|
|
Videotaped remarks by
Hilary Rodham Clinton
First Lady of the United States
American Embassy Press Release
For further information:
Tel: 967-1-238-819
Fax: 967-1-226-649
Email: usembassy07@y.net.ye |
Emerging Democracies Forum
Sana'a, Yemen June 28-30, 1999
Good morning everyone. It is a great pleasure to be able to join all of you, as you conclude this historic Emerging
Democracies Forum. As some of you may know, I had hoped very much to attend with you in person, and to hear first
hand about the challenges and opportunities you are facing in the often daunting struggle toward democracy. But
when I learned unfortunately that I would be unable to come, I was determined, at the very least, to speak to you
through the wonders of technology. Because the discussions you have had over the past few days will have an impact
not only on your future and the future of your own nation - but on our common dreams of living in a just and peaceful
world.
I want to thank the sponsors of this very important conference, the Government of Yemen and the National Democratic
Institute for International Affairs. We are particularly grateful to NDI's Les Campbell and to the Prime Minister
of Yemen, Abdul Karim Al-Eryani, I want to thank him in particular, and both of these gentlemen and their vision
for bringing us all together. I also want to thank the previous speaker, the parliamentarian Margreeth de Boer,
for speaking to us about the vital role that women can - and must - play in developing democracies. I also greatly
appreciate my friend Sally Shelton Colby for her kind words of introduction, and for all she is doing at USAID
to promote democracy and economic opportunity worldwide.
But most of all, I want especially to thank all of you who are participating. You are the political, the civic
and economic leaders of your nations. Your participation in this important international forum I hope will send
a very strong signal around the world. America's Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reminds us that unlike dictatorships
-- democracy cannot be imposed. As she has said, "It's always a choice." And I want to commend all of
you for the work you do every day to ensure that more citizens of the world make that choice for democracy; but
not only that: that we work together to fulfill promise of democracy.
What better place to hold this global conversation and strengthen these bonds of support among us than here in
Yemen, where so much progress is being made. I want to congratulate the government and people of Yemen -- your
multi-party system, your democratically elected legislature -- for serving as a model for the region.
I'm impressed as well with Yemen's efforts to expand the rights and opportunities of citizenship to girls and women.
Wherever I go - in my own country and overseas -- I've found the occasion to talk about Yemen's remarkable commitment
to girl's education. By eliminating school fees; providing families food and other incentives to keep their daughters
in school; and by encouraging more women to enter the teaching profession, you are sending a powerful message,
that access to education - for every citizen -- is the foundation of democracy-and choice.
And that no nation can move forward until all of its citizens - including all of its women-are full participants
in the social, economic, and political life of their communities.
We've come together in this historic capital of Yemen at a time of unparalleled possibilities - as the forces of
democracy are literally sweeping across the world. As Undersecretary of State Frank Loy noted a few days ago, 40
democracies existed in the 1970s. Today, the people of 120 nations are engaged in building democratic societies.
Even now, we witness the first free elections in Indonesia in 40 years; we see the re-affirmation of multiracial
democracy in South Africa; and there are renewed hopes for peace in the Middle East. And finally, and thankfully
- Serbia's brutal and systematic efforts to drive ethnic Albanians from their homes has been halted, and the refugees
are returning home.
As Kosovo so painfully reminds us, even as the forces of freedom move forward, age old ethnic, religious and tribal
hatreds continue to tear apart communities and nations. And human rights continue to be trampled in almost every
comer of the globe.
We also see that in newly emerging democracies, crime, violence, and corruption-as well as citizen apathy -- threaten
to dismantle many of the hard fought gains. And today, the rapidly changing world of technology and a global economy
pose new challenges to democracies - young and old.
The work that all of you have been engaged in at this conference - to advance an international agenda of cooperation
among democracies, and help create the citizens of tomorrow -- has never been more critical.
Just a few weeks ago, I was in Palermo, Italy, meeting with a remarkable number of leaders, and many women leaders,
from around the world who are deeply engaged in making democracy real in their own communities. They had come to
Palermo to participate in an international conference promoting civic education. I spoke with women from all over
the world. A woman from Argentina told me about how few women in her country held positions of power or authority
- and how she and others are setting up a website to identify and promote women leaders.
A woman from Northern Ireland spoke about how women in her country were just beginning to find their own voices,
and take their rightful place in society.
Many women are joining the work force around the world for the first time for paid work. We all know that women
work very hard every day for their families. But in joining the world of paid work, they are beginning to organize
themselves around issues like expanded child care, and access to loans and credit, things that have been denied
for so long.
