[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 45 (Monday, March 16, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3413-H3415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON WILL LEAD ROBUST HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, Secretary Clinton called the 
President of Sri Lanka to express deep concern over the deteriorating 
human rights situation in northern Sri Lanka. She stated clearly that 
the army should not fire on civilians, that international organizations 
should have full access to the thousands of people trapped inside the 
conflict area, and she condemned the Tamil Tigers for their atrocities. 
It was a strong human rights statement.
  Last Wednesday, Secretary Clinton stood up for the rights of women 
when she hosted the 2009 International Women of Courage Awards. She 
noted those women whose governments kept them from traveling to 
Washington to receive this honor.
  She also met with the Chinese Foreign Minister. She told him that 
every nation seeking to lead in the international community must live 
by the global rules that determine whether people enjoy the right to 
live freely and participate fully, including the freedom to speak out, 
to worship, and to live and work with dignity.
  Secretary Clinton is committed to a strong human rights agenda, and I 
look forward to working with her and promoting human rights in U.S. 
foreign policy.
                                         U.S. Department of State,


                                      Office of the Spokesman,

                                                   March 13, 2009.


          STATEMENT BY GORDON DUGUID, ACTING DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

                  Humanitarian Situation in Sri Lanka

       On March 13, Secretary Clinton called Sri Lankan President 
     Rajapaksa to express the United States' deep concern over the 
     deteriorating conditions and increasing loss of life 
     occurring in the Government of Sri Lanka-designated ``safe 
     zone'' in northern Sri Lanka. The Secretary stated that the 
     Sri Lankan Army should not fire into the civilian areas of 
     the conflict zone. The Secretary offered immediate and post-
     conflict reconstruction assistance and she extended 
     condolences to the victims of the March 10 bombing outside a 
     mosque in southern Sri Lanka. She condemned the actions of 
     the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who are reported 
     to be holding civilians as human shields, and to have shot at 
     civilians leaving LTTE areas of control.
       Secretary Clinton called on President Rajapaksa to devise a 
     political solution to the ongoing conflict. She urged the 
     President to give international humanitarian relief 
     organizations full access to the conflict area and displaced 
     persons camps, including screening centers.
       The United States believes that a durable and lasting peace 
     will only be achieved through a political solution that 
     addresses the legitimate aspirations of all of Sri Lanka's 
     communities. We call on the Sri Lankan Government to put 
     forward a proposal now to engage Tamils who do not espouse 
     violence or terrorism, and to develop power sharing 
     arrangements so that lasting peace and reconciliation can be 
     achieved.
                                  ____


                            (March 11, 2009)

               2009 International Women of Courage Awards

  Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Benjamin Franklin Room, 
                             Washington, DC

