Hillary Clinton: women's issues is the last obstacle blocking progress in the world
http://news.QQ.com 2009 Nian 08 Yue 26 Ri 10:55 Xinhua




U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. [Profile picture]

Xinhua Beijing August 26 (Xinhua Liu Chang) When the first lady Hillary Clinton or the United States, she, due to the maintenance of global women's rights "fighters" itself as the world-famous. This year, Hillary Clinton became U.S. Secretary of State immediately after the State Council set up a new head of the Special Ambassador for the international women's issues. "The New York Times" reporter Mark Land enjoy Hillary Clinton before leaving for Africa on women's issues and Obama's foreign policy and other government-related issues, interviews were conducted. Following is the interview:

Reporter: At the hearing, you have said to women's issues as a core strategy of American foreign policy. But in fact, in most parts of the world, gender issues are not even considered human rights issues. How do you overcome this deep-rooted culture of resistance?

Hillary: You not only to realize that this kind of idea of how deep-rooted, but also to understand that if we do not address women's issues, we are pursuing foreign policy will not be achieved, or difficult to achieve.

For those who, for whatever reason unable to exercise the right to vote of the people, democracy is just an empty talk. So when I go abroad to visit, the more willing to work with female friends, I am talking about women's rights, met with women activists, I see each of my leaders on women issues.

I personally think that women's issues is hindering the progress of the last obstacles to the world, we are to achieve human equality, participatory journey has made a lot of improvement. But in too many places, women were still oppressed reminding us that we must finally realize how difficult human potential.




Reporter: I am curious to women's issues in all of your top priority is what? Obama administration would focus on a particular issue, such as trafficking in women, sexual violence, maternal and child health problems, or women's education? Like the Bush administration has the best start in the AIDS issue, which has become a landmark of his strategies.

Hillary Clinton: Our strategy is the so-called landmark women's issues we will be the core of its foreign policy. As to whether we should focus on what the specific issues in different countries and regions have different answers. In some places, women do not enjoy the political and economic rights, however, the right to education and health problems are to be protected; in other places, women may enjoy the right to vote, but there are still people to kill the new-born baby girl.

Therefore, this is not a specific project, it is more of a strategy. As in our global health action plan, attention to maternal and child health has become an Obama administration will be new. We launched in 2003 by President Bush for emergency assistance programs for AIDS are very proud of the achievements. We are aware that this is not just how to respond to global AIDS problem, it is a disease of women, because women are susceptible to the most vulnerable groups, and are often unable to protect themselves. Today a growing number of young women and even girls infected with HIV.

Every minute in this world has a poor mother died because of medical conditions. AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, they are likely to kill a mother. Maternal and child health is a female problem, but also family problems, even children. As the United States, we want those countries with high maternal mortality rate, said; "we care about their children's future, therefore, we are also concerned about the status of women." This is a powerful statement.





Reporter: In your opinion, women's economic rights and political rights which is more important? You want an economic return on women's rights first, and then to seek a political role, or to give them more legal and political rights in the economic field after it obtained a place?
Hillary: This is a good question, because we have seen in the history of these two models are feasible. In our Constitution, women initially were given the right to vote, but no economic rights. In 1920, women's rights has been to broaden the scope, they are only in the community to seek to a wide variety of roles and status, including separate from the family's economic status.

India is a democratic country with a history of 60 years, and its right to vote for all, all caste, all genders are equal, so every woman in India have the right to vote. However, due to the lack of economic freedom, they did not bring proper influence. This is why the Indian government seeking so hard to give women equal political opportunities and economic opportunities.

I have visited an Indian women's organizations, self-employed persons. As early as this organization in India before the birth of a female friend who had the elections are free, but until they are given the economy right, we can separate from the family into society, they are really to find a sense of ownership. This is by no means only the right to vote can be achieved.

Reporter: as secretary of state's visit, we can see that you attach great importance to the role of micro-credit. Is this you pay more attention to women's economic status level?

Hillary: This question is very interesting. This part and I visited the area, but also with me since 1983 with Clinton in Arkansas while working with microfinance-related projects only.

I have seen a number of international public opinion polls, their results so I was surprised: whether male or female, people most want is a well-paid jobs. The deepest aspirations of human beings have the ability to feed themselves, and give their children a better future.

Micro-credit enterprises to the economic status of women to obtain help. Be traced back to Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh to establish the first development of a micro-credit organization bumpy road of women than men, pay more attention to investment in the future. In repayment, the women are also more reliable because they are more eager to get more help, but also eager to get these micro-credit institutions recognized.

Therefore, I am not on the political and social rights, economic rights, or some emphasis. I think the two are complementary.

Reporter: There is, said counter-terrorism experts to study and train terrorist groups in countries is precisely the countries that ignore women's rights. Your advocacy of feminist activities in the national security of the United States whether there are related?

Hillary: That the two are inseparable. As the U.S. secretary of state, I am concerned about women's rights advocate Part of the reason is because it is closely related with the U.S. national interest. If you are concerned about terrorism and the proliferation of regional, it is not difficult to see that these organizations are anti-modern, can be seen from the way they treat women, been proven.

In Afghanistan, in order to prevent throwing acid on girls going to school to them against the oppression of the people have the name of the cover. This only shows the face of the rapid development of the world, those terrorists and their sympathizers felt a strong anxiety and confusion: they turn on the TV only to find that some women that they can not imagine a way to live. Thought of the young women in society will also move toward an independent future, they fear their own cultural values are deeply threatened.



Reporter: Many women's rights have not been adequately protected in countries the U.S. has a very important strategic position: For example, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and India. How do you advocate women's rights in these countries without undermining the bilateral relations?

