their full participation to bear on these opportunities and challenges in afghanistan going forward. Now, what has moved me, and i mean moved me, in my meeting with afghan women entrepreneurs, when women move forward, believe me, they dont want to go back. Not to the days before the talib taliban. Its important that we keep investing in and defending the progress that empowers afghan women and men to be able to have their voices heard and to buy into their future and shape their future. What has been achieved is nothing less than remarkable. It would have been more than a tragedy if the world allowed this progress to be aban conned. Now the question is where to we go from here . We think about the future, were mindful of the challenges that afghan women continue to face. This is a critical moment. Many of my women share very legitimate concerns that the games of the past decade could be lost. All that i talked about could be wiped out. And the truth is, their anxiety that i hear when i visit afghanistan, or youll hear today, is palpable. Despite the significant achievements of afghan women and girls, many challenges still remain. We remember too well, the difficulties, the difficult history that led to the decades of war in afghanistan. We know the costs of walking away. Believe me, afghan women know the cost, because they have always paid the steepest price. So i say to you today, as afghanistan sees women standing up in afghanistan to take control of their countrys future, not only for themselves, but for all afghans, we have to be determined that they will not stand alone. America america will stand up and shape a strong and united afghanistan and secured the rightful place in the community of nations. That is why president obama and president karzai signed a Strategic Partnership agreement last year that lays out our mutual commitments and thats why americas relationship with afghans is changing. Its not ending. Theres a lot to do, so much to do. Obviously the road ahead is not easy. The violence that is plagued afghanistan for decades has left very deep wounds. And it is going to take time to heal. We also know that security is going to be a real challenge. We know that afghans have to strengthen the rule of law. They have to improve access to justice. We also know that discrimination and violence against people continue to be major problems. But, i know every one of these women and the women in afghanistan today will remain determined. And we have an obligation to remain determined and stand by them. We intend to make clear that securing the rights of afghanistan women and girls is not just a challenge for this moment, its a generational challenge. In fact, weve made a significant downpayment. But make no mistake, finishing this job is going to take courage and not just the courage of women in afghanistan. As a proud father of two daughters, i have many times been reinforced in the fact that this job will require the courage of men too. In afghanistan, it will take the courage of every man who defends his daughters right to an equal education. It will take the courage of every brother who challenges the law to keep his sister from owning property or the business. Every husband who not only promises the cycle of Domestic Violence can stop with him, but who actually proves it. We have spent a great blood and treasure in afghanistan. And that makes even greater our obligation to get this right. Yes, there are challenges ahead. For sure, the transition is going to be difficult. But without question, theres a world of possibilities staring us in the face. In fact, the transition that were talking about and now working on is really about three transitions. A political transition, a security transition, and an economic transition. No surprise afghan women are playing an incident gral role in all of them. Look at the political transition. We all know that the single most important milestone in the next year is the peaceful transfer of power from president karzai to the democratically elected successor. The elections have to be on time. They have to be accountable and transparent and free and fair and accessible. They have to be inclusive and result in an outcome that is perceived as legitimate by all segments of Afghanistan Society above all, but also by the International Community. Above all, though elections obviously always entail competition and debate, theyve got to be a unifying moment for the country. Not a divisive one. As we speak. As we are here, afghan women are leading the charge to ensure that the elections next year are credible and conclusive and transparent. Gulelei, one of the women whos a teacher by profession. She had a passion for public service. She worked as a Human Rights Commission in kandahar. Shes serving on the election commission. She told president karzai she had only one character flaw. She fears no one. Now, we are deeply encouraged by hers and others who are taking a part of this, hundreds of women all over the country, who are running for positions on councils. Were pleased to lend our support in partnership with the United Nations to train female volunteers as they facilitate, secure access for women at the polls. Theres no question that lasting prosperity in afghanistan will take root only when women have as loud a voice as men, not only on election day, but every day. Its essential, its the prerequisite to the future stability of afghanistan. But make no mistake, its not enough. Its not sufficient, and wont do the job