Clinton is among the speakers at the fifth annual women in the world summit. En Federal Reserve chair janet yellin speaks. Next firsthand stories of bombings and Chemical Attacks in syria. A pop singer who is leading protests in the ukraine and a conversation with hillary clinton. This was part of the fifth annual women in the world summit from lincoln center, in new york city. This twohour portion of the event starts with remarks from organizer tina brown. [cheers and applause] so when i look around the theater tonight, i am so blown away by what i see because i think some of you are going to remember that five years ago women in the world began with just 300 people, like the greeks and now look how we have grown, just like the global Womens Movement has grown, too. Half the people in the world are now claiming their share of respect and power and dignity and wealth, of education for themselves, their children, their world. And tonight were going to have the honor of hearing from two women, two leaders who contributed so much to the struggles to make that happen, managing director of the i. M. S. Christine lagarde and former secretary of state Hillary Rodham clinton are going to be present. [cheers and applause] theyre going to be present in a unique dialogue between the two of them, the first in a public forum. Christine has been with us for five years. She has asked her daughter to read for her. She is joining us later in the summit. Tomorrow with have a brilliant poet. She has an amazing following among young girls and dissidents and patriots who have made this journey including the ukrainian singer and former m. P. [applause] when protesters gathered in the square under the guns of that government, she memorablely kept singing the National Anthem to calm and hearten protesters. Just sprung from the ordeal of two years in the prisons of putins, russia, putty riot. [cheers and applause] theyre here in the audience, i hope they will stand and well stand with you, pussy riot cheers and applause] its great to be able to tell you that in year five, women in the world is on the move. We have taken the exhillerating energy of the summit to brazil, chicago, l. A. , and london. Were planning san antonio, texas, mexico city, and thanks to all of you, thanks to all of you for making that happen, for being here, for tweeting and spreading the word. Its amazing what has happened. Hanks, too, to my friend and coconspirator who is also here tomorrow night. The participants in this years summit have come tonight from 25 countries, women who are agents of change, women who are innovators, troublemakers, peacemakerers educators women who are compelled by social injustice, medieval madness or transitions or by the glass ceilings that they encounter. What they all have in common is a humbling and infectious optimism. Here in america where we have our own issues, we do sometimes lose perspective. Its not represented by the fact that in todays fractured media environment, so many great reporters and photo journalists and broadcasters are denied the means of what theyre best at doing and long to do and tell stories and tell them with an understanding and a depth and a complexity not possible in just sound bites. Thats why the mission of this convening is to bring us the wider world as seen through the stories of women. Let them tell their stories without mediation. Many of them live daily lives and challenge so we can only glimpse sporadically. Its exhilarating to be able to bring them here in full voice, the glorious stage of lincoln center. Perhaps the connection that we forge with them will persuade us to reexamine our lives in our own world and if were doing as much for human values as they are. If youre moved to support any of the women you see with time, money, or social media, you can. In fact, you must. We have six ipad stations around contributions go directly to them. With the end of each program, were going to send you the link to the organizations. We have them on your cell phone, i know that all of them will welcome your tweeting, your support, your donations, anything you wish to give. My guess is that youre going to want to do that. Im inspired myself every time i meet women who risk their lives and often give their lives. The terror of the 25yearold education campaigner from pakistan who is here in the audience. I dont know where you are, but i know youre there somewhere. She is coming to join us saturday on the stage. She told me recently that her motto in life is dont cry, strategize. Dont cry, strategize, i love that, thank you for giving us the mantra of our fifth summit. She learned this philosophy, she told us from her father when he consoled her after her best friend was murdered in an honor killing. Thats why its fitting that there are excellent men in the audience as well and in the program, not only in the audience, but in the program. David, tom freedman, charlie rose, ken burns, and jon stewart, john is joining us tomorrow as a moderator because he believes what has happened to women since the arab spring is no joke. I want to thank all of the public spirited anchors from every network who are going to join us in the next 2 1 2 days to moderator panel. Thanks to the intrepid tv newswoman cynthia mcfadden. She stepped in at midnight even though she is about to start a demanding new job at nbc news to moderate this evenings panel about syria and speaking of support, thank you big time to our loyal copresenting sponsor toyota. Toyota is with us for the third year running and they have been with us taking women in the world out on the road for the many summits we have been doing for the last three months. I want to thank them for being such great partners. I want to thank mercury too. [applause] id like to thank merck, too, they have increased their commitment to become a copresenting sponsor alongside. Thank you. A warm welcome as well [applause] a warm welcome as well to a new leadership sponsor dove. Theyre joining us for the first time with a compelling program directed at young women on saturday morning. I express the appreciation as well for the sustained commitment of our leadership sponsors, bank of america, the coca coalia company, our sponsors, our digital partners, my be loved alma mater, the daily beast. I would like to Say Something about