Clinton applauds U.N. Human Rights Council for women’s rights resolution

Declaring that "The world cannot make progress if women are denied the opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential," Secretary Clinton hailed a resolution adopted by the U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday that creates a new mechanism to eliminate laws that discriminate against women.

In the resolution, the Human Rights Council calls on countries to repeal all laws that discriminate on the basis of sex. The council is also establishing a three-year working group of five independent experts to provide technical assistance and advisory services on eliminating discrimination against women both in law and in practice.

The United Nations is often criticized for lofty language but little concrete action, but the symbolism is still powerful. In too many countries, women’s equality is not seen as a norm to be strived for, and the international community must stigmatize antiquated views of women. That said, it would be even more symbolic if the United States ratified the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, removing itself from the tiny minority of countries, including Iran and Sudan, that haven’t.

Here’s the full text of Clinton’s statement, issued Oct. 1:

Today, the United States joined with the international community to send a clear message: discrimination against women is a violation of human rights. I applaud the UN Human Rights Council for adopting an historic resolution to create a new mechanism that will promote the elimination of laws that discriminate against women. Establishing this mechanism by consensus at the UN Human Rights Council reinforces once again that women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights.

Equality for women is not only a matter of justice — it is a political, economic, and strategic imperative. The world cannot make progress if women are denied the opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential. The United States will continue its commitment to advance the human rights of women and girls around the world.

(In the March 8, 2009, file photo above, Lebanese feminists in Beirut participate in a demonstration to mark International Women’s Day.)