SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Good morning and welcome to the State Department once again. I am so
grateful that all of you have joined us here today for what has become,
in our view, one of the most important and special occasions of the year
here in Washington. I want to thank my friend and colleague, Ambassador
Melanne Verveer who has been, as you know, a tireless champion for
women and girls for decades. (Applause.) Melanne and her team have not
only made this event such a special occasion year after year, but they
have helped put women and girls at the center of everything we do here
at the State Department and in the Obama Administration. So thanks
again, Melanne. Although, it was left out of her mention of the 7th
grade girls that one of them is her granddaughter. So – (laughter) – she
is very committed to the next generation, and I thank you for
everything you have done and will do.
Now, why is this a special occasion? Well, for one thing, it is the
way we mark International Women’s Day, to gather leaders and activists,
and particularly our honorees here in Washington to recognize their
remarkable achievements. And for the fourth year, we are so honored to
be joined by the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.
(Applause.) Now, I do take a point of personal privilege in talking
about the First Lady, because I have just an inkling of what her life is
like every day – (laughter) – and I want to publicly thank her for
being an inspiration for women and girls and families and communities
here in the United States and around the world.
It’s always an honor to share a stage with her, and I think it’s also
a reminder that we have a lot of work to do. It is, of course, about
the leadership and the voice of a first lady or a secretary of state,
but it is much, much more than that. And what Michelle and I have tried
to do in our own ways is to lift up the voices of others, because we
want a great crescendo of voices, an international chorus that says
clearly and unequivocally that women and girls deserve the same rights
and opportunities as their fathers and brothers and sons. And today, we
will hear remarkable stories from our honorees. They come from diverse
and distant places, but in one important way they all walk the same
path. They, too, are working tirelessly for justice. They are working
for accountability. They are working for freedom, and they are working
tirelessly to improve the lives of women and girls.
Whether pushing for change in the halls of government in the
Maldives, the courts of Saudi Arabia; whether making sure women have a
voice in Libya’s future and a role in Pakistan’s government; whether
enduring imprisonment or abuse for trying to assist other women and
girls at risk, these women, who you will meet today, are all making a
difference in the face of adversity, often under the threat of violence
that is sometimes hard for those of us here in Washington or across our
great country even to imagine. And while we honor them today, we know
that tomorrow their work will and must continue so that every woman and
girl someday will have the opportunity to live up to her own God-given
potential.
As I often say, this isn’t just the right thing to do; it is also the
smart thing to do. Improving the lives of women improves the lives of
their families, strengthens their communities, and does create more
opportunities for economic growth and prosperity. We know that investing
in women’s employment, health, and education levels leads to greater
economic growth across a broad spectrum. It also leads to healthier
children and a better educated population overall. We know that
political systems that are open to full participation by women produce
more effective institutions and more representative governments. And we
know that the work that so many of you do will be done day after day as
it moves us closer and closer to realizing the vision of equality.
As long as you are on the front lines of this struggle, the United
States will be with you, and we will use every tool at our disposal to
help you. That’s why next week when all of the United States ambassadors
from around the world gather here in Washington, I will be issuing the
first ever Secretarial policy directive on gender. This guidance –
(applause) – this guidance, which complements the recently released
USAID gender policy, will instruct our embassies and bureaus to
implement specific steps to promote gender equality and advance the
status of women and girls in all of our work in order to further both
our national security and our foreign policy goals.
Now, this issue is not just a priority here at the State Department
or at USAID, but across the Administration, and that is why we are so
pleased that the First Lady is here lending her support. She and
President Obama have made it absolutely clear that women and girls will
be a focus of what we do here at home and around the world.
Last year, Mrs. Obama traveled to South Africa and spoke at a forum
for young women leaders from across Africa. And she told those bright,
young women that now is the time for their voices to be heard. For them
and for so many others, she said that the power was in their hands to
help usher in an era when women would no longer be second-class
citizens, and they would be able fully to participate in open and
accountable government. I cannot think of anyone better to carry that
message and to signal America’s commitment to advancing the rights and
opportunities of women and girls, and I’m so grateful to both President
and Mrs. Obama for all they have done to make this a priority.
So please join me in welcoming our First Lady, Michelle Obama. (Applause.)
(The First Lady makes remarks.)
MS. GBOWEE: Thank you. Please have your seats. Thank you. Tina
Brown has a way -- not Tina Brown, Oprah Magazine – (laughter) -- did
something on Abby and I, Abby Disney, and they said “the rabble
rouser.”. And I hate to come to places like this and see everyone trying
to be so neat. (Laughter.)