alone. Thats why the United States firmly supports and will continue to support an afghanled peace and reconciliation effort as the surest way to end the violence and bring lasting stability to afghanistan in the region. Peace is possible possible if it respects the historic achievements that afghanistan has made over the past decade. All of those things i listed and talked about. Including and above all the protection of the rights of all afghans, both men and women. As part of the outcome of any process, the taliban and other armed opposition groups have to end the violence, break ties with al qaeda, accept afghanistans constitution, including the provisions on womens rights. Those are the standards which will lead us in this effort. There can be no compromise on these points. There can be no peace without respecting the rights of all afghans and afghan women have to have a seat at the table. Afghan women are at the forefront of another transition, the security transition. This is one of the most stunning things. You saw it in the video. The folks in uniform. Unprecedented. Joining the army, police, serving as judges and prosecutors and some of the most conservative parts of the country, its an 12r0id transformation. My team recently met with a female Police Officer from kabul. For those who have been to afghanistan, you know theres not many female Police Officers and fewer of them are willing to step forward and tell their story. On the way home from work one evening, this particular Police Officer heard another woman screaming inside the house. And when she heard the cries, she didnt run away. She didnt call someone else to do the job. She went right up to the house, knocked down the door in order to help. Police officer went inside and saw a woman inside, badly beaten on the ground. And her husband was standing over her. Without any hesitation, not intimidated, not an ounce of fear, she pushed the husband aside and took the victim to her own house in order to record her statement and make a report. Believe me believe me, thats courage. And its an example that all afghans can be proud of and followed. They can be proud that their security and Law Enforcement forces are growing strong by the day, more capable by the day. And they can be proud the past summer the Afghan NationalSecurity Forces took over the lead responsibility in providing security all across the country. Now, as you know, we have made a commitment along with our nato partners, to continue to advise, train, and support the Afghan Forces beyond 2014 should afghans approve in the next few weeks that the bilateral Security Agreement. Make no mistake bringing women into the force and supporting their safe and meaningful participation is going to be a key part of this transition. Im pleased to report to you now that we are closer than ever to completing the task of defining our new partnership with afghanistan going well into the future. The bilateral Security Agreement when it is completed will help both countries to fulfill the longstanding commitments that we made through Security Partnership after 2014. But i want to underscore, again, that nothing, neither this agreement when completed, nor the assistance that weve provided will replace the role that the Afghan People themselves will play determining the future of their country. Afghan women are also takinge nowhere mouse risk to support afghanistans third transition. Thats the economic transition. Women like hasina say yesterday are leading the charge. I met hasina in march. She started a Trucking Company i think about ten years ago with 500. She has now 500 truckings. Of her employees, 300 are women. Not so long ago, they never would have the opportunity they have today. She told me she always knew she wanted to be a businesswoman when she grew up. I asked, why . She said simply, because then i can be my own boss. Thats not just an afghan trait, thats a universal aspiration. But afghan women like hasina are forming connections not just within afghanistan, but all across the region. Her Trucking Company is doing a great deal of work outside of afghanistan to bring supplies and food and things and so forth into the country. What i found is that all of the afghans understand, they may be landlocked, but theyre not trapped. They refuse to be trapped. Afghanistan is linked with roads, railways, products. Fortunes are tied to the region just as the future of the region is tied for the stability of afghanistan. We saw this the new silk road vision. Secretary clinton launched in july of 2011. Its a vision we believe in. And its a vision were going to continue to work hard to implement. Hasina knows that the benefits of investing in women and girls are not limited to one village, one province, or one country alone. They ripple out across the borders. You all remember the great quote of Robert Kennedys about, you know, rippling and creating a huge turet that sweeps down the mightiest walls of oppression. Thats whats happening. Thats why investing in the training and mentoring of afghan women and entrepreneurs is so important. Thats why we launched the economic Womens Initiative in order to link female entrepreneurs to markets in south and central asia. And that strengthens those women to have those connections to those other parts of the region. Thats why were investing in the education of afghanistan girls so they can break the cycle of poverty and become leaders and engage in a way to strengthen their neighbors willingness to join them. Thats