US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced yesterday the United States government’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. This goal is to empower half of the world’s population as equal partners in preventing conflict and building peace in countries threatened by war, violence, and insecurity. The U.S. believes that achieving this goal is critical to national and global security. During remarks made at Georgetown University yesterday, Mrs. Clinton stated that the US will advance women’s inclusion in peace negotiations, in peacebuilding activities and in conflict prevention, protect women from sexual violence, and assure equal access to recovery assistance. This plan institutionalizes the US’ commitment to women as agents of positive change. As Mrs. Clinton outlined, when women are equal partners in making and keeping peace, they tend to lead toward a better society, one that respects human rights, justice, and builds coalitions across lines of conflict. When women participate in the processes of peace and conflict resolution, they build a more durable peace. This plan advances the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1325 which promotes gender equity. In order to achieve these goals, women need to be able to play a role in building and participating in the full range of decision making institutions in their nations. This broad based initiative will affect US government agencies, such at the Department of State, the Department of Defense, US AID, and the Department of the Treasury. The plan will also affect nations with whom the US has diplomatic relations, as they work to promote peace and avoid conflict.
Mrs. Clinton has been making her mark both inside the Department of State and around the world as she works with nations in transition. Her commitment to women has lasted a lifetime, but her actions today will affect generations of women world wide for many years to come. Hillary is an example of how one woman can truly make a difference for so many others both men and women in the world. Her commitment to the equal inclusion of women in promoting peace and forwarding the stability of the world will have long lasting effects on our society as a whole. No longer will 50% of the brain power and creative ideas be left out of the processes that promotes lasting peace.
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