Hillary's Leadership: A One Year Report
IN THIS EDITION
- HILLARY SPEAKS ON THE NO LIMITS AGENDA AROUND THE WORLD
- COMING SOON
Yesterday marked one year since the formal swearing-in ceremony of Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State. From the earliest Congressional hearings, where she talked of the value of "smart power" and spoke up for women's health, to last week's conferences on security in Yemen and relief for Haiti, Hillary has been a powerful advocate for issues and programs important to No Limits: rebuilding America's alliances through "smart power" to meet the new challenges we face and a human rights agenda for the 21st century.
We thought this was a good time to celebrate some of the highlights of this historic first year, in Hillary's own words - and to congratulate her on her leadership.
Click here to send Hillary a note of congratulations. Use our suggested language or add your own!
HILLARY SPEAKS ON THE NO LIMITS AGENDA AROUND THE WORLD
SMART POWER
The best way to advance America's interests in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions... We must use what has been called "smart power," the full range of tools at our disposal - diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal and cultural - picking the right tool or combination of tools for each situation. - Addressing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, January 31, 2009
WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S HEALTH
I have been in African countries where 12 and 13 year old girls are bearing children. I have been in Asian countries where the denial of family planning consigns women to lives of oppression and hardship... We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women's health and reproductive heath includes access to abortion that I believe should be safe, legal, and rare.
- Congressional Hearing, April 22, 2009
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE INTEGRAL TO OUR FOREIGN POLICY
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 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.
Read or watch the speech here.
- 2009 International Women of Courage Awards, March 11, 2009
THE FIRST GLOBAL AMBASSADOR FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES
Secretary Clinton appointed Melanne Verveer as the first-ever Ambassador on Global Women’s Issues.
PROTECTING AMERICA'S INTEREST
We believe that no country benefits more than the United States when there is greater security, democracy, and opportunity in the world. Our economy grows when our allies are strengthened and people thrive. And no country carries a heavier burden when things go badly. Every year, we spend hundreds of billions of dollars dealing with the consequences of war, disease, violent ideologies, and vile dictatorships... I believe if we follow our plans and our principles, we will succeed. We can lead the world in creating a century that we and our children will be proud to own, a century of progress and prosperity for the whole world, but especially for our beloved country.
- Remarks to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 22, 2009
REBUILDING ALLIANCES: IN AFRICA - WITH DANCING!
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got down with local residents of Africa, as part of an 11-day tour of the continent. - Kenya, August 9, 2009
WOMEN'S RIGHTS AS HUMAN RIGHTS: ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Women and girls in particular have been victimized on an unimaginable scale, as sexual and gender-based violence has become a tactic of war and has reached epidemic proportions. Some 1,100 rapes are reported each month, with an average of 36 women and girls raped every day... I came to Goma to send a clear message: The United States condemns these attacks and all those who commit them and abet them. They are crimes against humanity. - Op-Ed, People.com, August 21, 2009
AND CHAIRING THE FIRST EVER UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Under the UN Charter, the 15 members of this Council bear primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Now, satisfying that responsibility includes... the lives and physical security of all people, including the women who comprise half the planet's population.
- United Nations Headquarters, September 30, 2009
THE NO LIMITS CONFERENCE AND DEMOCRACY
And everywhere I go, I will be thinking about how we translate the slogan "No Limits" into opportunities, how we give people the sense that they too, if they will be committed to democracy, if they will care about their neighbor, if they will make investments in their people and their children, they too can have a better life.
Read or watch the speech here.
- Washington, D.C., November 6, 2009
A HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Our human rights agenda for the 21st century is to make human rights a human reality, and the first step is to see human rights in a broad context. ...To fulfill their potential, people must be free to choose laws and leaders; to share and access information, to speak, criticize, and debate. They must be free to worship, associate, and to love in the way that they choose. And they must be free to pursue the dignity that comes with self-improvement and self-reliance, to build their minds and their skills, to bring their goods to the marketplace, and participate in the process of innovation.
...INCLUDING LGBT RIGHTS
Over this past year, we have elevated into our human rights dialogues and our public statements a very clear message about protecting the rights of the LGBT community worldwide. And we are particularly concerned about some of the specific cases that have come to our attention around the world... including legislation in Uganda which would not only criminalize homosexuality but attach the death penalty to it. We have expressed our concerns directly, indirectly, and we will continue to do so. And we view it as a very serious potential violation of human rights.
- Georgetown, Washington, D.C., December 14, 2009
NEW CHALLENGES: THE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPERATIVE
We know what the consequences will be for the farmer in Bangladesh or the herder in Africa or the family being battered by hurricanes in Central America. Without that accord, there won't be the kind of joint global action from all of the major economies we all want to see, and the effects in the developing world could be catastrophic. We know what will happen. Rising seas, lost farmland, drought and so much else.
Read or watch the speech here.
- Copenhagen Conference, December 17, 2009
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: INTERNET FREEDOM
I'm proud that the State Department is already working in more than 40 countries to help individuals silenced by oppressive governments... We are also supporting the development of new tools that enable citizens to exercise their rights of free expression by circumventing politically motivated censorship. We are providing funds to groups around the world to make sure that those tools get to the people who need them in local languages, and with the training they need to access the Internet safely. ... Both the American people and nations that censor the Internet should understand that our government is committed to helping promote Internet freedom.
Read or watch the speech here.
- Newseum, Washington D.C., January 21, 2010
One year: 198,934 miles and 49 countries traveled.
THESE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE HIGHLIGHTS OF LAST YEAR - WHAT ARE YOURS?
Smart power, human rights and women's rights around world - these are our international priorities at No Limits. We're so proud that Secretary of State Clinton is leading the way in advocating new policies that protect America's national interest and our values around the world. Let's tell Hillary how proud we are - send a note by clicking here!
COMING SOON
Coming soon at No Limits: News about congressional action on the economy, an important announcement about State Department work in the next year, and our new web site. Stay tuned!