       Secretary Clinton: Well, this is such an exciting occasion, 
     and there were so many people who wanted to come today, but 
     unfortunately, there is a limit to how many people we can let 
     into this magnificent room. So there are people watching on 
     closed-circuit TV all over this building, and beyond.
       And it is my pleasure to welcome you to the State 
     Department to celebrate International Women's Day with a very 
     special event and a very special guest. The event is the 
     International Women of Courage Awards, and in a minute, you 
     will meet these remarkable women and learn more about their 
     lives and their work. And I am especially delighted to thank 
     one person in particular whose presence here means a great 
     deal to all of us--our First Lady, Michelle Obama. 
     (Applause.)
       Now, I know a little bit about the role that--(laughter)--
     Michelle Obama is filling now. And I have to say that in a 
     very short time, she has, through her grace and her wisdom, 
     become an inspiration to women and girls not only in the 
     United States, but around the world. And it is so fitting 
     that she would join us here at the State Department to 
     celebrate the achievements of other extraordinary women, and 
     to show her commitment to supporting women and girls around 
     the globe.
       She understands, as we all do here at the State Department, 
     that the status of women and girls is a key indicator of 
     whether or not progress is possible in a society. And so I am 
     very grateful to her and to President Obama, who earlier 
     today announced the creation of the White House Interagency 
     Council on Women and Girls. That will--(applause). That 
     office will help us collaborate across every department and 
     agency in our government.
       President Obama has also designated an ambassador-at-large 
     to consolidate our work on women's global issues here at the 
     State Department. Now, this is a position that has never 
     existed before, and I am very pleased that someone you all 
     know, if you have ever worked on women's issues--know and 
     appreciate a longtime colleague and friend, Melanne Verveer, 
     who's been nominated to fill that post. (Applause.)
       And I also want to thank Ambassador Susan Rice and our 
     excellent U.S. delegation to the United Nations Commission on 
     the Status of Women, which is in the middle of its annual 
     meetings now, for the work that they are doing and for the 
     engagement that they demonstrate.
       Today, we're focusing on the International Women of Courage 
     Awards. It's a fairly new tradition here at the State 
     Department, but it's already become a cherished institution. 
     For the past three years, our embassies have sent us stories 
     of extraordinary women who work every day, often against 
     great odds to advance the rights of all human beings to 
     fulfill their God-given potential. Today, we recognize eight 
     of those women. Each is one of a kind, but together they 
     represent countless women and men who strive daily for 
     justice and opportunity in every country and on every 
     continent, usually without recognition or reward.
       And I want to say a special word about someone who could 
     not join us, who we honor today--Reem Al Numery, who was 
     forced to marry her older cousin when she was just 12 years 
     old. She is now fighting to obtain a divorce for herself and 
     end child marriage in Yemen. She was not able to be here, but 
     we honor her strength and we pledge our support to end child 
     marriage everywhere, once and for all. (Applause.)
       We also express our solidarity with women whose governments 
     have forbidden them from joining us, especially Aung San Suu 
     Kyi, who has been kept under house arrest in Burma for most 
     of the past two decades, but continues to be a beacon of hope 
     and strength to people around the world. Her example has been 
     especially important to other women in Burma who have been 
     imprisoned for their political beliefs, driven into exile, or 
     subjected to sexual violence by the military.
       Our honorees and the hundreds of millions of women they 
     represent not only deserve our respect, they deserve our full 
     support. When we talk about human rights, what I think of are 
     faces like these. What I am committed to is doing everything 
     in my power as Secretary of State to further the work on the 
     ground in countries like those represented here to make 
     changes in peoples' lives. That doesn't happen always in the 
     halls of government. It happens day to day in the towns and 
     cities, the villages and countryside where the work of human 
     rights goes on.
       We simply cannot solve the global problems confronting us, 
     from a worldwide financial crisis to the risks of climate 
     change to chronic hunger, disease, and poverty that sap the 
     energies and talents of hundreds of

[[Page H3414]]

