MUMBAI: Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be one of the speakers at the India Today Conclave here in March, organisers said on Thursday.
'The Great Churn - Triumphs and Tribulations' will be the theme of the 17th edition of the conclave, to be held on March 9 and 10, the India Today Conclave organisers said in a statement.
Global thought leaders will converge at the forum to discuss and debate issues from around the world. Read more >>>>
As delivered during a Press Availability With Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov
Washington, DC
July 13, 2011
We condemn these despicable acts of violence designed to provoke fear and division. Those who perpetrated them must know they cannot succeed. The Indian people have suffered from acts of terrorism before, and we have seen them respond with courage and resilience. We are continuing to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of American citizens. Our hearts are with the victims and their families, and we have reached out to the Indian Government to express our condolence and offer support.
I will be traveling to India next week as planned. I believe it is more important than ever that we stand with India, deepen our partnership, and reaffirm our commitment to the shared struggle against terrorism.
Intrepid! So courageous, God love her! Bless you, Madame Secretary, may the Lord keep you safe!
SECRETARY CLINTON:
Good morning. It is a great honor and personal delight for me to be
back in India. It’s a country that I admire greatly and that I have had
an extraordinary set of experiences in. It’s a country that’s had a deep
impact on my thinking about the most serious issues confronting our
world today. And so it is a real privilege to return as Secretary of
State. Over the next few days, I will be working on behalf of
President Obama and the American people to strengthen the important
strategic relationship between the United States and India for the 21st
century. I will be meeting with government officials in New Delhi to
broaden and deepen our efforts to work more effectively together on
issues ranging from economic growth and development, to climate change,
to education and healthcare, to nonproliferation and counterterrorism.
The
alleviation of poverty, which I know is a central goal of the Indian
Government and the Indian people is one that we will offer to help with
in any way that we could be. President Obama and I believe we are
entering a new and even more promising era of relations with India, and
we are looking forward to working to broaden and deepen our partnership.
Expanded
dialogue between our governments is essential and exciting. But the
strength of this partnership ultimately rests on the deep and enduring
ties between the Indian and the American people. In a speech this week
in Washington, I said the problems of the 21st century demand
a new mindset and a willingness to create partnerships with government,
but also beyond government, with NGOs, with businesses, with the people
themselves. The world’s problems are too complex for anything less.
I
just finished an exciting meeting with India business leaders to
discuss how we can tap into Indian and American innovations and
entrepreneurship, to spread prosperity more broadly across our
societies, and to work together to solve common problems. After this
press conference, I will go to a gathering of women from SEWA, the Self
Employed Women’s Association, an organization that I have been
privileged to work with for about 15 years now. It’s an organization
that has helped to transform lives and communities in India and it
provides a model for bringing women from the margins of society to the
center of their communities and (inaudible).
I will then join
(inaudible) Khan for a discussion with students about education and
service, and I’m sure he will be the main attraction for that. And
tomorrow, I will be meeting scientists and innovators involved in green
energy and agricultural production to talk about how the United States
and India can work together to lead an effective fight against global
hunger, and to move to a clean energy future.
Let me also say that
on a personal note, I was deeply touched to visit with the staff of
both the Taj and the (inaudible) hotels earlier this morning, and to pay
my respects at the memorial to last November’s attack. As you know,
this hotel and this city suffered grievously and endured painful losses
because of the extremism and violence visited (inaudible). The great men
and women who work in this hotel and elsewhere in the city courageously
stood in the face of senseless violence and helped to stay by and
prevent greater damage and harm to others. They deserve our gratitude.
As
the events of 26/11 unfolded, the American people stood in solidarity
with the Indian people, just as India supported America after 9/11.
These events are seared in our collective memory. Yesterday’s bombings
in Jakarta, Indonesia provide a painful reminder that the threat of such
violent extremism is still very real. It is global, it is ruthless, it
is nihilistic, and it must be stopped.
The United States will work
with the Indian Government, the Indonesian Government, and other
nations and people who seek peace and security to confront and defeat
these violent extremists. And we will do our utmost to create a world of
opportunity where there is more space for progress, peace and
prosperity, and less space for intolerance, violence and hate.
Being
here in India today to talk about democracy, defense and development
issues is critical to the future that we seek not only for India and
America, but for the world. We’re delighted that you will soon get to
know our new ambassador. Tim Roemer, former congressman, a leader on
issues having to do with terrorism in our country, and a very committed
advocate of development, will be serving our nation here and yours.
