Go, Hillary, Go! Fighting for Women and Girls Worldwide
By Ani on September 14, 2009 at 6:01 PM in Abuse, Feminism, Media Bias, Misogyny, PM Gordon Brown, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sexism, State Department, Washington Post, Women, Women and Children
Christian Science Monitor’s article today, The Potential In Hillary Clinton’s Global Campaign For Women tells us “no other Secretary of State has so focused on women’s rights. It’s a powerful shift.” The editorial board of CSM states:
When Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Africa last month, she visited war-racked eastern Congo to speak out against widespread rape by militias. She choked up after meeting with two rape victims and promised more US help – $17 million for medical treatment and security for victims.
Now she’s taking the issue to the United Nations, where the US is leading an effort to shore up a resolution to end sexual violence against civilians during armed conflict. The Security Council passed Resolution 1820 last year, but follow through is sorely lacking.
Women’s rights are becoming a signature issue for America’s top diplomat. In her official travels, Mrs. Clinton talks with women, meets with female activists, and presses the twin challenges of women’s rights and abuse with political leaders. She wants US development aid to focus more on women, and has appointed the first US ambassador for global women’s issues.
The Bush administration, too, championed women’s rights, especially in Muslim countries such as Afghanistan. But no Secretary of State has sought to make women as high a priority as Clinton is attempting. It’s a potentially powerful shift. If she can pull it off.
As Rev. Amy noted in her terrific piece, Well, Isn’t This a Nice Change, the Washington Post started the very short parade to end the virtual press blackout on Clinton by writing a lovely and informative article focused on the woman’s work, not her pantsuits or cackle:
“Amid all the distractions, what is Clinton actually doing? Only overseeing what may be the most profound changes in U.S. foreign policy in two decades.”
Well, if anyone can pull it off…
A more detailed article on this issue appeared in the Washington Times today, noting:
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who appeared genuinely moved after her August visit to rape victims in eastern Congo, is expected to chair a special U.N. Security Council session at the end of the month to review U.N. efforts to curb the epidemic.
“Meeting with survivors of rape, which is now used increasingly as a tool of war, was shattering,” Mrs. Clinton told a New York audience Friday. “The atrocities described to me distill evil to its basest form. These are crimes against humanity. They don’t just harm a single individual, or a single family, or village or group. They shred the fabric that weaves us together as human beings. This criminal outrage against women must be stopped.”
In a new approach, two U.N. reports issued last week could lay a basis for war crimes prosecutions against individual soldiers.
…the U.N. Security Council meeting Sept. 30 would review implementation of Resolution 1820, passed last year explicitly to outlaw sexual violence in conflict and afterward. Women’s groups praised the 2008 text for designating rape as a threat to international peace and security.
As Tina Brown, editor of The Daily Beast recently stated in her otherwise sexist piece Obama’s Other Wife, “Hillary Clinton has been fighting for the rights of women since before it was fashionable.” I applaud Secretary Clinton for making this a priority. The CSM article states that:
Obstacles abound, including the unruly thicket of US aid programs. But the greatest challenge is the deeply rooted culture in countries that oppress women and girls – often violently and even to the point of enslavement, sexual and otherwise. Honor killings, child brides, female infanticide – all of these accepted customs need to be realized as unacceptable.
They wisely point out that Secretary Clinton is doing her best not to fall into the trap of being seen to lecture foreign countries on their treatment of women, or to create social upheaval and note that she is “wisely framing the issue in terms of countries’ own interests”:
Her pitch: Healthcare for women, especially maternal care, makes for healthier children and families. Schooling for girls contributes to economic progress. Microloans to women pay handsome dividends as women pay them off and invest further in businesses and their families’ welfare. (The majority of the world’s small-holder farmers are women.)
Some experts also see a link between the oppression of women and the problems of extremism and terrorism.
“It is a very-well-researched fact that women are key to economic progress and social stability,” Clinton said in India this summer. Global aid groups, the World Bank, the US military, and economists agree. “Gender inequality hurts economic growth,” reports Goldman Sachs.