Today is International Women’s Day and it’s a day of celebration. Can
the men in the room just shout Happy International Women’s Day to all
of the girls in this room? (Laughter.) If you don’t, we’ll put you out.
(Laughter.)
I’m listening. Shout Happy International –
AUDIENCE: Happy International Women’s Day!
MS. GBOWEE: Thank you. (Applause.) You deserve it.
In 2003, we were in a crowd protesting the wars in Liberia. Someone came and brought me a book,
Living History,
Secretary of State Clinton’s book. And as I flipped through the pages
of that book, there was a quote in there that I’ve used over time, a
quote from the great African American freedom fighter here Harriet
Tubman. “If you’re hungry, keep walking. If you’re tested, keep walking.
If you want a taste of freedom, keep walking.” Today, as we celebrate
International Women’s Day, the 10 Women of Courage here have shown to us
that regardless of wherever they find themselves, they’ve been walking –
Walking for justice, walking for human rights, walking for maternal
health, walking for every other thing. One of the things I’ve seen,
sadly, even as we celebrate all of the milestones – Beijing 1325, 1820,
1888, and all of those policies and international protocols on women’s
rights, over time we’ve mellowed. The women’s movement of this world has
mellowed. Our issues and our conversation has become issues for men. I
get angry when I think about it. No woman should sit down and allow a
man to speak about her reproductive rights. (Applause.)
MS. GBOWEE: Until you’ve gone through that process, I’ve come from Africa to tell you, you don’t qualify. (Laughter.)
Issues of peace and security should not be left to men alone to work
on. (Applause.) When it comes to conflict situations, women know their
context, they have greater analysis, and they know what to do. I didn’t
come here to preach; I don’t have a lot of time. What I’ve come to say
to my sisters as we celebrate International Women’s Day, Secretary of
State, Ambassador Verveer, and First Lady Obama, I think it’s time for
us to really start to move forward with our issues. Gone are the days
for us to sit and say we’ve gotten policies, we’ve gotten this, we’ve
gotten that. It’s time for us to get out there, roll up our sleeves, and
connect the dots. These women are working very hard. And yes, we can
give them all of the verbal support, we can give them all of the honors,
but until we continue to make it possible for them to work through
resources, their issues will continue to be issues for politicians to
use to make themselves look good when it’s elections time. It’s time for
us to stand up, rise up, fight for the rights that we know how to fight
for. It’s time for us to support our sisters. (Applause.)
I’ve been an activist all of my life and I know what it is and what
it takes to get to where you want to get to. I know what it is when you
need to do something for little girls today as we celebrate
International Women’s Day here. We’re celebrating International Women’s
Day in Acrah, Ghana with little girls at the La Palm hotel. I tell you,
as beautiful as it sounds, getting resources to get those girls to that
place is a difficult thing. Let’s honor them, but not just leave them
with the honor. Let’s support their work, support their efforts, and
continue to make their issue our issue, and not a politician issue.
Thank you all very much. (Applause)
MS. KARMAN: After Leyman -- (laughter). And also,
it’s hard to talk in English, so I will do my best. Ladies and ladies –
(laughter) – happy birthday. (Applause.)
Ladies and gentleman, really I am so proud to be here to celebrate
with you an International Women’s Day. This is special day, special day
for all of us, special day for all the women around the world, for all
the women especially in Arab countries after Arab Spring. (Applause.)
Yes, this is a year without bin Ladin. This is a year without
Qadhafi. This is a year without Mabarak. This is a year without Ali
Saleh. And this is a year, inshallah, without Bashar al-Assad.
(Applause.)
So this is nice morning, good morning for all of us, morning of
freedom and dignity and courage. To all the women around the world, you
have to trust yourself. You have to know that without you, you can’t –
and your society, your community couldn’t achieve their goals and their
dreams. To all women in the world, you must know that you have to be in
the front line. You have to refuse any seats back. You have to be in the
front and you have to struggle for all the rights, not just women
rights. (Applause.)
Greetings, big greetings to all women who are fighting for help or
for their participating in public and political rights. Public and
political field, this is a very important field for every woman and for
every society. I want to say also big greetings to all the women, all
women in Syria who are fighting for her – for their freedom. (Applause.)
Big greetings to all women who are struggling and suffering and
sacrificing their life, their bloods, for making their country best for
freedom, for dignity, and for happiness. To all people around the world,
you have to know that without women, you can’t achieve everything.