We
face a lot of challenges, but I am convinced that together, we are more
than ready to meet those challenges, sharing our common interests, our
common values, and a common stake in the 21st century. If we
are now prepared to turn our common interests and cooperative actions,
and I believe we are, then we will succeed not only for the Indian and
American people, but for the world that we hope to create for our
children. Thank you all very much. MR. KELLY: The Secretary will take some questions. The first question from Lachlan Carmichael (inaudible). SECRETARY CLINTON: He will call on people. Okay. QUESTION: Madame Secretary -- SECRETARY CLINTON: Would you stand up? QUESTION:
Yeah. Madame Secretary, there is uproar in India over apparent
concessions that the Indians made to Pakistan, providing peace for India
even though the perpetrators have not been brought to justice who also
committed the Mumbai attacks. Do you fear that this will – you will
(inaudible) the United States adding to the pressure on India to make
these concessions? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I would not
speak for the Indian Government. I think that India is a sovereign
nation fully capable and prepared to protect her own interests, to stand
up for the rights and security of her own people. And we are very
supportive of the steps that India has taken to try to stand against
terrorism.
Clearly, any decision that is made between the
governments of India and Pakistan to begin talking together to explore
the very difficult issues between them is up to those governments. And I
think that the United States, as you know, is very supportive of steps
that the governments take, but we are not in any way involved in it or
promoting any particular position. We respect the sovereignty of the
decisions that lie in the hands of the Indian Government. MR. KELLY: The next question, (inaudible). Wait for the microphone. SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. QUESTION: (Inaudible) Indian (inaudible), and with regards to this meeting with (inaudible) and especially in India (inaudible)? SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, I am very impressed by Indian women, and I have, as you said,
been involved with a number of worthy agents that have worked in India
over the years to promote economic opportunity and greater choices in
the lives of women here in India. I think an enormous amount of progress
has been made. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends when I go to
SEWA to be brought up to date about the expansion of their work.
But
clearly, for me, it is absolutely undeniable that the progress of women
is directly linked to the progress of any country. The more women have
the same rights, the education, the healthcare, to employment and access
to credit, a role in making decisions in their families and their
communities, the more quickly development for all people will proceed.
And
so the progress that has been made is extraordinary, and I know there
is still much more to be done. It is a priority of your government to
create more literacy among women, more opportunities for the women of
India. And I personally, as well as in my position as Secretary of
State, will do whatever I can to support and promote that development. MR. KELLY: The next question to Arshad Mohammed, Reuters. QUESTION:
Secretary Clinton, I understand that in your meeting with the
executives this morning, the issue of climate change came up. Two
things: One, how is it that you envisage creating (inaudible) control
carbon emissions that will allow countries like India and China to
continue to grow and create jobs for their populations?
Secondly,
one of the executives, who is the head of Reliance, which I understand
is one of the companies involved in exporting (inaudible) petroleum
products to Iran – as you know, there’s (inaudible) on Capitol Hill in
the possibility of using those exports as a lever against the Iranians
if they don’t come back to the talks.
Do you expect to raise that,
where – what kind of pushback do you expect to get, given that that’s
an important piece of business for this country? SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, Arshad, first, let me say that the discussion we had about
climate change and clean energy was extremely productive. And the point
that was made, which we underscore and believe in completely, is that
there is no inherent contradiction between poverty eradication and
moving toward a low-carbon economy. The United States wants to see India
continue to progress in its development in lifting millions and
millions of more people out of poverty and providing greater opportunity
for people to pursue their own dreams. And that is something that they
would not expect any country to turn away from.
Our point is very
simple: That we acknowledge, now with President Obama, that we have made
mistakes – the United States – and we, along with other developed
countries, have contributed most significantly to the problems that we
face with climate change. We are hoping that a great country like India
will not make the same mistakes. And just as India went, from a few
years ago, having very few telephones to now having more than 500
million mostly cell phones by leapfrogging over the infrastructure that
we built for telephone service, we believe India is innovative and
entrepreneurial enough to figure out how to deal with climate change
while continuing to lift people out of poverty and develop at a rapid
rate.
Obviously, these decisions are up to the people of India,
but the private sector, based on our conversations, is looking for
economic opportunities in clean energy and looking for ways to figure
out how to move toward low-carbon energy production. So we’re going to
be engaged in these conversations. Todd Stern, as you know, our Climate
Change Envoy, is here with me. He’ll be having a number of in-depth
discussions with people in both the private and the public sector in the
next several days. So we are well aware of the challenges that India
faces, but we think that there are some very creative approaches to this
that we’re sharing.
