Hillary Clinton's article for Le Figaro: I will fight for women

March 6, 5:56 PMForeign Policy ExaminerAimee Kligman

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In anticipation of Sunday's celebration of International Women's Day, Hillary Clinton wrote an article (I presume it was in English and then translated into French) exclusively for France's Le Figaro. I have translated it from the French below:

Title: Hillary Clinton: 'I will make the world listen to women's causes'

TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE STAND - The American Secretary of State speaks on the occasion of International Women's Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday.

During a trip to China eleven years ago, I met with activists who spoke to me about their efforts in making conditions for women improve in their country. They described the challenges with which women were confronted: employment discrimination, inept health insurance, domestic violence, and laws which hindered the advancement of women.

A few weeks ago, I met again with some of these women during my first trip to Asia as Secretary of State. This time, they spoke to me about the progress that had been made over the last decade. But, in spite of important steps forward, these Chinese women made no mystery about the obstacles and of disparities that still exist, as is the case in numerous continents. 

I had heard stories similar to theirs on all continents, where women try to participate completely in the political, economic and cultural life of their country. This March 8th, while we celebrate International Women's Day, we have a chance to review the progress we made and the challenges that remain - and to think about the vital role which women have to play to resolve the complex global problems of the 21st century.

The problems which we face today are too big and too difficult to be settled without the full participation of women. To strengthen women's rights is not only a permanent moral obligation, it is also a necessity, while we are confronted with a global economic crisis, proliferation of terrorism and nuclear weapons, in the regional conflicts which endanger our families and communities, to climate change and in the dangers it brings to the well-being and security) of the world.

These challenges require that we mobilize all of our strengths. We shall not resolve them with half-measures. And nevertheless, too often, on these and many other matters, half of the planet is left lagging behind. Today, more women rule governments, companies and non-governmental organizations that in previous generations. But this good piece of news has its down side. Women still constitute the majority of the poor, the ill-fed and the non-educated of the world. They are still victims of rapes used as war tactics and exploited by international traffickers in a billion dollar trade.

Honor crimes, mutilations, sexual amputations and other violent and degrading practices aimed at women are still tolerated today in too many regions. A few months ago, a young girl was on her way to school in Afghanistan when a group of men threw acid at her face, irreversibly damaging her eyes because they opposed her getting an education. Their attempt to terrorize the girl and her family failed. She stated: 'my parents told me to continue going to school even if I were to be killed.'

Quite especially because we are in the midst of a financial crisis, we have to keep in mind what an increasing number of researchers have said: that to promote women is a high yield investment which engenders stronger economies, civil societies which are more vibrant, healthier communities and more peace and stability. Investing in women is also a means to support future generations; women spend a greater portion of their incomes in food, medicine and schooling of their children. Even in developed nations, women's economic power is far from reaching all its potential.

In many countries, women continue to earn less than men for the same work - a gap which President Obama began to bridge in the United States, by signing into law this year the 'Lilly Ledbetter for a just pay' act which strengthens women's ability to oppose unequal salaries. We must give women a chance to work for equal pay, to be able to secure credit and to create companies. They deserve equality in the political sphere, with equal access to polling booths, freedom to ask for accountability from their government and to run as candidates in elections. They are entitled to medical coverage for themselves and their families. They are entitled to schooling for their children - of their sons and their daughters. And they have a vital role to play in establishing peace and stability worldwide. In war torn regions, it is often women who find the means to reach out to the other side and find common ground.

By traveling worldwide in my new role, I will keep in mind the women I have already met on all continents - women who overcame extraordinary obstacles to change laws in order to be able to become owners, get marriage right, go to school and meet the needs of their families - and even protect the peace.

And I will be am audible defender - by working with my counterparts in other nations, as well as non-governmental organizations, companies and private individuals - to continue pushing these questions to the forefront. Realizing the full potential and the promise which women represent is not only a question of justice. It is a question of world peace, progress and prosperity for generations to come. 

Translated from the French by Aimée Kligman