Laura Bush speaks on breast cancer

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Former first lady Laura Bush spoke to a 1,700-woman audience in Salt Lake City during the 25th annual Women's Conference, event officials said.

Bush began her remarks Monday with light banter about the presidential family, but turned to more serious issues, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Bush spoke of the urgency of teaching women around the world about the dangers of breast cancer.

"Breast cancer does not respect national boundaries and neither can we in our efforts to stop it," Bush said.

Bush praised Rwandan women who, having survived genocide, now operate businesses and sit in half of Rwanda's parliamentary seats three years after Rwandan women won the right to vote.

Bush also advocates for literacy and plans to initiate a women's empowerment program at the George W. Bush Policy Institute, part of the presidential library at Southern Methodist University.