And we did not discuss your second matter, and that’s something that we will look at later. MR. KELLY: (Inaudible.) SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, you may be walking with cameras, I’m not sure. Is he walking with cameras? MR. KELLY: Yeah. SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, you have to sit down, (inaudible.) QUESTION:
Madame Secretary, (inaudible) when you said that you weren’t happy and
satisfied with what – the action that Pakistan is taking against terror.
But (inaudible) with the Taliban, because there is a lot of sense going
on the visit – there hasn’t been too much done (inaudible) the Lashkar,
neither of the Jaish. And also, do you really feel that Pakistan
(inaudible) perpetrators of 26/11 to India? SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, I believe based on what we have seen in the last six months,
which is what I’m speaking – based upon, there has been a much greater
effort and commitment that is not only at the governmental level, but
much more free society to take on the terrorists. And I believe that
there is a concerted effort that we can look to and see the results
from.
It is too early to tell the outcome of this commitment that
we see coming from Pakistan. I also believe that in the next few days,
there will be a greater awareness of whether or not there will be a
commitment to bring the Mumbai terrorists to heal and hopefully to
justice.
You raised the questions about other terrorist
organizations that are focused on India. Clearly, we believe that they
have to be rooted out, that they must be defeated and dismantled, and we
have made that very clear and we will continue to do so. MR. KELLY: The next question goes to (inaudible). QUESTION:
Thanks, Madame Secretary. We wanted to ask you about any certainty that
on Monday, there will be an agreement for the so-called end user
monitoring agreement that would allow major U.S. defense contracts to go
through and other related agreements that will be necessary in order
for more U.S. defense contractors to do more business here.
And
also, could you tell us a little about the strategic economic dialogue
that you’re planning and how that would differ from the SED that already
exists with China? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first, we are
working very hard to finalize a number of agreements. I am optimistic
that we will get such agreements resolved and announced, but I don’t
want to step on the news from that. We are working very hard. I think
that’s the bottom line.
Secondly, we see the dialogue that we are
going to be embarking on with India to be extremely important. It will
have five pillars. It is – it’s comprehensive, it goes across the areas
of strategic cooperation, agriculture, education, healthcare, science
and technology. It is just as broad a dialogue as you can imagine. And
we’re very much looking forward to not just announcing it, but to
getting to work on it. We came out of the meeting with the business and
industrial executives this morning with a long list of tasks that we’re
going to be following up on.
We talked about increasing
agricultural productivity, about trying to provide micronutrients to
infants so that they would not have any lapses in nutrition that might
undermine their physical and mental development. We talked about the
need for clean energy, for better cooperation between our universities,
for working with – between our pharmaceutical industries to enhance the
production of life-saving drugs.
I mean, we had such a broad
discussion, it was just a snapshot of what we think our organized
dialogue will be. We are looking to enhance our relationship with India
at a time when I think it is so important to focus on problem solving.
We’re beyond just talking about problems; now we want to link up in ways
that will help us solve those problems. And I think there’s a great
willingness on the part of not just the Indian Government, but the
Indian private sector, NGOs, and others to work with us, and we’re
looking forward to that. MR. KELLY: And the last question (inaudible) from (inaudible) news. QUESTION:
(Inaudible) United States going to persuade Pakistan in its fight
against terror to hand over particularly (inaudible) and terrorists
right now (inaudible) India? And is there any – the United States
deciding India – who is (inaudible) fight Pakistan (inaudible)? SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, again, the discussion between India and Pakistan is between India
and Pakistan. There has to be a very clear understanding that we
respect the right of India to make decisions that India decides are in
the best interests of the Indian people. I’m focused on the India-West
relationship. That is the relationship that we can influence and that we
are looking forward to working on. And clearly, we will be speaking
with our Indian counterparts over the next several days about how better
to tackle the threat of terrorism.
So we have a great sense of
solidarity and sympathy, having gone through what we did on 9/11. We
know how important – we are fighting wars to end the threat of terrorism
against us, our friends and allies around the world. So we are very
committed to working with India to make sure that together, we are
effective. There are different ways of doing that. Some, we will do
together. Some, India will decide how best to do on their own.
But
the bottom line for me is that our government is committed in the fight
against terrorism. And we expect everyone with whom we have relations
and who we see as being part of a future world that we take in what
we’re building together to take strong action to prevent terrorism from
taking root on their soil, to making sure that terrorists are not
trained and deployed. And we believe that around the world, not with any
one particular country, but every one. And that’s what we are working
toward, and we will work in whatever way is determined to be useful from
an Indian perspective to be of service.