     millions of people when half the world's population is left 
     behind. The rights of women--really, of all people--are at 
     the core of these challenges, and human rights will always be 
     central to our foreign policy.
       Earlier today I met with Foreign Minister Yang of China and 
     conveyed to him, as I do in my meetings with all other 
     leaders, that it is our view in the Obama Administration that 
     every nation seeking to lead in the international community 
     must not only live by, but help shape the global rules that 
     will determine whether people do enjoy the rights to live 
     freely and participate fully. The peace, prosperity and 
     progress that we know are best served and best serve human 
     beings come when there is freedom to speak out, to worship, 
     to go to school, enjoy access to health care, live and work 
     with dignity.
       The United States is grounded in these ideals, and our 
     foreign policy must be guided by them. Indeed, our own 
     country must continually strive to live up to these ideals 
     ourselves. Not only does smart power require us to demand 
     more of ourselves when it comes to human rights, but to 
     express those views to others and to actually assist those 
     who are on the frontlines of human rights struggles 
     everywhere.
       It is important that we focus on human rights because I 
     know what inspiration it has given to me over many years. The 
     people I have met, they have constantly reminded me of how 
     much work lies ahead if we are to be the world of peace, 
     prosperity and progress that we all seek.
       I've met a lot of people, particularly women, who have 
     risked their lives--from women being oppressed by the Taliban 
     in Afghanistan, to mothers seeking to end the violence in 
     Northern Ireland, to citizens working for freedom of religion 
     in Uzbekistan, and NGOs struggling to build civil society in 
     Slovakia, to grassroots advocates working to end human 
     trafficking in Asia and Africa, and local women in India 
     and Bangladesh, Chile, Nicaragua, Vietnam and many other 
     places who are leading movements for economic independence 
     and empowerment.
       These personal experiences have informed my work. And I 
     will continue to fight for human rights as Secretary of State 
     in traditional and especially non-traditional ways and 
     venues.
       All of you gathered here represent the kind of broad 
     coalition that we need--business leaders, NGO leaders, 
     ambassadors, experts, people from every corner of our 
     government, citizens who are moved and touched by the stories 
     of courage that we will be hearing some more of today.
       And it is exciting that we have now in our own country 
     someone who is standing up for the best of America, a woman 
     who understands the multiple roles that women play during the 
     course of our lives, and fulfills each one with grace. An 
     example of leadership, service, and strength. It is my great 
     pleasure and honor to introduce the First Lady of the United 
     States, Michelle Obama. (Applause.)
       (The First Lady makes remarks.)
       (Applause.)
       Secretary Clinton: Thank you so much, Mrs. Obama, and it's 
     exciting to have your leadership and example for not only 
     girls and women in our country, but those around the world.
       Now, we're going to start with the extraordinary women who 
     we honor today. The first woman, Wazhma Frogh, from 
     Afghanistan, is being recognized for her courageous efforts 
     to combat sexual and domestic violence and child and marital 
     rape throughout Afghanistan, despite facing dangerous 
     conditions. She has come a long way, and we stand in 
     solidarity with her and the people of Afghanistan. 
     (Applause.)
       Next, from Guatemala, Norma Cruz. We are recognizing her 
     for her unyielding efforts to end the culture of impunity 
     surrounding the murder and other forms of violence against 
     women in Guatemala. At great risk to her personal safety, 
     Norma Cruz has been outspoken and extraordinarily brave, and 
     we are honored to have her with us today. Norma Cruz. 
     (Applause.)
       Suaad Allami, from Iraq. I told Suaad when we were waiting 
     to come out how pleased I was to see her, and how grateful we 
     are for the progress that we've seen, but we know how much 
     more needs to be done in her country. And we honor her for 
     bravely promoting the legal rights, the health, the social 
     well-being and the economic and political empowerment of 
     women in Iraq, despite threats to her own safety. Thank you 
     so much, Suaad. (Applause.)
       Veronika Marchenko, from Russia. We honor her for her 
     stalwart leadership in seeking justice for the families of 
     bereaved service members, young men conscripted into the 
     Russian Army. For her commitment to seeking the truth and in 
     promoting improved human rights conditions for those who 
     serve in the Russian army, and being a networking presence to 
     bring together those who served and their families to find 
     answers to so many of the questions that no one had ever, 
     ever bothered to answer before. Thank you so much. 
     (Applause.)
       Our next honoree is from Uzbekistan, Mutabar Tadjibayeva, 
     for her courage, her conviction, her perseverance in 
     promoting human rights, the rule of law, and good governance 
     in Uzbekistan, and for standing up for justice at great 
     personal risk. Mutabar is someone who has been in prison for 
     quite some time, and she still has a big smile on her face, 
     and I salute her courage and her persistence. (Applause.)
       From Niger, Hadizatou Mani. Hadizatou is such an inspiring 
     person. Enslaved by being sold at a very young age, she never 
     gave up on herself or on her deep reservoir of human dignity. 
     When she finally escaped from slavery, she didn't forget 
     those who were still enslaved. For her inspiring courage in 
     successfully challenging an entrenched system of caste-based 
     slavery, and securing a legal precedent that will help 
     countless others seek freedom and justice, we honor and 
     salute her. (Applause.)
       You know, before I introduce our final honoree, who will 
     respond on behalf of all of the honorees, I just want to say 
     that over the course of many years of doing human rights 
     work, and particularly on behalf of girls and women, I'm 
     sometimes asked, well, do ceremonies like this really matter; 
     is that just not something, you know, that you do and it's a 
     nice feeling, and then you go back to wherever you came from?
       I know that these kinds of recognitions and moments of 
     honor by both governments and NGOs and other institutions and 
     individuals are extremely important. They provide a 
     recognition of an individual's struggle and courage that 
     stands for so much more. They provide a degree of awareness 
     about the problems that the individual is fighting to remedy. 
     They serve notice on governments that the first and highest 
     duty is for every government to protect the human rights of 
     every individual within that jurisdiction. And they provide a 
     degree of protection.
       And so I salute those in the State Department who have 
     recognized the importance of this and kept It going, and we 
     are proud to continue that tradition.
       Our final speaker, Ambiga Sreenevasan, has a remarkable 
     record of accomplishment in Malaysia. She has pursued 
     judicial reform and good governance, she has stood up for 
     religious tolerance, and she has been a resolute advocate of 
     women's equality and their full political participation. She 
     is someone who is not only working in her own country, but 
     whose influence is felt beyond the borders of Malaysia. And 
     it is a great honor to recognize her and invite her to the 
     podium. (Applause.)
       Ms. Sreenevasan: The First Lady Mrs. Obama, Madame 
     Secretary Hillary Clinton, ladies and gentlemen, I am humbled 
     to be in the company of seven extraordinary women receiving 
     this award for courage, and I am deeply honored to now speak 
     on their behalf and on mine.
       We accept this award in all humility, remembering that we 
     have been fortunate in being singled out from among countless 
     courageous women in our countries who are dedicated to the 
     cause of equality and justice.
       It is also timely for us to remember all the women in other 
     conflict-ridden territories, like Palestine and other 
     countries, who have to show courage every single day in their 
     struggle to survive and to keep their families together.
       Each of us fights causes that promote equality and justice, 
     and by presenting us with this award you honor those causes 
     and all the people who work tirelessly for them with 
     unflinching dedication.
       This award will help to bring to the international stage 
     our voices and our advocacy on these important issues. This 
     occasion gives us an opportunity to reflect on the importance 
     of the rule of law in promoting the rights of women around 
     the world. When the rule of law is upheld, equality is 
     upheld, the cause of justice is upheld, and human rights are 
     upheld.
       Today, we are witnessing a struggle for the souls of our 
     nations, taking place between the forces of the old and the 
     forces of change. We see our commitment to the rule of law, 
     fundamental liberties, and the independence of our 
     institutions being tested. The strength of our nations will 
     depend on how well they withstand this test.
       There are those who claim that democracy is a Western 
     concept and is unsuitable elsewhere. There are yet others who 
     perpetrate injustices behind a veneer of democracy. We say 
     that democracy is universal, and a true democracy and the 
     rule of law will prevail when the collective voices of the 
     people are raised in its support.
       On my part, I have for the past two years had the privilege 
     to lead and serve the Malaysian Bar, a professional 
     organization consisting of approximately 13,000 lawyers. 
     History will bear testament to the fact that the Malaysian 
     Bar has always been true to its first article of faith, to 
     uphold the cause of justice without regard to its own 
     interests or that of its members uninfluenced by fear or 
     favor. In a sense, I was merely stepping into the shoes of 
     the many other brave leaders of the bar who came before me, 
     whereas many of the awardees today are pioneers in their 
     struggle for justice.
       This award has given us the opportunity which we would not 
     otherwise have had, to share our stories, our successes, our 
     failures, to reach out across our borders and to establish a 
     base upon which we can build a meaningful network of support. 
     These stories must be told in all our countries. By this 
     experience, we are both enriched and enraged; enriched by 
     what we have shared, and enraged that so many of our sisters 
     endure intimidation and suffering in their countries. 
     Nevertheless, ours is a message of hope that something has 
     been achieved, despite the odds.
       Martin Luther King said, ``Injustice anywhere is a threat 
     to justice everywhere.'' This means that although we may come 
     from different walks of life, our struggle is common. And 
     each success is a success for all,

