HRC in the DRC

By Liz Wing on 08/14/2009 @ 05:18 PM

In line with her long history of advocating for human rights and standing up for the most vulnerable of groups, Hillary Clinton made a trip to a place where young girls are born into a world of unimaginable violence. A place where a generation born from rape are now being viciously raped. She visited The Democratic Republic of Congo.

We have written about just how devastating the violence is there. And as The New York Times reports: “she is the first secretary of state to venture into the war zone here.”

Indeed, there is no problem too big for Hillary, especially when the lives and safety of girls and women are at stake. As Secretary of State, she is willing to take on the tough stuff.

According to Dipnote, the State Department blog:
In her interview with Christian Lusakueno of Raga TV, the Secretary said, "There has to be an agreement in the region to end the violence in eastern Congo... There has to be an end of the paying of the militias by mineral interests and other interests that buys impunity and gives these militias the free rein to terrorize people. And sexual and gender-based violence must be condemned. It must be condemned by everyone in every part of society. People need to be not only ashamed if they commit rape and other sexual violence, but they need to be arrested and prosecuted and punished so that it serves as a strong message that this will not be tolerated. We are working with your military, we are working with your government, and we are also working with the victims to provide the medical care and the support that the victims of these traumatic attacks so desperately need."

Hear about her travels first-hand. View her State Department Travel Blog here.

Also - did you see her Op-Ed in The City Press, A South African newspaper - "Women Are Drivers of Positive Change". Check it out here.

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