Attitudes in male-dominated countries can change once men see the monetary benefits of female empowerment. Writers Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn give a convincing example of this in their new book, “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.”
Mr. Kristof and Ms. WuDunn also deserve kudos for drawing attention to this issue. British PM Gordon Brown recently praised their important book in his article Taking Women’s Rights Seriously:
They tell of Saima Muhammad, a poverty-stricken wife and mother near Lahore, Pakistan, who suffered daily beatings from her jobless husband. For lack of food, she had to send her daughter to live with an aunt. When her second child, a girl, was born, Saima’s husband was urged by his mother to take a second wife so he could father a son.
Then Saima got a loan of $65 through a Pakistani group that lends exclusively to women. She started an embroidery business that now employs 30 families in the neighborhood (including her husband). She paid off her husband’s debt (more than $3,000), kept her girls in school, and upgraded her house, adding running water and TV.
The authors write that Saima’s husband is now more impressed with girls. They are “just as good as boys,” he says.
Yep, we are just as good as boys. And once in a while, we’re even better. Sssh. Keep that under your hat. Would have been nice if people figured that out in 2008. But I digress…
In closing, the Christian Science Monitor states that Secretary Clinton has found the best way to frame this issue in order to get the most mileage, since we know appealing on a humanitarian basis has not gotten us very far in the decent and equal treatment of women and girls – either here or around the world:
Of course, women’s rights are human rights. They don’t need to be justified for any other reason than that. But in many countries, the path to that realization may well begin with economic self-interest, and Clinton is right to recognize this.
It is the understatement of the century that I would prefer her leadership as President, yet I appreciate she is making this cause such an important element of her platform as Secretary of State, a cause she promoted in her famous speech in Beijing in 1995, which she delivered in defiance of the U.S. State Dept. and the Chinese government:
“For too long, the history of women has been a history of silence. Even today, there are those who are trying to silence our words.
“It is a violation of human rights when babies are denied food, or drowned, or suffocated, or their spines broken, simply because they are born girls. It is a violation of human rights when woman and girls are sold into the slavery of prostitution. It is a violation of human rights when women are doused with gasoline, set on fire and burned to death because their marriage dowries are deemed too small. It is a violation of human rights when individual women are raped in their own communities and when thousands of women are subjected to rape as a tactic or prize of war. It is a violation of human rights when a leading cause of death worldwide along women ages 14 to 44 is the violence they are subjected to in their own homes. It is a violation of human rights when women are denied the right to plan their own families, and that includes being forced to have abortions or being sterilized against their will.
“Women’s rights are human rights. Among those rights are the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard.”
I am so proud to have supported Hillary Clinton in 2008 and to see that she is still working for the issues she holds near and dear, no matter how she is treated, no matter how the American press pretends she doesn’t exist, no matter what else is going on around her. This is an adult who sees the bigger picture.
She’ll always have my vote.
(Release: November 13)
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And check out these: 
("This crazy redhead is on to something. Her pink Rambler story alone is worth the price of the book," writes 
- “Richard Sale’s reportage on Washington, the CIA, the American armed forces, and foreign intrigue has created a perfect background for this account of the steady growth of President Clinton as a master of the game of nations.”--W. Patrick Lang, former head of Middle East Operations, DIA
"Anne C. Heller's stunning biography of Ayn Rand" uses a "plethora of newly unearthed research and fresh insight."
Exactly, Ani!
“Attitudes in male-dominated countries can change once men see the monetary benefits of female empowerment. Writers Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn give a convincing example of this in their new book, “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.”
So nice that the likes of Kristof and WuDunn see what we saw all along. Because:
“Women’s rights are human rights. Among those rights are the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard.”
Do you hear it now??
Better late than never, I guess. Oh, what we lost!!!
i can’t wait to call this fantastic woman
MADAM PRESIDENT CLINTON
I am in line right behind you!
Oh, I hope so! I do feel that Hillary has some tricks up her sleeve and will be President one day! I pray she challenges Obama 2012. We need her way before 2016! It makes me cry that we truly needed her leadership now and instead got stuck with a usurper divider who was inaccurately portrayed as a uniter. I knew he was no uniter all along! How anyone believed that BS after witnessing the democrat division in the primary.
