The only way to ensure equality for women is to clearly declare it in our Constitution.

We cannot ensure that women will be free of discrimination in the workplace and everywhere as long as women are not universally defended under our Constitution. As it stands now, the equal rights of women are subject to interpretation of law. That is a risk our mothers, sisters and daughters cannot afford.

The proposal that men and women should be treated equally under the law is hardly a controversial concept.

Today we are calling for reinstatement of the Violence Against Women Act,

I was proud to be an original cosponsor of the Violence Against Women Act when Congress passed it in 1994, and was proud to support the previous renewals in 2000 and 2005. These bills always enjoyed large, bipartisan support.

We are beginning to see changes. We are working on an interim national constitution that recognizes gender equality and child rights, which are often ignored by customary law.