Stands adjourned until 12 00 p. M. On tuesday, now back to live coverage of the Award Ceremony with Hillary Clinton. Everywhere she has spoken out in the strongest terms against the scourge of human rights abuses from the civilian deaths in syria to the human rights crises in venezuela and north korea. To the treatment of Migrant Children at the us border and the persecution of people in myanmar and so many other abuses, and most recently she declared Climate Change a growing extremely serious threat to human rights. As she has rightly said we can only attain peace, security and Sustainable Development for all societies when we advance the dignity and equality of all human beings now for the citation, for her leadership and humanity and dedication. For being a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for victims of Human Rights Violations around the world and recognizing the rights of women, half the population of this world too often marginalized and on the outskirts of opportunity, georgetown is proud to present the award for advancing peace and security to the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. [applause] secretary clinton, friends, it is a great honor for me to accept this award which bears the name of a woman whose compelling and established example continues to inspire many women and men around the world. Womens leadership is vital to advancing the human rights of all of us and that leadership takes many forms from institutions of government to social and political activism, the community and the workplace to the arts. From 16yearold Greta Thunberg to someone who is at a more advanced stage. During my presidency, i developed a concept and people as young as me would like it. I believe it is a matter of taking care, not to be indifferent, to have passion for things and that is a definite advantage that increased and mary can be good example of that. I was saying, and to prevent Climate Change. When a political agreement was signed last month to enable transition to democracy, young women have been at the forefront of progress and the title of the queen of ancient new bl women are mobilizing again as they always have, in every movement for Human Dignity and equality, i am inspired by women and activists, should not be so arduous a challenge. Womens equality and rights are guaranteed under International Law but the struggle to achieve this elementary justice, this very basic fairness of equal opportunity is far from over. In reality women continue to be much poorer than men. They have fewer opportunities, access to basic Services Like education and laws necessary to make their own choices and raise their voice. It is deeply troubling to see that instead of moving forward, some lobbyists are pushing back on womens rights. There is important pushback on human rights as a whole but particularly womens rights. There seems to be a renewed obsession with controlling and limiting womens decision over their bodies. Weve got to come together to end this injustice, to hold firm and advanced because this is for all of us. Indian discrimination against women and girls will generate tremendous Development Gains because womens participation in policymaking will shape the secure society. And it is well past time. And for the quality of every human being. Thank you, hillary, for providing progress. Thank you. I humbly accept this award on behalf of the women of the world, those who stand up every day for equality and human rights, thank you very much. [applause] [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] [applause] Martha Velasquez is on the front lines working to address the unrelenting violence and assault on human rights in the northern triangle of Central America. She works in honduras, one of the most dangerous cities in the world, gaining violence and Drug Trafficking infiltrate all aspects of life. Impunity is unchecked and the toll on women is staggering. Since 1992 martha and her organization have been supporting the women of shalom a. Martha began organizing women when she was 23. After attending a meeting in the honduran capital where she learned of womens legal rights she decided she needed to return home to create an organization Whose Mission would be to empower women, to teach them their rights and help them to overcome the violence in their everyday lives. She faced enormous opposition from the men in the community and the women told her it was too dangerous to do what she wanted to do but despite the concerns, she was with a small group of other women, the organization quickly evolved into a movement enabling women to empower themselves against some of the worst Human Rights Violations. Half the women in honduras are killed by drug cartels and gangs and their methods are among the most brutal imaginable. In 2017, 41 of women and girls killed in honduras show signs of torture, mutilation, disfigurement and cruelty beyond what was needed to kill them. Today, First Response and longterm support, some have survived machete strikes and gunshots. Many find themselves homeless. Women are often killed, assaulted and robbed, returning home from work at night. The Center Provides emotional, psychological, and Legal Support and with legal Government Protection against the violence, the women have mediated community conflicts, went to stop violence and brought perpetrators to the police and they work with Law Enforcement