Amen, Ani. She’ll always have my vote, too. See, it is exactly this kind of commitment that the MSM completely downplayed - not that the DNC was going to allow her to be the nominee anyway - and they did a tremendous disservice to the American people by holding back this information. Clearly, this is not Clinton’s first time working on this issue - and if anyone can make a difference, SHE can.
I might add, I saw an article recently in which the writer asked what Hillary’s signature issue was going to be, because she didn’t seem to have one yet, as all Secretarys of State do. She was already doing work on women children, but I guess that just didn’t count.
Thank you, thank you, for highlighting the work of this great woman. And yes, to think of just what she could have done as President…
The writer who asked Hillary what her signature issue was going to be must have been a stooge. Hello. We finally have a politician (wish I could say president) who has a clear vision and is acting on it and the id*ot can’t see it.
When she was running last year, some pundit derisively said he was worried about a woman being president because of mood swings but thought it would be ok “as long as she didn’t have a female agenda.”
Another rocket scientist.
She will always have my vote too; what a woman!
She is a class act and I thank you Ani for this story, you made my day.
Thank you so much for this piece, Ani.
I, too, and proud to have been but one of her many, many supporters and continue to be one to this day. She is competent, compassionate, tireless, and is doing a terrific job as SoS.
Great article. I was led here After reading the rape in the Congo article. If you missed it, check it out. Hillary is a good example and we must all act for those who are in need. Realy worth the look
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/08/11/congo.rape/
Oops - sorry - I meant to mention that Kristof has been really great on this issue. I have used articles by him before on the treatment of women and girls. Kristoff and WuDunn’s book sounds like a must have.
I love Hillary!! When I think of what else she could have been I get misty.
We *love* Hillary and we are spread all over the world, don’t forget. She’s stolen our hearts forever, and not just because she truly WON the nomination.
Wonder where we could get a tape of both the June speech and the one where she (heartbreak!) voted for The Empty Suit when the Thug “won” the nomination…
But but but, she works for HIM!! Sorry, you can’t spin that and have it both ways saying she’s bold, brassy, independent, has the balls he lacks and then say she has to hold her tongue and pretend to be the loyalist cheering Obama’s speech before Congress the other night and denying she’s unfulfilled in her role. She could have stayed in the Senate and challenged Reid for the leadership if he survives the ‘10 election.
Personally, I don’t want a woman who “has the balls.” Ovaries are pretty great, IMHO. Don’t even know why that expression is used abt women, but that’s just me…
I see Hillary as being OUR Sec. of State - that’s what she is, after all. She may serve at Obama’s pleasure, but she represents the entire US.
Honestly, I think she would have been treated like crap if she had returned to the Senate. Heck, many of those same people stabbed her in the back repeatedly when she was running for Pres. (e.g., the two senators from WVA, which she won handily and MA, to name four right off the top of my head). This way, she gets to do great work, and she can run for NYS governor, too, if she wants.
Hillary, obviously sees things in terms of where she can do the most good for THE COUNTRY–given the circumstances. She is representing America well internationally and doesn’t have to be daily involved with the dirty politics that is Washington DC.
And obviously, DBB, you have a different way of assessing the service of real statesmen/women.
She works for the US and us. I don’t care if she’s working for HIM. As a matter of fact, I’m glad she’s there because she beats any alternative that BOTUS could put there. Who do you want in the position of SoS? I suppose you think that her not being SoS would be a good thing for the country. After all, that is, in essence, what your comment boils down to.
Sorry, but I refuse to cut off my nose to spite my face.
Excellent comment Ferd, and I agree completely.
You know something — the Senate was dead to her. She would never have been in line to challenge for leadership with those backstabbers around — the list was too long.
Furthermore, it is not having it both ways to say she wants to work to help our foreign policy no matter who is in the White House. There is a bigger picture here than somebody being angry and taking their marbles and going home. She is quielty revitalizing the State dept. Please check out the WaPo article I linked in the piece above.
