“Women here and abroad couldn’t have asked for a better advocate to head the State Department than Hillary Clinton,” said NOW President Kim Gandy. “She has fought tirelessly throughout her life for the rights of women and children worldwide, and NOW is proud to support her leadership once again.”
Today feminists across the United States and around the globe are applauding President Barack Obama for his nomination of Clinton as U.S. Secretary of State and the Senate for its swift, bipartisan confirmation. The lopsided 94-2 vote demonstrates that Clinton’s experience and intelligence inspire respect and confidence among her colleagues.
“We know that women and girls around the world are subjected to extreme oppression, cynical exploitation and brutal violence,” said Gandy. “Just this week, the Associated Press reported that suspected Taliban militants bombed five Pakistan schools as part of a widespread campaign to prevent the education of girls.”
During her Jan. 13 confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Clinton raised some of these challenges. From Clinton’s remarks:
“Our foreign policy must reflect our deep commitment to the cause of making human rights a reality for millions of oppressed people around the world. Of particular concern to me is the plight of women and girls, who comprise the majority of the world’s unhealthy, unschooled, unfed, and unpaid. If half of the world’s population remains vulnerable to economic, political, legal, and social marginalization, our hope of advancing democracy and prosperity will remain in serious jeopardy. We still have a long way to go, and the United States must remain an unambiguous and unequivocal voice in support of women’s rights in every country, every region, on every continent.”
“NOW trusts that Secretary Clinton will bring women’s needs and concerns to the table when she meets with heads of state around the world,” said Gandy. “We look forward to working with Clinton on global women’s initiatives, including violence against women, economic survival and empowerment, and access to family planning and reproductive health care.”
Gandy concluded: “With women’s rights hanging in the balance and their very lives in the crosshairs, I am reassured to know that Secretary Clinton is now on watch.”
###