the future that even here in gaspin hall today, were all building together. That is the story i want to leave you with today. As i was flying back, my staff handed me a letter from a young afghan girl who sent me a letter that returned from the state department to study at the University University university of afghanistan. She has the same vision as leaders like Hillary Rodham clinton and laura bush who know that no country can succeed if it leaves half of its people behind. The phrase that hillary and i both heard and loved it about the bird with two wings cant fly without one wing. One letter stood out the me. Her goal is not just to help herself, but to lift her community, her society, her country just like roya, goliliah and hassina are doing today. She said simply i want to be one of them. Thats the power of example. Thats the ripple fanning out to create the courage. Think about that for a minute. She feels ownership over what shes creating in afghanistan. Girls all over afghanistan, believe me, i promise you, they are saying it today. They are living that dream thanks to the courage and leadership of women themselves in afghanistan. Our responsibility is clear we need to make sure that they succeed. Because this is one of the benchmark moments, not just for them, but for all of us, what we care about, what we fight for, and who we are. As we move forward, just keep thinking about the young girl who wrote that letter and the inspiration that she draws from women like roya and hasina. She just wants to be one of them. Making that happen is going to take every single one of us. Thank you very much. [ applause ] now we get to the exciting part. Inviting secretary clinton, mr. Bush, all of the cant dates come up on stage so we can listen for a moment. Well go out, set up the chairs, and the program will continue. Can i invite all of you up here, please . Well, this is not working well. Thank you. Secretary clinton, mrs. Bush, and ambassador. You have no idea how much your work has impacted afghanistan women. Its a special honor for me to be on this stage. With my afghan role models, afghan leaders today. Secretary kerr withry told you about the women of afghanistan who shows him the change thats possible in my country. Like many afghan children, i saw the world through eyes of a refugee. I had dreams of my homeland. But my dreams only became a reality in 2002 when my family could finally return to afghanistan. Returning home was not easy. We had to make many adjustments. Like no car. But we were finally home. My family took advantage of our opportunities and sent me and my four sisters and brothers to school. I did well enough i became an Exchange Student in california. The move was not easy. I was with a cultural difference. But i learn new things. I had always believed that the young people could make a difference. But i didnt know how. Back home, people either believed that you had to do something really big or nothing. I learned from my fellow American Students that you could do very small things in the community, like getting to know your neighborhood. It doesnt look big, but in the small collective access, it makes a big difference. I went back home to car bull. I took the lessons and started mentoring other students. We thought about things that we needed to change. For example, we were tired of being harassed every time we tried to live a normal life. By going to school or going shopping. My fraends i started to go out, young men and women. Sometimes people harrassed us. We organized demonstrations to make our voices heard. No one talked about these issues. We didnt even have a definition for harassment. But after the march, people began to talk about it. Then a small gathering making a big impact. Why are we telling you this . We want you to know were not stuck in the past. Our country is 60 of men and women. Men are not simply victims. We see ourselves as agents of change. My story is just one story. Children of afghanistan there are many of us. Through small actionings, sacrifices, working hard to form our society in the future. But we need your help. All of you. We have raised our hand. Transform our future. Thank you. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated. The program will resume shortly with a conversation with hillary clinton, mrs. Laura bush, and ambassador miland revere. Well, its my pleasure as well to be able to welcome secretary clinton and mrs. Bush back to georgetown and here for this conversation this morning. No one can question the commitment of either of you to this issue. I remember firsthand secretary clinton, when you were first lady, at the end of the 90s, calling the worlds attention to the abuses that the taliban were perpetrating and how critical the afghan women were. And i remember so well, mrs. Bush, when the military engagement was called by your husband after 9 11 and afghanistan. You took the president s radio address and told the world that the world of the afghan women would be important to building the future of their country. So you heard a lot this morning. Were at a cross roads. The women have made enormous progress. They are very worried that the progress may be reversed. There are important events ahead. The elections in april for president. As well as a negotiated settlement, reconciliation process. We still dont know what that would go. But to say the women are concerned is an understatement. They fear that they may be a bargaining chip unless the negotiated process with the taliban. W