Women's rights are human rights
"Women's Rights Are Human Rights" is a phrase used in the feminist movement and is the name of a speech given by Hillary Clinton, the First Lady of the United States, on 5 September 1995, at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.[1]
Speech
Clinton's speech argued against practices abusing women around the world and in China itself.[2] Targeting governments and organizations as well as individual females, she stated her belief that the issues facing women and girls are often either ignored or "silenced" and thus go unresolved.[3] Elements brought up in the speech include dowry deaths and China's one-child policy.[2]
Clinton declared "that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women's rights as separate from human rights".[2] Delegates from over 180 countries heard her say:
"If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights, once and for all."[4]
In making the speech, Clinton defied both internal administration pressure and external Chinese pressure to soften her remarks.[4][5]
Legacy
The speech is considered to be influential in the women's rights movement, and in 2013 Clinton led a review of how women's rights have changed since her 1995 speech.[6]
The speech was listed as number 35 in American Rhetoric's Top 100 Speeches of the 20th Century (listed by rank).[7]
When running for President in 2015/2016, Hillary Clinton's campaign sold T-shirts stating "women's rights are human rights" at her campaign store, in reference to her speech.[8] The campaign also sold a bag that featured the phrase "Human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights", which Hillary said in her speech; on the bag the phrase was shown in six languages.[9] As well, the campaign sold a Tory Burch T-shirt featuring the phrase "women's rights are human rights..." in capital letters.[10] The campaign also created photo references and displays of items necessary for five Halloween costumes, including "'Women’s rights are human rights' Hillary".[11][12]
In Jennifer Lopez's 2016 music video for her song "Ain't Your Mama", a sample of Clinton giving part of her speech can be heard, specifically, "Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights, once and for all."[13][14]
Clinton took a similar position on LGBT rights in a 2011 speech to the United Nations on International Human Rights Day, declaring "[G]ay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights."[15]
References
- ^ Fester, Gertrude (1994). "Women's Rights Are Human Rights". Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity. 20: 76–79.
- ^ a b c Tyler, Patrick (September 6, 1995). "Hillary Clinton, In China, Details Abuse of Women". The New York Times.
- ^ Clinton, Hillary Rodham (1996). "Women's Rights Are Human Rights". Women's Studies Quarterly. 24 (1/2): 98–101.
- ^ a b Lemmon, Gayle Tzemach (March 6, 2011). "The Hillary Doctrine". Newsweek.
- ^ Healy, Patrick (December 26, 2007). "The Résumé Factor: Those 8 Years as First Lady". The New York Times.
- ^ Rucker, Philip (September 25, 2013). "Hillary Clinton to lead review of progress for women since 1995 Beijing conference". The Washington Post.
- ^ Michael E. Eidenmuller (2009-02-13). "Top 100 Speeches of the 20th Century by Rank". American Rhetoric. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
- ^ Apparel. "The Trailblazer Tee | Shop | Hillary for America Shop". Shop.hillaryclinton.com. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
- ^ Accessories. "Statement Bag | The Shop". Shop.hillaryclinton.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ^ "Tory Burch Tee | The Shop". Shop.hillaryclinton.com. 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
- ^ Singer, Paul (2015-01-21). "Hillary Clinton campaign sanctions official Halloween costume ideas | OnPolitics". Onpolitics.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
- ^ "Texts from Hillary and 4 other DIY Hillary Clinton costumes for Halloween | The Feed | Hillary for America". Hillaryclinton.com. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
- ^ Jennifer Lopez samples Hillary Clinton speech in new music video - NY Daily News
- ^ American Rhetoric: Hillary Rodham Clinton - United Nations 4th World Conference Speech ("Women's Rights are Human Rights")
- ^ Capehart, Jonathan (Dec 11, 2011). "Clinton's Geneva accord: 'Gay rights are human rights'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
