President Bush presided at a White House ceremony Monday honoring women around the world who are fighting for freedom.

布什总统星期一在白宫主持仪式，向世界各地为自由而奋斗的妇女表示敬意。

March is women's history month in the United States. And the president recognized not only those who have made a difference in the past, but those who are changing lives today.

在美国，3月是妇女历史月。布什总统高度赞扬了那些曾作出重大历史贡献，以及那些正在创造历史的妇女。

"We take pride in the progress women have made here at home and we know that millions of women abroad are still working to secure their basic rights," said President Bush.

布什总统说：“我们为美国妇女所取得的进步而自豪，而且我们也知道，在世界其它地方，还有千百万妇女在为争取自己的基本权益而奋斗。”

He made specific mention of women who are playing a key role in emerging democracies, such as Afghanistan and Iraq. And he pointed to Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as an example of just how much an empowered woman can do to bring a country on the brink of collapse to a hopeful future.

布什总统特别提到了在新兴民主国家发挥关键作用的妇女，例如阿富汗和伊拉克妇女。他还以利比里亚女总统埃伦.约翰逊.瑟利夫为例，说明妇女一旦被赋予权力，就能发挥多么巨大的作用，把一个濒临崩溃的国家带上充满希望的道路。

"Liberians call President Johnson 'the iron lady' and 'Ma', said Mr. Bush. "I am proud to call her 'friend.'"

布什总统说：“利比里亚人把约翰逊总统称为‘铁夫人’和‘妈妈’。而我则骄傲地把她称为‘朋友’。”

Mr. Bush also spoke of the women who take on tyrants in an effort to bring freedom to their countries. He told the stories of activists in Cuba and Belarus. And he pledged America's ongoing commitment to the Democracy movement in Burma led by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

布什总统也谈到了向暴君作斗争，争取国家自由的妇女。他讲述了古巴和白俄罗斯民运分子的事迹。他承诺美国将始终如一地支持诺贝尔和平奖得主昂山素季所领导的缅甸民运。

"Aung San Suu Kyi has never wavered," he said. "Her courage and her writings have inspired millions. And in so doing, they have put fear into the hearts of the leaders of the Burmese junta."

布什总统说：“昂山素季从不动摇。她的勇气以及她的文章鼓舞了千百万人。这给缅甸军政权带来了内心的恐惧。”

Among those attending the event at the White House were women who hold key posts in the president's cabinet, serve in Congress, and represent their countries as ambassadors in Washington.

在白宫参加这一仪式的有在布什总统政府和美国国会担任重要职位的妇女，以及一些国家驻美国的女大使。