Thank you all very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON:
I am so happy to be here with longtime friends and members of SEWA
[Self-Employed Women's Association], 1.2 million strong throughout
India. And I want to thank the leaders who have joined me here – Reema
Nanavaty, who is SEWA’s general secretary, and Mona Dave, SEWA’s CEO,
and my longtime friend, Ella Bhatt, the founder of SEWA, who many years
ago came up with what seemed at the time to be a simple idea that has
become a model for women, economic progress, and empowerment.
These
three women and the others who are here, who have been active in SEWA
for many years, have guided this organization so that it is truly a
world leader in the empowerment of women. And it’s such an honor to be
here with them, and I particularly appreciate Ella, who is a member of
the Global Elders group, that consists of people like Nelson Mandela,
for coming and traveling here to be with me.
I first visited SEWA
in 1995 in Gujarat, and it was an extraordinary experience. From the
moment that I stepped into the headquarters, I knew that I was
witnessing a transformational undertaking. There are some pictures of us
looking somewhat younger, and I have a different hairstyle, as was the
usual case. QUESTION: Some right there (inaudible.) SECRETARY CLINTON:
Oh, it’s over there, right. And I think that people probably have the
same experience coming here to Hensiba. To the casual passersby, this
may look like any other shop, but it is so much more than that. It is a
lifeline for thousands of women across India with valuable skills, but
too few opportunities to use them and to realize income from them.
Every
link in Hensiba’s supply chain from the raw materials, to the dyes, to
the fabrics, to the finished products, is managed by rural women, some
of whom are right here before you. The craft they make represents
artistic techniques that have been practiced across India for
generations, passed on from mothers and daughters to granddaughters,
often in the face of extreme poverty and want.
And at this time of
global economic turmoil, we can see a disproportionate impact on women.
And SEWA represents an innovative and successful approach to
sustainable, inclusive development. Upstairs, we saw beautiful
embroidery, we saw organic fabrics, we saw vegetable dyes, we saw the
cereals and other agricultural products that are being produced, and so
much more. I have long argued that women are key to economic progress
and social stability, and that is as true here as it is anywhere in the
world.
And in a speech I gave last week, I talked about the
efforts to build partnerships, and those partnerships are not only with
governments. They’re also with the private sector and with NGOs and
citizens. And we’ve had a partnership with SEWA. SEWA has come to the
United States – I know at least one of the women here who has been to
Washington – and to demonstrate not just the products, but the idea
behind SEWA. We simply will not make progress in our world if we leave
women behind.
And if you look – (applause) – at what SEWA has
accomplished, the most vulnerable women can work their way towards
self-sufficiency and to more secure and healthy lives. And then it’s not
just women who benefit; it’s their families and their communities.
There are a number of posters with messages that SEWA stands for. One of
them – Reema, what was it, that’s about the self that –
MS. NANAVATY: It’s about the -- SECRETARY CLINTON: Come stand.
MS.
NANAVATY: It’s about the self-respect and the dignity and how –
becoming more self-reliant together as sisters, and the more markets we
access, that we bring stability and peace into our -- SECRETARY CLINTON:
Right. The most reliable forum of economic and social progress is the
self. And I remember when I was with Ella back in 1995, and women had
come from everywhere. Some had walked for 24 hours to be there to talk
about what SEWA meant to them. And they are – they found such confidence
to stand up for themselves. And Ella, do you want to say a few words
about the vision behind SEWA?
MS. BHATT: I think for the stated
purpose of SEWA, whether it’s local or global, is how to bring – how to
democratize, how to bring the women, and particularly, you know, women,
girls and (inaudible) into the mainstream of economy, and have the best
benefits of it because they are the future of the world, and then we
have – receive them as leaders of peace and – in this world, and then
you have been, you know, one of inspiration. We always look up to you. SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, the United States, particularly in the Obama Administration, will
support and promote organizations like SEWA, which strive for what it
calls full employment. And what has been so remarkable, and it’s
something Ella just said – it teaches democracy. And India is such a
vibrant democracy, it is so dynamic, but there are so many other
countries that would benefit from the SEWA model. And I was told that – I
have three strands of yarn here, and one strand was woven in -- PARTICIPANT: Pakistan. SECRETARY CLINTON: -- Pakistan. PARTICIPANT: And the other in Nepal. SECRETARY CLINTON: And the other in Nepal. PARTICIPANT: And Bangladesh. SECRETARY CLINTON:
And Bangladesh. So the SEWA model is expanding across borders and
giving rural women everywhere the opportunity to not only earn an
income, but to really understand the role that women can play. I love
this saying that I was given. One of the artisans and shareholders –
because that’s what they are, they’re shareholders in SEWA – put it this
way: The life of my family hangs by the thread I embroider. Without
SEWA, there would be no safety net. So this is an incredibly important
visit for me personally, but it’s also significant because it represents
everything we are trying to do to help promote women and women’s
opportunities.