Hillary: In these strategic relationships, many countries have on the advancement of a local women's status, protect women's rights commitments. In India, women's rights and interests of the changes is quite remarkable. While there, there are still tens of thousands of poor women, but they have already been more and more attention: they are to serve in public positions, economic status is also increasing, has been recognized by the society.

I participate in Sino-US strategic economic dialogue meeting with China's leaders, China has many women in senior leadership, there are many female friends in politics and the economy playing an increasingly important role.

With the development of technology, parents can use the sonogram to determine sex of the fetus, they may be in order to want a boy and baby girl at the belly of abortion. These ideas is the root plate pedicle junction. But the government level, we can see that their commitment and openness.

In others, we have a strategic security interests of the countries, if you want to put the agenda together to promote women's issues is very difficult. When we conduct a strategic review of Afghanistan, we clearly understand that we can not solve all the problems, we have to focus on those key issues. But the women's social status and their degree of social participation are key issues.




Reporter: I would like to ask a question on India. The United States has just entered into a strategic dialogue with India the agreement, although well known, India is still the biggest concentration of traffic in women, this trip I noticed that you do not focus on this issue. You and India to discuss other matters, while many will continue to promote the solution to the problem of trafficking in women?

Hillary Clinton: Of course. In fact, we have every year in the annual report referred to human trafficking issues. For me, this topic is very high degree of priority, in our ongoing dialogue with many other countries, it is also an important part. But in a democratic country, such as India, it is difficult to specifically applies to the local judiciary --- including the local police, local judges and local government. I do not doubt the Indian Government's own emphasis on the matter.



Reporter: If the United States since 911 has been spent on military assistance to Pakistan for women's education and health, all will be better Mody?

Hillary: I think the answer is yes. In my many talks with Mr. Musharraf, I always insist on this point.

I visited a village in Pakistan, Lahore, 45 minutes away from the distance. At that time I, as a first lady's visit to Pakistan, we have seen a lot of mothers and grandmothers of women. They very much hope that their daughters can be the same as their sons go to school and secondary school, but their son, attending school is not provided in this village, they need to go to the field. We can not imagine a girl to leave the village to the field to continue their education would be so difficult.

Whenever I think that in medicine and education, areas of expertise are very prominent Pakistanis, the more that if the child's education in Pakistan even greater effort from top to bottom, and all will be very different from children of poor families will not be sent to the receive education in the hands of extremists extremism. Now that we remain committed to the creation of such a difference, because aid, where women's education and health is a part of our goal.

Reporter: This is how we rational allocation of resources.

Hillary: Yes. United States Senator Kerry, Lugar and so on dollars in relief funds was aimed at Pakistan in these areas, we want to try to remedy.



Reporter: sexual violence in many parts of Africa is very serious. Some areas in the Congo, sexual violence is almost becoming a tool of war. In this case, how to confront it?

Hillary: President Obama, I and all Americans will not tolerate condone such absurd, numbness, barbaric crimes of violence against women. We do not know exactly what we can do, but we will provide some assistance, will also provide some information about how to better management of tribal ideas. We should do this sounded the alarm.

Sexual violence against women is the local militants and police. These people make use of local mineral deposits cash cow, have a good income. The mineral-rich Congo (DRC), the most important natural resources, many used cell phones and other high-tech digital products, chips, raw materials are processed by these minerals. As the handle tens of millions of dollars of wealth, making them seem to enjoy a privilege can be violated society's most vulnerable groups of women with impunity.

Reporter: I have attended many of your women to participate in overseas activities, many men will soon start to see their mobile phone or a nap. How do you want to break this to women's issues as a "pink zone" mind-set problem?

Hillary: I have given this answer: women's issues is the stability issues, security issues, equality issues. There are many other agencies, the World Bank, the analysis has repeatedly shown that where women have been unfairly treated, where equal rights have been ignored, where as filled with uncertainty, and even become a hotbed for extremists.

Enough to protect themselves a life of woman, the money to send their children to school education, but be willing to raise more children. Water and land caused by the war will be gradually reduced. These are all linked. How do we get the so-called hard power and soft power, and how to use them to lead the United States and the world's progress, which is a major issue. We're making this world in terms of our future generations become increasingly safe.



Reporter: Last month in New Delhi, a young lady have you talked about an interesting question: What do you think India and the United States women's progress? She pointed out that India's independence 30 years has been elected a woman prime minister, while the United States has never been a female president. From their own presidential election, you see if there is with women around the world to share experience?

Hillary: You should listen to me answer many similar problems, both in Japan and South Korea, or Indonesia, India and Latin America. This is my one of the questions most often asked, usually accompanied by the president such as Obama and I compete against each other, but now want to work with him, and so these issues. Many young women have this problem. I think it's all exciting and satisfying.

My campaign in many respects to the young lady much confidence. People of my evaluation of the most common is: "Your campaign has given me courage." Or "Your campaign has changed my daughter's life." Or "because of your campaign, I return to school." So, this is items unfinished business, the young ladies know that I am a long way.

The vast majority of them will not run for public office of any country. But they may find their family members do not support access to education, a challenge may be to accept a work, they know they have the ability to perform these. Is also possible, they would stand up and loudly protest the injustices seen. It's like ripples in water Dangqi, the waves can not stop.

I had ever met a self-employed women in India organized by women, she was a poor but have not received the education of women, she said, "I am a self-employed women in India, chairman of the organization, from the 1.1 million women selected out. "I want to say that This time of her presentation was really excellent.

I have gained from this work, a lot of fun, I think it is essential. And see the activities and speeches was because women were changed, and this effect is so incredibly profound, deeply moved me.