Especially men, men has to be with women. They have to work hand by hand
for solving all problems around the world, for making peace spread
around the world. To all of them, I want to tell them that we will not
make the holiday or the ceremony for women just one day. We will make it
365 days. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Wow. Well, I have to tell you, whenever I
hear Leyman or Tawakkol, I’m just so inspired. These two women have made
such a difference in the lives of their country. For those of you who
haven’t seen Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which talks about what Leyman
and her Liberian sisters did to end a vicious civil war and bring peace
to Liberia, I highly recommend it. And to my friend, Tawakkol, who’s
been on the front lines of the struggle for freedom and democracy in
Yemen, it is so humbling to see the progress that you are making.
It is now my honor to present this year’s International Women of
Courage Awards, and I would ask each of the honorees to join the First
Lady and me one at a time after I read the citations. And before I begin
with the individual presentations, I want to say that the call to
action we heard from our two Nobel Laureates is one I hope everyone will
remember. Sometimes the women we honor come here against great odds and
in the face of danger. Sometimes shining this bright spotlight on their
work protects them. But they all come with a commitment to continuing
that we have to embrace and support. Because each of them can use our
help.
So with that, let me begin.
While it’s a struggle for many women in Afghanistan to have their
voices heard, Maryam Durani is working to make sure that women’s voices
aren’t only heard, but amplified and broadcasted. She owns and manages
the only local radio station that focuses on women’s issues. Kandahar
province, where Maryam lives, is one of the most dangerous areas of
Afghanistan, but that has not stopped her from speaking out for women’s
rights and representing those ideas from her seat on the provincial
council. Airing such bold ideas in public is not always popular, and she
is with us today having survived several attempts on her life. Yet she
pushes forward undeterred, ensuring that those voices and the message of
equality and inclusion is heard loudly and clearly.
So to you, Maryam: “Director of the Khadija Kubra Women’s Association
for Culture Kandahar and Provincial Council Member: For striving to
give a voice to women through the power of the media, government, and
civil society, despite innumerable security and societal challenges.” We
honor and applaud you. (Applause.)
Major Pricilla de Oliveira Azevedo joined the Rio De Janeiro Police
Force in 1998 and went to work in police battalions, cracking down on
the criminals who plagued the beautiful, lively streets of Rio. She was
eventually kidnapped by a gang seeking to undermine the rule of law in
Brazil. Eventually, she was released, and the mayor demonstrated her
duty and also extreme courage and commitment by going after and
arresting the gang of criminals who had kidnapped her. (Applause.)
Today, she is a prominent leader in the police force in Rio de
Janeiro, and she continues to work with local governments to improve
services and expand access to education and vocational training.
So to Pricilla, to Major: “General Coordinator for Strategic
Programs, Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Public Security, Major of
Rio de Janeiro State Military Police: For courageous and dedicated
service to Rio de Janeiro State’s innovative ‘Favela Pacification
Program’ as the first female commander of a Pacification Police Unit,
and as coordinator of that in the State Security Secretariat, where she
is integrating previously marginalized populations back into the larger
Rio de Janeiro community.” Thank you, and God bless you for your work.
(Applause.)
Eleven years in a Burmese prison could not silence Zin Mar Aung. Her
life’s work has been promoting democracy, women’s rights, and conflict
resolution in Burma. Today, she leads a self-help association for female
ex-political prisoners as well as a school of political science. Her
efforts have allowed former prisoners to take advantage of rebuilding
their lives, even when her activism jeopardized her own freedom. She
continues to raise awareness of issues affecting ethnic minorities in
this evolving environment for civil society and democracy activists.
So, Zin, you are a democracy activist, and so: “For championing
democracy, strengthening civil society, and empowering individuals to
contribute meaningfully to the political transformation of your country,
we thank you and salute you.” (Applause.)
Jineth Bedoya Lima built her career in Colombia as a reporting
seeking out tough assignments and going to great lengths to uncover the
truth. But in 2000, she got too close to uncovering an arms smuggling
ring involving government prison officials and imprisoned paramilitary
leaders. When she traveled to the prison to interview some of those
involved, she was kidnapped, driven two hours out of Bogota, raped,
bound, and thrown into a garbage dump. “Pay attention,” she was told by
her abusers. “We are sending a message to the press in Colombia.”
Despite the most horrific treatment any woman can imagine, Jineth would
not be silenced. Instead, she built on her work as an investigative
journalist and demanded justice in her own case. She has become an
outspoken advocate, shining a light on issues of sexual violence and
denouncing criminals who think they can operate with impunity.
