Mrs. Clinton Marks Human Rights Anniversary

She focuses on mistreatment of women in U.N. talk

UNITED NATIONS (AllPolitics, Dec. 10) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton today marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, saying it's time to extend "the circle of human dignity" to people around the world.

In an address to a United Nations ceremony, the first lady focused in particular on the rights of women.

"What meaning can the language of freedom and human rights have for a young woman forced into prostitution and trafficked in the commercial sex trade? What meaning can it have for women forced into involuntary servitude as sweatshop workers or domestic servants?" Mrs. Clinton asked. (288K wav sound)

The Declaration of Human Rights, approved on Dec. 10, 1948, in the aftermath of the Holocaust, sets out basic rights for all people, including equality before the law, the right not to be tortured and freedom of expression, religion, movement and asylum. (448K wav sound)

Mrs. Clinton said the declaration has become a yardstick to measure how nations observe fundamental rights, and it has influenced some countries. "And yet, in spite of this half-century of progress, we have not expanded the circle of human dignity far enough," she said. (576K wav sound)

Mrs. Clinton cited the high level of illiteracy among women around the world, domestic and sexual violence against women and female genital mutilation. "We do not believe that violence against women is simply cultural," she said. "We believe it is simply criminal." (192K wav sound)

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Wednesday Dec. 10, 1997

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• Mrs. Clinton Marks Human Rights Anniversary
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