Furthermore, had she stayed in the Senate, she’d be stuck with his toxic domestic policy no matter what — and have had to be party to it — and she still would have been completely cut out on health care — Teddy and his minions saw to that.
I disagree with your assessment here. think, all things considered she took the best position she could take to still be of service to the American people — and to those around the world in need of attention - namely women. That is a big deal. Biger than most people realize. And I am sick and tired of it being diminished.
Hear Hear!!
Beautifully said Ani, Ferd, felizarte, and RRRAmy!
Wow, to actually have someone in government that actually works for the people instead of self and party. Someone who will do what needs to be done. And how thrilling that she is able to affect change internationally.
Go Hillary Go!!
So true and at the same time so disheartening when one thinks about what might have been. We had the best potential POTUS within our grasp only to have our hopes dashed–slowly, painfully, and deliberately. I won’t go on since the rest is now history and clearly understood by the good readers here for what it is.
Ani
Yes! What Hillary’s doing for girls and women is a continuation of her deeply felt policy that was obvious to me back in l995 in Bejing! What a speech:
Women’s rights ARE human rights. And human rights ARE women’s rights. Yup. She’s doing a FAR MORE IMPORTANT JOB now for the truly oppressed. And I will listen to John Lennon’s “Woman is the Nigger of hte World” song of l970 once again….how true, still!
Hillary made the best political decision available to her. Teddy would not let her participate in any of the health care reform. I believe sincerely that was one of the primary reasons why Teddy endorsed Barry instead of Hillary. In Teddy’s mind Hillary had her turn and failed. Barry presented a new and malleable opportunity for Teddy. There is a very arcane seniority system within the Senate and there would have been no way for her to challenge Harry Reid successfully. If she decides to pursue another presidential run in 2016 (it won’t happen in 2012…she will not want to alienate her party) then leaving the Senate, not having any of these controversial Congressional votes attached to her permanently and building her foreign policy experience will serve her positively. As I commented on another blog about Bubba and Barry, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. She is behaving like a good and savvy politician.
Jackarooty, I agree with your comments except for why you think Teddy endorsed B0 instead of Hillary.
One of the interesting things I learned from the back to back coverage of Teddy’s weekend funeral was, yes, Teddy and the Clintons were always good friends, despite the fact Ted was far-left and the Clintons were more centerists. But one thing that apparently stuck in his mind was the fact the Clintons supported Jimmy Carter’s re-election in 1980 instead of Kennedy’s challenge of the sitting president.
Teddy had befriended 0 from the 2004 convention speech to his first days in the senate. Like Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the uniformly corrupt democratic party leadership, Teddy probably felt he would be in charge wherever he wanted to be with 0. That would not have been as clear with Hillary.
What better way to have the last word on ‘loyalty’ than to do what he did - endorse 0 and be the catalyst in defeating your disloyal friends, Hillary & Bill. He carried that grudge for a very long time.
I agree with your point about my comment but I did state that it was ONE of the (many) reasons although Teddy tried to use the South Carolina primary comment by Bill as THE reason. The press reported that Teddy was “livid”. Hey, when in doubt flash the race card.
Back when she was still in the Senate, a lot of people wanted her to stay and exert her “power.” They cried “Don’t work for him!”
Fortunately she had the brains to get out of Washington before the s***storm of really bad legislation. Now she is not getting involved in the losing health care, the loser ACORN, the loser this that and the other that the Dems are chasing in Congress. It’s ironic that the public option was her idea, O. stole it, now it’s the biggest bone of contention. But it’s a painless, to her, pilot test of this idea and the reaction to it is priceless knowledge which she can use in the future, because I don’t think she’ll be giving up on health care.
Instead of being in the cesspool, she’s out getting impeccable international experience, the thing that she was derided during the campaign as not having. International chops can’t be an argument against her in the future.
And if she times it right to bail this corrupt administration just before the whole thing implodes, and does something like, oh, run for Governor of NY, she will add real executive experience to that resume.
She wouldn’t have had power in the Senate, she would have had nothing but grief. This was a brilliant solution for her.