So to you, Jineth: “Journalist, Spokeswoman of the ‘Rape and Other
Violence: Take my Body Out of the War’ Campaign: For your unfailing
courage, determination, and perseverance while fighting for justice and
speaking out on behalf of victims of sexual violence in Colombia, all
women and girls are in your debt.” Thank you. (Applause.)
As the dust of the Libyan revolution settles, the details of those
tumultuous months are coming to light. We honor today Hana El Hebshi, a
27-year-old architect who was one of the people who documented that
history while it was unfolding. Writing under the pseudonym Numidia, her
reporting not only showed the world what the people of Libya were
enduring, but let the people of Libya know that the world was standing
with them. She remains a strong voice for freedom of expression and
women’s inclusion as the Libyan people chart the course for their
country’s future.
So, Hana: “Human Rights Activist: For courageous advancement of the
cause of freedom and the freedom especially of expression, and for the
promotion of women’s rights during times of conflict and transition in
Libya, we thank you and we thank all of Libya’s daughters and sons who
have made their country free. (Applause.)
Even though the topic of domestic violence was taboo in the Maldives,
Aneesa Ahmed, the Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs, was unafraid to
speak out and take action. She brought together citizens and
stakeholders to build new partnerships to produce a series of
documentaries to raise awareness about this issue and to begin the
process of changing the way people think about it. As a government
official, she pushed for legislation to curb domestic violence. And
since leaving the government, Aneesa has founded her own NGO, Hope For
Women. Her group works to ensure that domestic violence issues are part
of the public discourse and in the debates in government.
When religious leaders got on the radio and said that female genital
mutilation was an acceptable religious practice, Aneesa fought right
back, telling the public about the harmful effects of this practice and
calling on the government to intervene to stop it. She is inspiring
others to speak out about these once hidden problems, urging students
and police officers and activists to confront these issues in the open.
So Aneesa: “Founder, member and chairperson, Hope For Women NGO, for
your courageous and continued advocacy for women’s rights throughout
government and civil society as well as the protection of women from
domestic violence, we thank you for improving the lives and sending the
message that domestic violence is not a cultural practice, it is a
crime.” (Applause.)
Shad Begum encouraged women in her community to participate in the
political process by voting and running for office herself. Now she
lives in one of the most conservative areas of Pakistan, so this was a
very tall order. Nevertheless, she did, herself, run for office against
candidates who wanted to ban women from participating in elections
altogether. Despite that sort of resistance, she won a seat on her
district council in 2001 and 2005.
She continues her work creating opportunities for women beyond
government. She also founded the Union of Women’s Welfare, which is
providing women the skills and knowledge they need to get involved in
the political process, as well as offering microcredit, primary
education, and human services for women in need.
So Shad: “Executive Director, Anjuman Behbood-e-Khawateen Talash,
thank you for fearlessly championing Pakistani women’s political and
economic rights, and working to empower the disadvantaged and oppressed.
You are making a difference and setting an example for women and men in
your country.” (Applause.)
Samar Bedawi is standing up against two of the most significant
challenges facing women in Saudi Arabia: women’s sufferage and a system
in which women cannot marry who they want, get a job of their choosing,
or travel outside the country without permission of a male guardian. She
is demanding that her voice be heard and justice delivered in the Saudi
courts. Samar was the first woman to sue her guardian because she
hadn’t been allowed to marry the person she wanted to marry. She is also
the first woman to file suit against the government for the right to
vote in municipal elections. Samar has translated her personal efforts
into broader campaigns, encouraging more women to speak out for their
rights, and her efforts are making a difference. A recent royal decree
will allow women to vote and run for office in future elections as well
as be appointed to the consultative council.
So Samar: “You are a Human Rights Activist, a monitor of human rights
in your country of Saudi Arabia, and you have demonstrated significant
courage in your activism while becoming a champion in the struggle for
women’s suffrage and legal rights in your country. And you are making a
difference, and we thank you for that.” (Applause.)
Hawa Abdallah Mohammed Salih has spent much of her life surrounded by
conflict. Nine years ago, she and her family were forced to flee their
home to escape the fighting between Darfuri rebels and the Sudanese
Government. Years in a camp for displaced persons ignited within her the
drive to demand basic human rights for so many suffering in the Darfur
region. She went to school – the University of Al-Fashir – and began
working with the United Nations Development Program on issues of human
rights, rule of law, and governance. Her aim now is to continue working
to strengthen the rights of women and children in Sudan.