and judges and fight for reform. They collected 50,000 signatures to push the Honduran Congress to adopt a Domestic Violence law. They lobbied for funding for a bridge over a dangerous freeway and for part of water and kindergarten. Today, there are almost 700 members. Women no longer see themselves as victims but as agents for change and at 70 years plus is going strong. And despite dangerous environment in which she and her fellow citizens live. For her courage on enormous personal risk and instilling courage to stand up to violence and demand justice for the community of support for victims of violence and enabling them to recover. In 2019, Hillary Clinton award for advancing women and peace and security. [applause] el salvador injured decades of civil conflicts with extremely violent gangs, a beacon of hope amidst the deadly conflict. She was born shortly after the 1975 student massacre when dozens were killed and injured in a protest. They were protesting the closing of their university and widespread Government Military action. Her parents were human rights defenders. Her father was murdered for his activism. Her mother was tortured when she was pregnant with rosa. El salvador was ravaged by civil war and violent repression for more than a decade. 70,000 civilians were killed. And oscar romero. As a teenager she returned home to el salvador to a generation that had never experienced peace. She began working in prisons with young men as she tried to understand why her country, even after a Peace Agreement, could not overcome a persistent state of war and violence. She gradually came to see that the perpetrators of violence were also victims of violence. She believed that to promote human rights and peace, one must defend all people, including those who caused harm. She began her pioneering efforts at restorative justice, and the promotion of reconciliation as a critical step to healing a society. Today, roeser is the program coordinator, of second chances, an initiative of Catholic Relief Services to rehabilitate inmates in prison, to prepare them to return to society and the workforce. She and her team support prisoners with cognitive behavioral therapy, with workshops to deconstruct toxic masculinity, and provide tools to negotiate and resolve conflict. The Program Helps the inmates to become promoters of peace. She also works with young men in their communities to help them find alternatives to joining gangs and to provide them skills the country needs. She has a dream, that one day the prisons will turn into schools and peace will prevail. And now for the citation. For working to address the root causes of violence through interventions with prisoners, to shift norms from violence to peace, for working to change the lives of the vulnerable and provide them with skills and a path to a better future, and for acting on the belief that every human being matters, that human rights matter and that a peaceful and just future for el salvador is truly possible. For all of this, georgetown is proud to present the Hillary Clintons award for a dancing women, peace, and security tularosa anaya. To rosa. [cheers and applause] congratulations. [applause] were going to have a chance now for you to hear a little bit from secretary clinton and the awardees through some questions we have and then some student questions as well. Commissioner, you have spoken out countless times against the dire human rights crises around the world. From the rohingya in myanmar to what is happening to the syrians in their own country. And most recently you said that Climate Change is going to be the worst human rights violation the world has ever seen because of the potential of its scope if we dont act now. So with all of this happening and with the responsibilities that you have in your position, how do you deal with these crises . Are there some that take priority over others . But where do you gain hope that we can make progress on these issues . I thought you couldnt ask me you accept the job . [laughing] ive always talking about that. The truth is with living in a very conflict and a think secretary clinton mentioned it very clear in remarks. We see see a push back on human rights because of all, if i would say, leaders who dont believe that multilateralism is important, the believe that every country can solve the problems either own. Anja anja mentioned many challenges there are. Would talk about Climate Change, talking about migration, whether were talking about we saw with the ebola disease in some countries. We could go on and on and on, and all the challenges human kind is facing today is not challenges can be solved by one coachable. What to do . On when in we have seen, if i would say, in the heart of many of the Human Rights Violations, d. C. Inequality. When you see conflicts, you go to some countries and you see that in many african countries, 70 of the population is under 30 or 35 , but on the other hand, 70 are unemployed. So people without hope, without opportunity, and then come these groups, you know, different kinds groups that are armed. They proposed them the weapon power, money, the future. Sometimes religious, the idea as well. I didnt get lots of young people going into this. It is linked to poverty, inequality. In some places people live there but Climate Change has produce huge droughts, and flooding and all the ocean levels have risen and have to leave