Bemused
Yes, indeed! I agree she did the right thing taking the SoS and leaving the Congressional pandora’s box unopened.
Your idea is…well….prophetic?
Hillary for N.Y. Governor…..altho I prefer POTUS!
Madame President 2016
She will always have my vote too. SHe is courageous, smart and very effective at whatever the project. We are lucky to have this woman representing us and fighting for all of womankind.
Great article Ani!
UGH to think who we got in place of Hillary is just mindblowing.
~~Rise Hillary Rise~~
I wholeheartedly agree! I am so proud of our girl Hillary, she has always carried herself with such grace and dignity.
She will get the job done, she will be our next president!!!
Obama will go down as the worst president in history, Hillary will go down as the woman who saved our country from the mess Obama left us in.
Hillary my vote is always for you too!
Ani,
I have to add to the agreement here. My work as a delegate for her during the primary will be something to make me proud until my dying day. I just hope that before that day comes I see her or a woman like her showing all the men how being a President really should be handled.
And as for DBB’s comments above, I thought at first I’d like to see her remain in the Senate. But now I see that she’d be stifled in that den of iniquity. Her service as SOS is, perhaps, the one shining example of what the U.S. can produce in the world today. Her concentrating on women’s issues is the best way to get back at those male chauvinist pigs and the female turncoats who thought it was so funny to be so vile in their sexism during the primary.
All the people who continue to give her much higher approval ratings than the Messiah gets know she is working for us……..not for him.
I love Hillary too but she’ll have to change parties if she wants a chance to be CIC in 2012.
No way will a DEM win. Not after this BAMBOOZLEMENT!!
The pendulum will swing (I pray NOT as far) back to the right as it did the EXTREME
BATCHIT CRAZYFAR LEFT!NO way and even 2010 mid terms are gonna catch the swing. No one has been paying attention to these MILLIONS of TEA PARTY goers! They won’t be backing down.
DEMS will be losing pretty big. I am willing to bettcha!
sigh here we go again
Since I am no longer in any party, I would easily vote for SOS Clinton for president; I think we may see some sweeping housekeeping in both houses, soon. Since I don’t trust either party, I will have to go with a candidate, and there is no one I would vote for against Hillary, not even Bill if he could run again.
Ladydawnelle,
I agree with you. Unless there’s a miracle like Pelosi being “struck by lightening and having a conversion experience”, the dems are going over the cliff big time in 2010. The 2012 presidential election will more than likely be a referendum on Obama and the democrats like 2008 was a referendum on Bush and the republicans.
Now a Clinton(Hillary CIC) and a CLINTON (Bill, VP)
Would rock, first woman president, and first husband wife ticket. Hey I can dream if I want!
Simply put, HRC sees the big picture. She’s very savvy to be focusing on the economic advantages to treating women fairly and what’s more, empowering them. While I no longer share her position on healthcare, I know and appreciate a true leader when I see one and I’ll always remain defiantly proud of my vote for her in the primaries.
Indeed! Great post Ani.
Hillary Clinton reminds me everyday on why she should be president instead of Obama. Women in this country, and around the world have been shafted at every turn. Whether it be equal pay, equal opportunity, or equal on other levels, Hillary is making it known that she will be at the forefront of such change.
Way to go Madame Secretary.
Great article and Hillary has my vote too! What an absolutely amazing woman! She is a shining light for women and children around the world and is one of the few bright spots in the Obama administration.
I also hope that the dems in Congress and Obama don’t mess things up so badly that no democrat will be elected for a very long time. Of course maybe Hillary could become an “independent” when she runs again for President as I certainly hope she will.
Really a terrific article, Ani.
I’m very proud to say that my wife is much like Hillary in her efforts to promote the welfare and recognition of women.
It makes me very proud.
Maybe, one day, we’ll live in a society that values the contributions of women in more areas than the bedroom.
Obumble and his minions could learn a thing or two if they just stopped playing at leadership and watched someone who actually leads.
When she denounces the council on foreign relations then I’ll vote for her again but not until she stops
sleeping with themtaking her orders from them.Thank you for this article Ani! Rothkopf’s in WashPost was phenomenal!