my cohost because you want to know the meaning of soft power, just now meet the women of renown and dedication and grace who are my cohosts of this years women in the world, please welcome them know, thank you. [applause] the women i am here for is in the congo who works with women who are displaced and abused by the army. The experience of being displaced was an unhealthy experience. It was a huge trauma for me. We were in the bush and we were more than 20 people. At night, we could not sleep. We never were well. We were always scared so i had one song in my mind, lord, do what you want with me. When i was singing that song, i could finally find the calm. The song gave me courage to go back to the town to identify the women who had displaced. This is why i focus on training and income generating activities for these women to encourage them to help them find a happy life. [applause] the women im here for is cynthia, the daughter of salvadorian immigrants now living in boston. Im cynthia and im first. Coming from an immigrant family and the first generation born in the u. S. , i had an early understanding of the challenges that people faced. My parents worked two jobs. My sisters were teen parents and my brother was a drug addict. I had two cultures, two languages, and low income realities that made a lot of opportunities seem distant. Regardless of the situation, i embraced my personal story and made it my motivation to move forward. College was my step towards getting a rewarding career. Its not as serious as people might think. As the first to go to college, i now have the chance to be a role model for my family. Some day my nieces, never ewes and my own children will look t me and follow me path. [applause] the woman i am here for, a gender activist and advocate in nairobi kenya. I came from a polygamist family of 40 children and grew up with hardship. Every society has different challenges, the way i was raised inequality is compounded by a lot of social amenities for education and a preference for boys. I recall my mother saying i want my daughters and other girls to be better than who i am. While my mother did not know how to read or write, she was devoted to enrolling girls in school. She initiated the neighbors in need program and now im her successor. We are supporting girls in education mentoring girls who are refugees and intentionally displaced persons and advocated for policies that change gender inequalities. [applause] the woman im here for is lena, the only Health Worker in the congo village. Since im the only Health Worker in the facility taking care of a large population, i have to plan properly. Im the records officer, the pharmacist, the nurse, and more. Thankfully the Community Supports me by cleaning the facility. Supplies and equipment are few. The increase in maternity and outpatient charges has sometimes forced me to dig into my own pockets to procure essential medications. But i do this because i am part of the community. My work is challenging, but also very rewarding. When i see people get better and have hope, it keeps me going. My passion has been my greatest strength. [applause] the woman im here for is from pakistan. I was 13 years old, an eighth grade student, the youngest among my siblings. I was walking home from school and i went to the store to buy a toy for my niece. A man pressed a handkerchief on my nose. I fainted. I was kidnapped and then gang raped by four men. They said they wanted to declare me an outlaw. Then they warned my brother and father they would kill me. This is what happens in pakistan, men get away with it because theyre powerful. These men set the rules and they think they know how to deal with issues. They dont. My life is destroyed. My education is destroyed. My family is destroyed. I dont care what the judge says. I know i was wronged. I will not step backwards and will always carry on my fight for my rights. [applause] the woman i am here for is from cambodia. Our government does not kill with weapons. They kill with corruption. They sold the land beneath our homes and we were expected to disappear without a sound. I am one of the people near the capital. My home was taken, stolen from me by government agreed in exchange for skyscrapers and shopping malls. To protest is not the cambodian way, especially for a woman, but i cannot tolerate corruption. A generation of young people in cambodia are growing up with broken hearts. This cannot stand. I have been arrested, harassed. They try to intimidate me. I have been detained in prison held for months. It will continue, but so will we. We believe in democracy and we will fight for it. We will be seen, we will be heard. [applause] the woman im here for is stephanie and the many women like her in the United States serving unjust mandatory minimum sentences. At the age of 23. Stephanie received a 30year prison sentence for a nonviolent drugrelated crime. She was a firsttime offender. Looking back, i know i did something wrong. I met a man named john who promised me cash if i helped him set up his new business. His business was selling crack cocaine. I helped him for a little offense a month. In return for money that i used to pay bills and buy groceries. After six weeks, i cut off all ties and moved myself and my kids away to start a new life. We were living in boston when i was indicted on drug charges. I prayed i would not serve time because of my clean record and limited involvement. I could not have been more wrong. I spent the last two decades behind bars before i was granted my freedom. As difficult as my time in prison has been on me, its been harder on my children. My heart breaks that i have not been there for them. Finding work when you have a record is tough, but im determined to work hard, to be a good mother and to have a good life. [applause] the woman i am here for is esther from uganda. She is a midwife. I am always here monday to monday. Delivers are unexpected and i have to rush wherever and whenever i am needed. There are days i have to run long distances to meet mothers who cannot make to the health center, only to find that she is already delivered. Once i found a woman giving birth next to a swamp because she couldnt walk any further. It was a terrifying sight and no woman should ever have to go through that. I am privileged to see