So I guess I would just end by saying that I met
the new president. Is she down here? Where’s the new – oh, the new
president of SEWA, elected after 1.1 million votes were cast.
(Applause.) I was not successful becoming a president. (Laughter.) So I
especially congratulate you for what you have done and for what you
represent to women everywhere. Thank you. Bless you. Thank you all.
(Applause.)
We did a press conference earlier, so I don’t want to
go into all of the issues that were raised there, but does anybody have
any questions about SEWA and about its model and about the role that
these women are playing?
Yes, yes. QUESTION: Hi. SECRETARY CLINTON: Hi, how are you? QUESTION:
Good, thank you. I read in the paper this morning that the model that
SEWA represents is going to be used in Afghanistan. I was wondering if
anybody could tell us a little bit more about that. It’s very
interesting. Do you want to talk about that? SECRETARY CLINTON:
The question is, she – the reporter had the read in the paper today
that the model that SEWA represents is going to be used in Afghanistan.
Does someone want to talk about that?
MS. NANAVATY: It’s already there. SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes, Reema.
MS.
NANAVATY: Yes, I think since last two and a half years, the Government
of India and SEWA has been working in Afghanistan, especially with the
war-affected women. Most of them are (inaudible) as well, and up to –
and we will be – work on identifying what would be the most appropriate
skills and, using those skills, how to ensure life, liberty, security to
our sisters in Afghanistan. So it’s a sister-to-sisterhood. You know,
women-to-women, how do we transfer knowledge, how do we access markets.
We’ve trained up till now about 1,000 master trainers in Afghanistan, and -- PARTICIPANT: Snacks we have –
MS.
NANAVATY: Yeah, and the snacks that we offered to Secretary Clinton,
those nuts were all brought from Afghanistan, all the way graded,
processed, 35. And they are setting up their own business association
like the trade facilitation center we have. It’s called Baagy Khazana.
So that’s what we are trying to set up or, you know, use the same
approach in Afghanistan. (Applause.) QUESTION: I wonder
what the – you said that women who participate in SEWA are married. What
do their husbands do? This is a question – supplementing the family
income or, in many cases (inaudible)? PARTICIPANT: (In Indian.)
MS.
MACWAN: I am Jyoti Macwan. I am a tobacco worker, got organized by SEWA
before 25 years. And within those 25 years, I was elected to be the
general secretary of SEWA now.
The husbands who are fellow
members, they are also workers, and in the initial state, they always
would fear that all these women are getting more organized, and what
they are going to do for the family or get back in the family. But when
they see ultimately that women get organized at SEWA as a worker, and
when the benefits of getting organized comes to the family through her,
then they respect of getting her organized at SEWA. So that is how the
husband reacts on total organizing.
Sometimes even at the end, the
men then come out of the (inaudible) and say that even they would like
to get organized while (inaudible). But as far as the unique of work is
family, and it is true, under the leadership of the women, we do a
sustainable development of the family. QUESTION:
(Inaudible) from PTI. I just wanted to ask you, who takes care of these
workers in SEWA and what is women otherwise in the world? I mean, is the
U.S. referring some kind of (inaudible) including your regime? SECRETARY CLINTON:
Let me say something, and then I want one of the SEWA women to respond.
A few months ago, we announced that we’re going to have a very large
commitment to global health. We already, as you may know, contribute a
lot of money from our government for HIV/AIDS. But we want to add to
that commitment a commitment to maternal and child health, which is
especially important here in India, to the eradication of infectious
diseases like tuberculosis and polio, which are still problems here in
India.
And we’re going to work very hard with our counterparts in
India as part of our new comprehensive dialogue to figure out ways that
the United States to be of help in solving some of India’s health
challenges. But I want someone from SEWA to talk about healthcare as
well. PARTICIPANT: (inaudible) I am the secretary of SEWA.
