Girls' education is the single best investment that any society can make.

When the lives and the rights of children are at stake, there must be no silent witnesses.

A century that began with children having virtually no rights is ending with children having the most powerful legal instrument that not only recognizes but protects their human rights.

Children have in the past and continue to influence policy makers.

By ratifying the Convention, governments become legally bound to implement the rights therein.

While the technology revolution has yet to reach far into the households of those in developing countries, this is certainly another area where more developed countries can assist those in the less developed world.

I came into a strong organization, and I hope I strengthened it more and expanded its capacity to deal with some of the challenges that might not have seemed as great 10 years ago, such as H.I.V., AIDS and children affected by war.