I have made clear that the rights and the roles of women and girls will be a central tenant of American foreign policy.  Because where girls and women flourish, our values are also reflected.

The United States has made empowering women and girls a cornerstone of our foreign policy, because women’s equality is not just a moral issue.  It’s not just a humanitarian issue.  It is not just a fairness issue.  It is a security issue.  It is a prosperity issue and it is a peace issue.  And therefore when I talk about why we need to integrate women’s issues into discussions at the highest levels everywhere in the world, I’m not doing it because I have a personal commitment, or not just because President Obama cares about it.  I’m doing it because it’s in the vital interests of the United States of America.

Let women work, and they drive economic growth across all sectors.  Send a girl to school, even just for one year, and her income dramatically increases for life and her children are more likely to survive and her family more likely to be healthy for years to come.  Give women equal rights and entire nations are more stable and secure.  Deny women equal rights, and the instability of nations is almost certain.

The subjugation of women is therefore a threat to the common security of our world and to the national security of our country.

One of my directions to our very talented, hard-working staff was to be sure that we integrated women’s issues throughout the review.  I didn’t want a section on women’s rights, I wanted to ensure women were at the table in every discussion and on every single issue.