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First Lady Praises Leaders for Progress of Girls in Africa First Lady Praises Leaders for Progress of Girls in Africa
(30 days later)
WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama on Wednesday praised the efforts that African leaders have made in improving educational opportunities for girls, but she emphasized that barriers remained and pledged American support in removing them. WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama on Wednesday praised the efforts that African leaders have made in improving educational opportunities for girls, but she emphasized that barriers remained and pledged American support in removing them.
“Let’s be very clear: In many countries in Africa, women have made tremendous strides,” Mrs. Obama said in addressing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders summit meeting here.“Let’s be very clear: In many countries in Africa, women have made tremendous strides,” Mrs. Obama said in addressing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders summit meeting here.
But she said that 30 million of the girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa were not attending school, and that too many of them were forced into marriage before even hitting puberty. Genital mutilation of girls is still common in some areas, she said, and rapists and human traffickers often escape prosecution. But she highlighted some of the success stories. In Rwanda, she said, more than half of the legislators are women — “which, by the way,” she said, “is more than double the percentage of women in the U.S. Congress.”But she said that 30 million of the girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa were not attending school, and that too many of them were forced into marriage before even hitting puberty. Genital mutilation of girls is still common in some areas, she said, and rapists and human traffickers often escape prosecution. But she highlighted some of the success stories. In Rwanda, she said, more than half of the legislators are women — “which, by the way,” she said, “is more than double the percentage of women in the U.S. Congress.”
Still, she said: “I don’t think it’s really productive to talk about issues like girls’ education unless we’re willing to have a much bigger, bolder conversation about how women are viewed and treated in the world today. And we need to be having this conversation on every continent and in every country on this planet. And that’s what I want to do today with all of you, because so many of you are already leading the charge for progress in Africa.”Still, she said: “I don’t think it’s really productive to talk about issues like girls’ education unless we’re willing to have a much bigger, bolder conversation about how women are viewed and treated in the world today. And we need to be having this conversation on every continent and in every country on this planet. And that’s what I want to do today with all of you, because so many of you are already leading the charge for progress in Africa.”
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative, and the meeting on Wednesday served as a lead-in to the president’s U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, which begins on Monday.The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative, and the meeting on Wednesday served as a lead-in to the president’s U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, which begins on Monday.
Mrs. Obama’s speech was her second foreign policy endeavor in recent months. In May, she used her Twitter account and the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls to focus attention on the kidnapping of hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists.Mrs. Obama’s speech was her second foreign policy endeavor in recent months. In May, she used her Twitter account and the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls to focus attention on the kidnapping of hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists.
“This conversation is deeply personal to me,” Mrs. Obama said on Wednesday. “The roots of my family tree are in Africa. As you know, my husband’s father was born and raised in Kenya, and members of our extended family still live there.”“This conversation is deeply personal to me,” Mrs. Obama said on Wednesday. “The roots of my family tree are in Africa. As you know, my husband’s father was born and raised in Kenya, and members of our extended family still live there.”
She noted that many members of the audience — some of them half her age — had founded businesses and nongovernmental organizations to champion the cause of women and girls throughout the continent. She pointed to one effort to educate women in microcredit and accounting, and another involving a Miss Education pageant to inspire girls to pursue higher education.She noted that many members of the audience — some of them half her age — had founded businesses and nongovernmental organizations to champion the cause of women and girls throughout the continent. She pointed to one effort to educate women in microcredit and accounting, and another involving a Miss Education pageant to inspire girls to pursue higher education.
“We are really focusing on education broadly in the United States and girls’ education internationally,” she said. “This isn’t just something that I care about now in my role as first lady. This is an issue that we’re going to have to continue to work on as I take my last breath.”“We are really focusing on education broadly in the United States and girls’ education internationally,” she said. “This isn’t just something that I care about now in my role as first lady. This is an issue that we’re going to have to continue to work on as I take my last breath.”
Mrs. Obama’s appearance onstage was greeted by cheers and high-fives, and even an “amen” or two.Mrs. Obama’s appearance onstage was greeted by cheers and high-fives, and even an “amen” or two.
“This conversation is deeply personal to me,” she said. “Believe me, the blood of Africa runs through my veins.”“This conversation is deeply personal to me,” she said. “Believe me, the blood of Africa runs through my veins.”