A young woman from Kuwait told me how proud she was that women in her country had gained the right to vote only
a few weeks earlier. But she is concerned that even the most educated women in Kuwait are not sure that casting
a ballot is part of their civic responsibilities. So she's working to mobilize women to vote in the elections that
will be held in a few years - and to teach everyone that being part of the political process is the key to citizenship
in a democratic society.
From what I've heard about your discussions over the past few days, these are the kinds of daunting challenges
that many of you are grappling with in your own countries. And of course many of you face much more difficult challenges
as well. You face violence, you face political repression, you face all kinds of problems to expand economic and
political reforms that you know will advance democracy.
You know, establishing and maintaining a democracy is very hard work. And that's true not only for emerging ones,
but established democracies as well. In fact, it is a never ending process. My own country became a democracy over
200 years ago, but we are still struggling to fulfill that promise.
Over the years, we have learned some of the same lessons. We have learned how important it is to strengthen the
rule of law, and to create the institutions of civil society, and move toward a market-based economy. Those are
critical steps. We also had to extend the franchise over the course of those 200 years. We fought a civil war and
we had to amend our constitution to include Black Americans and women. So together there is much struggling that
goes on, to make progress in all of these areas. But we know that democracy can only be sustained when its values
are rooted in the hearts, minds, and actions. Elections in and of themselves don't make democracies, but men and
women, citizens, practicing their responsibilities of citizenship, that is what makes a democracy. And when parents
pass on that tradition to their children by their example, and by the stories they tell them we can imbue the ideas
and values of democracy in the next generation.
Over the years, I've been privileged to travel on behalf of my country, and I've seen firsthand the remarkable
work that many of you have been doing - to strengthen civil society, and widen the circle of human rights.
A few years ago, for example, I visited Mongolia, and saw how the people of that country were moving from a one-party
dictatorship to a pluralistic political system. I was told that citizens demonstrated in the streets in freezing
weather to advocate for their rights and freedoms. And when elections were held - more than 90% of the people voted.
That's a voting rate any democracy would envy -- particularly my own.
In Guatemala and El Salvador, I see people struggling to make the difficult transition from war to peace. I've
met with women who were on opposite sides of those conflicts who became the architects of peace and reconciliation.
They realized that what they held in common was far stronger than what had kept them apart. And they helped to
lead the way, as people began to rebuild lives and put together a better future for themselves and their children.
In countries as far apart as Nepal and Bolivia, I've seen how women's lives have been transformed - and empowered
- as they gain access to life's basic tools of opportunity, tools like maternal health care and education. A few
months ago in Morocco, I saw those same opportunities opening up when I visited a small village nestled at the
base of the Atlas mountains.
A nongovernmental organization was working with the villagers there to help spur new businesses, to encourage girl's
literacy programs, and to organize a village cooperative. For the first time, these villagers had the tools and
the support to shape their own futures. And that future included women.
In country after country throughout this region, I've seen young people of different cultures and religions spending
time together -- learning to overcome stereotypes. Learning to respect each other's differences. Learning to become
the leaders that are needed for tomorrow.
Many may not have heard your stories of progress and success -- stories about expanding voting rights; of strengthening
the institutions of civil society; of ensuring greater economic and political opportunities for women and ethnic
minorities; or teaching the lessons of democracy to the next generation. But the world should know that while we
all face different struggles, we speak the universal language of democracy and freedom. The overwhelming passage
of the "Right to Democracy"' resolution by the UN Commission on Human Rights a few months ago confirms
that democracy is a fundamental human right- and the only' path we know to peace and prosperity.
So I hope that this historic conference will bring attention to the remarkable work you are doing to nurture and
sustain democracy in your own countries. But I also hope this gathering will help forge a new global community
of democracies that support each other in the years ahead.
We cannot minimize the formidable challenges facing each of you today. Nor should we underestimate the benefits
that will come with increased international support and cooperation on your behalf. What we do know is that what
is important is the work you are doing every day.
Last year, in addressing the citizens of Poland, President Clinton said that "the struggle for democracy is
never over, it must be fought every day." I agree with my husband. And I agree with all of you. And I thank
you for what you are doing. It is invaluable work and it is the work of every single day, to make democracy real
in your own countries, and around the world. Thank you. And very much, I hope, you will see great success in the
years to come.
[ Introduction ] [ Declaration
] [ Conference Transcripts ]
[ Discussion Board ] [ Forum Home ] [ NDI Home ]
|