I’m ordering “ALMOST MADAM PRESIDENT” newly published book (publisher?) by Nichola Gutgold I believe. It’s supposed to be quite a book on Hillary’s accomplilshment written without anti-Hillary bias. There’s another out by Marie Cocco but I don’t know that much about it.
And in Washpost today at Greenwich village Italian restaurant Bubba had lunch with Obambi and split the bill. I think Totus owed Bill Clinton lunch …
I think Marie Cocco (wonderful columnist by the way) wrote the forward on Gutgold’s book.
REGARDING THE KRISTOF/WUDUNN BOOK, HALF THE SKY:
I was able to read most of an advance copy of this book before Bill Drayton (founder of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public) snatched it away and ran off with it on his annual 2-week hiking trip to the mountains.
I think this has to be the most important book - not just for women’s rights globally but for human rights - published in my memory. Kristof and WuDunn weave together a most compelling story of how culture and customs historically suppress women. They tackle many tough, taboo topics - for example honor killing. But more importantly, they champion the stories of heroic women worldwide wholly committed to changing the many evils of the status quo.
What is more, they posit a kind of general framework theory that the really important advances in human rights that are going to be made in the near future are going to be brought about by these entrepreneurial pioneering women. In essence, that the backbone of the human rights movement and of real change across all societies is going to be a direct function of brave women who give themselves permission to say “NO” to thousands of years of (to most Westerners) unimaginable oppressive cultural customs and who take it upon themselves to lead to a new way. Once you have read the book, it is very hard, if not impossible, to disagree with Kristof and WuDunn’s general theme. To wit, the brave women of Iran who took to the streets to protest the results of the recent election.
Among many other “super” women, HALF THE SKY spotlights the following inspirational Ashoka Fellows:
• Sunitha Krishnan (India), founder of Prajwala, a citizen sector organization in Hyderabad, India, fighting forced prostitution and sex trafficking, rescuing women and children from sexual exploitation, incestual rape, sexual torture, and abuse in prostitution. Her organization helps former prostitutes learn vocational skills so they can move into new careers. “Prajwala” means “an eternal flame”.
• Sakena Yacoobi (Afghanistan), founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning, a citizen sector organization providing teacher training to Afghan women, educating and fostering education for girls and boys, and providing health education to women and children. Her organization also runs fixed and mobile health clinics that provide family planning services. Sakena holds the distinction of having been Ashoka’s first Afghan Fellow. Educating women and girls was banned under the Taliban and is controversial under Islamic law.
• Roshaneh Zafar (Pakistan), founder of Pakistani microfinance lender, Kashf. A former World Bank employee, she was inspired after a chance meeting with Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank. “Kashf” means “miracle” and Kashf is indeed fostering a miracle by leveraging microfinance to women to transform the role of women in Pakistani society and bringing about a poverty-free world. To date, Kashf supports 305,038 families in Pakistan, has disbursed $202 million, and has 52 branches nationwide.
I am not alone in my enthusiasm for this book! Last Tuesday, September 15, 2009, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (“UNODC”) hosted a panel discussion and book signing with Mr. Kristof and Ms. WuDunn in the UN Trusteeship Council Chamber at UN Headquarters. All 550 seats in the Trusteeship Council Chamber were filled. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon delivered opening remarks. Special recognition goes to Simone Monasebian and Anna Rosario Kennedy of the UNODC for putting together this behemoth of an event.
Five out of five stars. An absolute must read for anyone who cares about women’s rights or human rights. A genuine eye popper that moves so fast, tackles so much that has hitherto been taboo and unmovable, and interweaves the unbelievably positive stories of the very heroic women already leading and creating change in a tapestry that is glimpse of a brave and very different, humanitarian new world.
Once you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down. And once you have read it, you will be moved to help bring about tomorrow. Absolute proof that the glass (or the sky) is half full. We just have to give ourselves permission to make change. Or as Gandhi said, “we must be the change we wish to see.”
BUY IT. READ IT. PASS IT AROUND.
-Tom Boone, Ashoka: Innovators for the Public