Suu Kyi a ‘Beacon of Hope’: Clinton

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15294

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By LALIT K JHA Friday, March 13, 2009

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WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday called the iconic Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, a beacon of hope for people around the world.

Clinton’s comments occurred at a function at the State Department on the occasion of Women’s History Month.

“Aung San Suu Kyi, whom I mentioned yesterday and I mention as often as I can because having been in prison now for most of the past two decades, she still remains a beacon of hope, strength, and liberty for people around the world,” Clinton said.

The secretary also mentioned Mukhtar Mai of Pakistan, who survived a horrific assault in what is euphemistically called an “honor crime,” and then used the money she received in a court settlement to help educate the rural poor in Pakistan.

“These women are not just improving the world for other women,” Clinton said. “Their courage and actions are helping to create societies where every boy and girl, every man and woman, has the opportunity to live up to his or her God-given potential.”



She said these women understand that the struggle for women’s rights in the 21st century is no longer limited to fighting for the ballot, or equal pay for equal work, or the end of domestic violence, or the right to speak out, or the right to worship or associate.

“All of these items are critical and necessary, but they are no longer sufficient. In order to secure the full spectrum of women’s rights, we have to create economic opportunity and economic security,” Clinton said.

“It is essential that we improve access to healthcare and that we protect Mother Earth from our assaults, so that we can guarantee a better future, and that we do all that we can to help improve education so that we will have more allies and partners and fewer adversaries,” she said.

Clinton said wherever there is oppression, women need to stand against it. “Wherever there is violence, we as women must work to end it. Wherever there is poverty or sickness, we as women must work to cure it. And wherever our planet is in danger, we as women must work to protect it,” she said.


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