Location: The Heritage Foundation's Allison Auditorium

Throughout the developing world, even in places ravaged by conflict like Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, women are increasingly emerging as courageous leaders.  They are surmounting deeply entrenched cultural and legal barriers to secure freedom, advance democracy, and create pathways to prosperity for themselves and their countries.  Along the way, they have received strong support not only from the United States, but also from Americans themselves.  In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8, The Heritage Foundation has invited Andrea G. Bottner, the new Director for International Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State, to share with the Washington policy community the successes and struggles of women in places undergoing democratic transitionand the Bush Administration’s priorities for its final year.