life join this earth every other day, although my heart breaks to watch mothers go through such agonizing pain. Not so much the agony of giving birth, but the agony of giving birth under very harsh conditions. Our work can be very challenging yet we cope. [applause] is e woman im here for as first female boxer invited to compete in the olympic games. A man with a long beard came to the Olympics Office and said to the coach, you must not train girls. They even called my father to threaten his life, asking him why he had allowed his daughter to do boxing. However, my father is happy that i practice boxing. A School Classmate who sits next to me jokes that he doesnt want to sit next to me because he is scared i might punch him. I must make progress in sports and not marry soon. Afghan girls should tell the people of the world that we can progress. We can advance as well. I will proudly fight for women and afghanistan. [applause] i was at school when it was bombed. Some of the children were killed, we all ran away. I was running fast on an endless road. With my siblings, we were running back home seeking protection in my mothers arms. When we saw the bombing of the school, we thought they bombed all schools all over the world. Finally i was home. The bombing stopped for a while. Mom served lunch. I ate, drank a glass of water, then went into my room with my notebook and pen. I wanted to do my homework. All of a sudden the bombings resumed. I dropped both my pen and minot book and i hid under the table. I thought it might protect me. I left home, i left my school bag, my notebook, my pencils. I didnt finish my homework. Little by little home is fading away as well as the performance grant yates and the lemon pomegranates and the lemon trees, the tree in the garden, our neighbors house, my grandfathers house, my friends house, all fading away. God, what happened to my country . Exile at day, my started. In young girl has a name, of course, but revealing her identity might place her and er family in danger. However, there is a video link with her in lebanon, so shell be able to share this evening with us and to witness her words expressed to an International Audience a half a world away. So i would like to say this to matter. Words words matter. Youre the girl that im here for tonight and this is your poem. When i take my pencil and notebook, what shall i write about . Shall i write about my school, i house, or my land of which was deprived. My school, when will i visit you again, take my bags and run to you . My school is no longer there, now destruction is everywhere. No more students, no more ringing bells, my school has turned into stones scattered here and there. Shall i write about my house that i know longer see or i know longer be . Shall a write about flowers which now smell of destruction. Syria, my beloved country, when will i ever return back to you . I had so many dreams, none of them will come true. All i want is to live in my country in freedom, syria, my beloved country, i love you. Good evening, im cynthia mcfadden. Its such a pleasure to be here with you. With two extraordinarily courageous women we are going to tell you what they have seen. Th their own eyes and felt as eyewitnesses to really a horrific humanitarian crisis, so, ladies, thank you very much for being with us today. Thank you both. Later were going to have david, the president and c. E. O. Of the International Rescue committee who is going to talk to me about some of the dire circumstances of the nine million refugees and internally displaced people. First we want to hear from two women who have experienced it, what is happening in syria today. Last august, your hometown was one of the places that was attacked with chemical weapons. Yes. Take us back to that day and what you saw and what you witnessed. That day we were playing, me and my cousin, playing some kind of activities for the kids. We were working with them. E heard on the internet that a chemical attack and then after an hour, we heard that a similar attack hit my town. E are hearing the missiles and the bombing, but we didnt know that this bombing this night is different from any other nights before. Its carrying gases and gases. So after half an hour, we start feeling dizzy. We start our noses, our eyes were running so we did recognize that this is Something Different in the air and that we rushed to the other rooms and we wake up all of the family members and the kids. We try to help them, to put some kind of scarves on their noses. Then we decided your throat is burning, eyes burning at this point . Yes. Our noses were running. Well and we ee find some difficulties breathing. We didnt imagine that it would be worse and we decided to go to the hospital to help there ecause we used to be nurses at that hospital, so we rushed to the hospital and tried to help. On our way, it takes usually five minutes to get there, but because of the heavy bombing and shelling, it took us 20 minutes. I remember when we arrived in that neighborhood, i saw dozens of corpses on the streets of women and men and children. I just remember myself screaming and yelling out and saying oh, god, oh, god, i was so shocked. I didnt imagine to see that view. Hen i get closer, i saw people in a very scary way, frightening way, i was afraid of them. Then i saw one of the doctors at the door of the hospital, he says, me and my cousin, go to the hospital and try to help. Down stairs, the hospital is like a basement, 300 square meters basement and it was full of people, injured people, dead people, people who were crying, screaming and shouting, trying to wake up their relatives. It was very scary, very, very scary situation and horrible. And you and your brother were there over a period of time. Yeah. Just being in contact with the people was making you sick as well . Yeah, we didnt know that we dont have to be in contact with those people. All we have to do and we were able to do is just take off their clothes and wash their bodies with water and put vinegar on their mouths and noses and for some severe cases, we had small amount of shots, thats all that we have. We didnt recognize that this contact will affect us. Could you smell anything at this point . Yes. A different smell in the air but we dont have a lot of time to think about it. We were told that w