Clinton says culture must change to empower women

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Cultural change in developing nations and among advanced economies is what's needed to entrust women with greater political and economic power, panelists, including former President Bill Clinton, said at the Club de Madrid conference Monday.

Clinton is honorary chairman of the organization, which includes 93 democratically elected former presidents and prime ministers. He brought the conference, which isn't open to the public, to Little Rock and its venues, including his presidential library.

It continues Tuesday, with sessions on identifying problems that are keeping women from being empowered and a focus on developing solutions.

Monday's discussion included ways that women can have more of a voice in government and be treated equally in rural societies and in cities. At the session's close, Clinton said the goal should be to "end use of widespread rape as a weapon of war," which he said is happening in restive parts of Africa.

Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, said women's rights have been elevated to be considered as human rights, something emphasized by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. But, she said, there is a difference in perception between some leaders of developing nations and their citizens.

Robinson said it is necessary to strip out the differences between a culture and its traditional practices that are harmful, such as female circumcision or banning women from education or economic equality.

In the 21st century, treatment of women's rights as human rights should be reflected in the foreign policy of nations that contribute aid to developing nations, Robinson said.

Clinton said that during his presidency, he made a change from only visiting with heads of state. At his wife's suggestion, he started scheduling meetings with nongovernmental organizations that worked for human rights. The practice initially made some leaders nervous, Clinton said, "but people got used to it."

Clinton noted that in the United States, companies are having trouble filling job openings with people trained in science, technology, engineering and math. He said that gap would close if the same proportion of women and minorities were educated in those fields as white and Asian males.

To bring that about, Clinton said what's needed is a "more aggressive effort to change the culture."

Roza Otunbayeva, former president of Kyrgyzstan, said developing nations can be encouraged to display modern attitudes by nurturing women and "opening new talents" for their nations.

Otunbayeva, who was selected president by opposition leaders after a bloody 2010 uprising, was a key leader in a 2006 push for a new democratic constitution. Her term ended in December 2011.

Former Spain Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, who spoke through a translator, suggested establishing quotas for a minimum number of female candidates for political office.

"We need women to be competitive and successful," he said.

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