[[Page H3415]]

     just as each failure is a failure for all. When we unite on a 
     human rights platform, whether domestically or 
     internationally, above politics and political alliances, we 
     create more enduring partnerships and relationships. When we 
     pursue freedom and empowerment for others, we reaffirm and 
     protect our own.
       In my interaction with the other awardees present here 
     today, it was evident that the passion we feel for our causes 
     is driven by the love of our homelands and our people. That, 
     in turn, drives our passion for what is right and what is 
     just. Our people deserve nothing less. We all believe in 
     striving for ideals that are--if I may borrow the words--
     self-evident; namely, the ideals of truth, justice, goodness, 
     and universal love and understanding. Our stories are a 
     testament to the universality of these ideals.
       We are truly and deeply honored by this award, more so, 
     when it comes from you, Madame Secretary, yourself a woman of 
     courage, who has inspired women around the world to reach 
     great heights. Your untiring efforts in championing women's 
     rights worldwide are well known. Your immortal words that, 
     ``Human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are 
     human rights,'' resonate with all of us here.
       We would also like to express our deep admiration for the 
     First Lady Mrs. Obama, and we would also like to express our 
     appreciation for your sharing this moment with us. Madame 
     Secretary, on behalf of all the awardees, I thank you. And we 
     accept the honor with humility and pride. Thank you. 
     (Applause.)
       Secretary Clinton: Thank you. These women of courage will 
     serve to remind us every day as we do our work in this 
     venerable building--here we are in the Benjamin Franklin 
     Room, and I'm about to invite you to join our reception in 
     the Thomas Jefferson Room--that our own country has a lot to 
     live up to. But we derive inspiration from those who are 
     struggling so hard just to realize the basic rights that we 
     sometimes take for granted. And it is our responsibility not 
     only to continue to do what we must here at home to realize 
     the dream that America represents, but to use our talents and 
     our abilities and resources to help others as well.
       It is such a great privilege to be here with all of you, to 
     be the Secretary of State at this moment of history in an 
     administration represented by Mrs. Obama today, led by 
     President Obama, who means so much already to so many around 
     the world. Now, it's our job to realize the promise that that 
     represents. Thank you all very much. (Applause.)
                                  ____