Just – healthcare is quite important for our members, because they are
out working daily and (inaudible) daily. So we are closely working with
the government and with the local partnership with the women, and we are
training – we are providing training to the local women worker as a
health worker, and then they are providing services door to door as for
the (inaudible) member. And we have integrated health program
(inaudible) livelihood, microfinances, and other services also.
And
also, just government has made lot of policy about the mother and child
and other (inaudible) health program, where SEWA has contributed from
their own experiences. And now, we – as a union, we are trying
(inaudible), we are assuring that each program should be reached to the
members, and also be able to pass the social security bill in our
council, just in this year, and for the organized sector, and further,
they will get pension, maternity benefit and other coverage, for the
illness – major illness, also they will get the coverage.
So after
a lot of interaction and dialogue, be able to get some policies on
social security from the government also. So it’s a great achievement
reaping, because each unorganized settled worker will get the benefits.
And the policy is there so we can tell for the implementation. QUESTION:
I’m (inaudible), from Bloomberg News. I just wanted to ask the ladies
from SEWA if you have any partnerships with similar organizations to
yours in Pakistan? Or if not, are you trying to establish something like
that? And what about women’s cooperative in Pakistan? How do they work
differently from the ones in India? PARTICIPANT: As SEWA
started organizing trade-wise for the – then we built up the networks – a
network of home workers, network of state workers, network of
(inaudible) – I mean, also network of domestic workers.
So
trade-wise, we have gone beyond India now, and particularly India, in
the South Asia – you know, South countries. And so far as the craft is
concerned and so far as every culture is concerned, we have tried to
link the farmers of the South countries and India. And similarly, we
have tried to link the artisans of India along with other South
countries. So particularly, as I said, Pakistan – yes, Pakistan and
(inaudible) from Pakistan, and there, we have come up with a brand,
(inaudible) Hensiba, so that is the brand called (inaudible). And so
that is linked to the other countries as well. So that is our
(inaudible), you know, (inaudible) of the crafts.
So it is being
done, and then more and more training is happening. In Aminabad, we have
these, you know, several trade facilitation center so that trains other
craftswomen from the South countries into – so helping them to link
with the market infrastructure, helping them to link with the capital,
(inaudible) capital, and then particularly part of designs. So a regular
training is going on. QUESTION: (Inaudible.) PARTICIPANT: Yes, we were just last week, (inaudible) came from Sri Lanka also, and then also from Pakistan were here for training.
So
ongoing training is going on in (inaudible), so that is our way of
regional cooperation, you know, in the form of sisterhood. And it works.
It works very, very well. SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much. QUESTION: Thank you. PARTICIPANT:
May I take this opportunity to thank and say a few words of thanks, as
the tradition goes? We are very much honored, you know, for you – for
your visit, and of course, you have been our old friend and that is
already said. We have grown, you know, older and (inaudible). So our
daughter also have grown, the SEWA has grown, and so we are very
grateful that you opted to come and visit us and spend so much time.
But
I also want to thank our colleagues and our ambassador. Welcome and
thanks both to Ambassador of India, Timothy Roemer, and (inaudible), and
our friend, kind friend and supporter, counsel general (inaudible).
I
just want to make another statement (inaudible) please, that though
SEWA has begun in a small way and it has grown, it has been – as I said,
it has been (inaudible) to democratize the informal economy. And while
doing this, we have learned. And what we have learned is that the
neighborhood as – is domestic economy. What we have also learned is that
local community has to face – you know, had to face the nation and the
globe, and (inaudible) wider, you know, experience getting wider into
other countries.
So I learned that still, this virtually requires a
community (inaudible) international organizations. We had to answer
women’s experience in subsistence, women’s experience in survival, the –
and security issues. And that could relate, you know, to peace and war
as visualized by nations and states.
So SEWA’s first – our first
work in terms of rearticulating in terms of trade, that is linking
through the (inaudible) the markets. And in an attempt to go beyond the
(inaudible), you know, you and millennium development roles, which are
remote and abstract. These are thick description of the lives. We tried
to create a livelihood index (inaudible) trade, so a livelihood index – a
livelihood index would include (inaudible), one, access to capital and
control of the sources by women, especially in an informal economy; two,
women’s control of the body and the health; three, access,
participation, envoys in all issues relating to health and social
security; and lastly, four, the incorporation of women’s vision of
minimizing (inaudible) countries.
So by bringing global to local
through women’s leadership, the world can come out of poverty and will
bring prosperity and cement peace. So we look up to your leadership, you
know, worldwide, in connecting women, work, and peace at the global
level. Thank you again, everybody. (Applause.)
Hillary Clinton (Photo | AP)
