In honor of Mother’s Day, which American people celebrate on the second Sunday in May, I join my colleagues at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent to highlight the great significance of the role of mothers in America. I am certain this value is echoed in every community in every corner of the world, including in Uzbekistan.
I have only been in Uzbekistan a few months, but already I have been impressed with the high importance the Uzbek people place on family values, including a deep appreciation for mothers. Speaking personally, I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to my own late mother for her strength, love, grace and generosity. I also admire so many of the women in our embassy who give so much to our work as they also enjoy their roles as mothers. Today and every day, we are grateful to the women whose strength, dedication, and resilience keep our families and communities healthy, educated, and strong.
Working in close partnership with the people and the Government of Uzbekistan, we strive to secure a better future for mothers, mothers-to-be, newborns and families. As President Obama has said, ” Whether an adoptive mom or grandmother, mother or partner, the women who raise us show us that no hurdle is too high, and no dream is beyond our reach. As sons and daughters, we show our gratitude for the women in our lives who care for us, shape our values, and set us on the path to a limitless future.” Through a variety of USAID and other projects, we continue our cooperation with Uzbekistan to improve women’s health and prevent diseases. We also support Uzbekistan’s efforts to improve the role of women in the society in general. Women’s education is a shared priority and we remain committed to providing more opportunities for women to realize themselves in every aspect of the society, be that politics, business, or the social or cultural sphere.
This Mother’s Day let us honor the mothers in our lives.