               [From the Washington Post, Mar. 12, 2009]

      Clinton Reiterates U.S. Commitment to `Robust' Rights Agenda

                           (By Glenn Kessler)

       Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, under fire for 
     some of her recent remarks on human rights, insisted 
     yesterday that the Obama administration regards the issue at 
     the same level as economics and international security.
       ``A mutual and collective commitment to human rights is 
     [as] important to bettering our world as our efforts on 
     security, global economics, energy, climate change and other 
     pressing issues,'' Clinton told reporters after meeting with 
     Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the State Department. 
     She said she had raised with Yang the issue of Tibet and a 
     resumption of a U.S.-China human rights dialogue.
       ``The Obama administration is absolutely committed to a 
     robust, comprehensive human rights agenda,'' she said. 
     ``We're going to look for ways where we can be effective, 
     where we can actually produce outcomes that will matter in 
     the lives of people who are struggling for their rights to be 
     full participants in their societies.''
       Last month, during her first trip as chief U.S. diplomat to 
     Asia, Clinton provoked human rights activists by saying that 
     pressing China on that issue ``can't interfere with the 
     global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and 
     the security crisis.'' On matters such as greater freedom for 
     Tibetans, Clinton said, ``We pretty much know what [Beijing 
     is] going to say.''
       Then, while traveling in the Middle East last week, Clinton 
     appeared to play down human rights issues in Egypt and Turkey 
     that had been raised in recent State Department reports, 
     earning her further criticism.
       ``She has missed unique opportunities,'' said Rep. Frank R. 
     Wolf (R-Va.), one of the leading congressional voices on 
     human rights. Secretary of State Condoleezza ``Rice started 
     out strong and ended weak,'' he said. ``But Secretary Clinton 
     is starting out weak.''
       Human rights activists were further upset Tuesday by the 
     State Department releasing a statement on Tibet in the name 
     of spokesman Robert A. Wood, after Wood had announced hours 
     earlier that it would be issued in Clinton's name, on the eve 
     of her meeting with Yang. Foreign governments tend to give 
     greater weight to statements issued in the name of the 
     secretary of state or the president, rather than spokesmen or 
     press secretaries.
       Wood refused yesterday to discuss ``internal 
     deliberations'' of the State Department and said: ``The 
     statement that we issued last night has the full weight of 
     the secretary. It was cleared by the secretary, and it 
     represents the secretary's views.''
       Department officials, speaking on the condition of 
     anonymity because they were discussing internal 
     deliberations, said the original announcement was an error. 
     They noted that State had never issued a statement on the 
     anniversary of Tibet's failed uprising against Chinese rule 
     but that on the 50th anniversary, Clinton wanted such a 
     statement despite the awkward timing of the Yang meeting. The 
     meeting was scheduled mostly to discuss planning for the 
     April 2 Group of 20 summit, which will focus on the world 
     economic crisis.
       The statement was issued in Wood's name because Clinton 
     decided to address the media herself after the session with 
     Yang, officials said.
       Some sources said a draft statement on Tibet was more 
     detailed and explicit, urging, for instance, the release of 
     Tibetan prisoners. But other officials disagreed, saying that 
     those elements were not in the statement when it reached 
     Clinton's office and that she personally strengthened parts 
     of it.
       Wang is scheduled to meet today with President Obama at the 
     White House, officials said yesterday.

                          ____________________