So, Hawa: “Human Rights Activist, thank you for giving voice to the
women and children of Darfur and for your fearless advocacy for the
rights of all marginalized Darfuris. And we hope and pray with you that
peace will finally come to Darfur.” (Applause.)
Safak Pavey has tireless passion and she has brought that energy to
work on behalf of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities. Her advocacy around the world is helping to protect so
many people. When she was elected last June, she became the first woman
with a disability to sit in the Turkish Parliament. (Applause.) But she
has transformed her disability into a strength. Wherever she travels,
and she’s traveled quite a lot, she is bringing attention to the issues
that affect persons with disabilities, vulnerable populations, women,
children, and minorities.
I am very grateful to you, Safak, grateful for your advocacy,
grateful for the courage it took to run for the parliament, grateful for
your personal dignity and your determination not only in overcoming
physical disabilities, but in emerging as such an effective local and
global champion for the rights of women, refugees, persons with
disabilities, and so many others. We really honor you because you are
going beyond the expectations that were set for you in your life, and by
doing so you are breaking down barriers not only for your fellow
Turkish citizens but for women and men everywhere. (Applause.)
Well, I don’t know about you, but I always come away from this event
not only inspired, which I think you’d have to be brain dead not to be
inspired – (laughter) – but also challenged. Because after all, we must
ask ourselves, “What are we doing? What are we doing to further justice
and dignity and freedom, human rights and women’s rights? What more can
we do? And we have different talents. We are at different stages in
life. But each of us can make a contribution. And I hope that when you
think about what is possible for you, you will remember these women and
their stories.
So we wish to congratulate our honorees, to thank our Nobel
Laureates, to thank Mrs. Obama for once again joining us and giving so
much emphasis to the concerns and needs of women and girls here and
everywhere. But I also have to say I would hope someday within my
lifetime to see that we no longer had to do events like this, that we no
longer had to honor women for taking the actions they have taken –
(applause) – because we would continue advancing on the great unfinished
business of human history, that women and girls are respected and are
given the right to fulfill their own God-given potential.
That is my hope, and that is what each of these women in her own way
is working toward, to be accepted for who she is, to be respected for
the work she does, to be a contributor to that better future that we all
hope and pray for. So let’s leave from today with a new resolve to do
everything we can to hasten the arrival of that future. Thank you all
very much. (Applause.)
AMBASSADOR VERVEER: And now to say a few words on behalf of
all of the Women of Courage, our awardee from Burma, Zin, come on up
here. And I know you all want to hear from her. (Applause.)
MS. AUNG: Good morning, everybody. First of all, I would like
to start by thanking the Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary Clinton, the
Department of State, and we are honored to be with the First Lady Mrs.
Obama. And also, I am very pleased as I am here getting an opportunity
to speak on the behalf of the Women of Courage awardees. Though we are
from different parts of the world, we meet and we came here with the
same shared goals, that is to stand for justice, peace, and freedom. I
dare to speak that this award encouraged not only for us but also for
all of the women who want to change the unjust and unreasonable practice
of their society.
For Burma, it is now very critical time for democratic reform, and it
is also the time to ask the questions: What is the role of women in
democratic reform, and how much we can do? Fortunately, we already have
an inspiring women leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. In traditional society, the
(inaudible) of the role of the women is that women just became wives,
which means women are objectives of choice of men. Actually, the ability
to choose is the only significant differences between human and other
creatures. We women are human and so we much choose what we want to
become or what we want to have in our lives. Those women of courage are
now here and it is great pleasure for me to be in front of them. And we
are here to appreciate, to initiate the sisterhood of the future
leaders.
Finally, I would like to appreciate the hospitality of the United
States and I would like to appreciate the United States Embassy in Burma
because of their great effort to get my passport so that I – (laughter)
-- am here right now. (Applause.)
Let me stop by saying that when we dream a single dream together,
dream comes true. Let’s dream together for our future for the better
world.
Thank you. (Applause.)
AMBASSADOR VERVEER: And so everyone, as Zin said, and thank
you for that, the sisterhood of future and present leaders, they are
all. I want to thank on behalf of all of us, all of you for joining us
today, and I want to thank our colleagues throughout the State
Department and particularly in our embassies around the world who did so
much to make this day possible. Now if you could all just stay seated
for a few moments as we take a group photo, and allow the guests to
leave the stage, and then you can head for the doors. Thank you all so
much. (Applause.)
