Senate, Barbara Boxer Take Big Foreign Policy Step For Women in Poverty
By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.
I covered the United Nations Conference on the Status of Women in Beijing, China in 1995. I watched then-first lady Hillary Clinton make her now-renowned remarks equating women's rights with human rights. When the late Sen. Jesse Helms chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he obliterated U.S. support for a series of international conferences the United Nations used to hold. When the economy improves, perhaps President Obama will bring them back, as they were the launch pad for major international initiatives to raise women in developing nations out of poverty.
For the moment, however, the Democratic-controlled Senate has taken an important step to raise the visibility of third-world women in poverty. This alone is of historic significance. I understand we have huge economic issues in our own country right now, and that comes first. But that does not mean we neglect the concerns of people overseas, who also need us:
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today announced that she will chair the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women's Issues.
During Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing, Boxer referred to a series of stories by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof that detailed violent attacks against women in Afghanistan and Asia. Boxer raised the need for a new commitment by the United States to ending violence and discrimination against women around the world, telling Clinton, "No woman or girl should ever have to live in fear or face persecution for being born female.
On Facebook? You can keep up with Thomas Jefferson Street blog postings through Facebook's Networked Blogs.
- Read more by Bonnie Erbe.
- Read more from the Thomas Jefferson Street blog.
- Read more about poverty.
Tags: Barbara Boxer | poverty
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (5) | Print
Reader Comments
I guess I'm the far far left according to Larry
Iraq had been a modern society with one of the highest levels of freedom for women in the Middle-East before Hussein's foolhardy and possibly U.S. encouraged invasion of Kuwait. Of course there had been rape since men everywhere (even the U.S.!)have this propensity. All Iraqis suffered under the US/UN controls following that short war. But not until the U.S. 2003 invasion and the following destabilization, did the religious factions take over neighborhoods and exert sharia-like laws on both women and men. Only then were women afraid to leave their houses for school, work, or family shopping and visiting friends. Only then did they all begin to "religiously" wear the veils and burkas of the Islamic world. The US has sent them back centuries.
On the other hand, the world had known of the terrible treatment of Afghani women under the Taliban but chose to ignore it. For a short while after our invasion it appeared that there was significant improvement, but in no time at all the warlords were put in power and the awful treatment continued under their controlling gaze. Women and girls who go to school or work with any sense of empowerment are at extreme risk of death or disfigurement. Burkas are a form of safety again.
I do regard Senator Boxer's environmental work as largely beneficial. As far as this new Subcommittee, I do wish she will bring more light to the suffering women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo where fighters of the many forces (including their own!) have gang-raped women, girls and even babies with impunity as they have won and lost territory. These women have been shamed and seriously injured as they have withstood this vicious torture where some fighters have even used implements that have torn women up inside. This must be addressed by her subcommittee soon, and if enough of the world is alerted perhaps these men can be reminded that we live in a world of caring people. They must be stopped; they must be held accountable. An police force of women would be very helpful.
Helping women and bringing democracy and human rights all depend on men learning that women are people also. Religions can interfere with this understanding, since they tend to be extremely patriarchal. Even here we won't pass the ERA because some fear women having power! There is a lot of work to be done.
CALL IT LIKE IT IS.....
Islam treats women like slaves and property. Oh my, that's so not p.c., and very judgmental - Can't we just hold hands and chant some more?
Barbara Boxer is a loon
She wouldn't have a job if it weren't for the far far left in California. It's unfortunate for the nation that this simple minded woman keeps getting elected. It's shame that the Republicians have written off California, the home of President Reagan.
She is an embarrassment to California.
advertisement