their coastal villages. They are either internally displaced, either migrate, have to migrate like to other places. So why i mentioned this . Because its not only Climate Change itself will produce a lot of effect but also this sort of intersectional reality, that all combined is like the worst perfect storm. So we see poverty in security like weve in Central America but also Climate Change. What ive been told as many of the viruses, that produce less protection, many people been left unemployed. Climate change we produce all those things and people will be, not will be, probably are right now dealing with many things. We will have casualties. What is going on today, for example, the sahel region in africa is you see fight between herders and people who work the farms if i may say. They are fighting because theres not enough land and theres a water and theyre killing themselves. Not that they are arguing. Theyre killing themselves. Every time theres a conflict, were talking among committees, not armed groups and use 200 people killed. Having terrible effects. But if this doesnt, we cannot stop this from happening, it can only get worse in terms of Food Security come in terms of livelihoods and in terms of peace and security. And i think that we need thats what i think, so frustrated and so angry, if it may say. They were angry with us, the old people. And i think, but i think its good to see that young people are losing. That is a lot of things, bottoms up the going on and my colleagues here, they are from grassroots so we need that. We need leaders to take action but when Newt Gingrich to take action because at the end, Climate Change, we all need to be part of the solution because it will also depend on how we change conception and that will mean production can change his will. We all need to work very strong on that. Thats what that Climate Change is one of the biggest risk. I did a lot of things in this because i really understood that this is a terrible plan for all of us. I really believe that we still can do things to stop it. [applause] you really put this in perspective and i remember when Mary Robinson and and i had the privilege to be with you when you were president recently, the most recent presidency, and we went out to meet with some of the grassroots, chilean women who are trying already to deal with the fact that the land was drying up. They did know how they were going to be productive farmers, and what the potential was. And its one of the reasons with the institute are really looking at this issue and trying to put a sense of urgency under it. Because women are doing this hard work, as well as men and others, the young people. But the reality is, it is leading increasingly to potential conflict and enormous displacement. And i dont think we have a sense, and thank you for saying what you said about the gravity of the situation. So rosa, as you know, we in the United States have seen, read about, heard, have been threatened over the fact that there are many refugees and asylumseekers coming to the United States border. Driven from your country as well as other countries in Central America. And, unfortunately, this is often a source of great political antagonism. What would you like the American People to know about the situation in your country . What its undergoing, so that we can understand why this is happening . Four minutes . We will let you go longer. Well, first of all, i would really like to thank everybody here, incredible women right next to me. Its an honor to be next to all of you because i think that i do believe that we will change in this world if we truly give the opportunity to women to create a space that we have seen can be different. I think that one of the most important things that i i would like people to understand is that, like i said in the video, we dont choose to leave the conditions are terrible in some of the places, and migration, you know, its a right. And asylum is a protected right but International Law. And i wouldnt be telling you this story. I wouldnt be a by two today if the solidarity of the people of the United States and various points in my life would not have saved, literally saved us from being killed. And i do the work i do because i was able to be protected, if you will, from hatred, from vengeance, from thinking that there was no hope because i experienced that solidarity myself. It is very hard people sometimes to understand that in el salvador in many countries in the world, we are all just really hard trying to make a better world. Because this is the only planet that we have. And you know, at some point people were asking me, why do you do the work you do . I was kind of, i do it for my children, yes, but then my oldest daughter, the night before i was coming here, she told me something that made me realize that, you know what, i dont get i do this for this generation, for my generation, to prove that we will be better, you know, shes angry and i agree with her but i also think that in every one of us there is, there will be at some point, we need to find a solution. We can focus on the problem or we can start to be creative. And this, human beings, we are just incredible in being creative in what we do. So migration is, will not stop with hard and policies or zero tolerance policies. Migration will only be stopped if we create the opportunities that we deserve in our own countries. The opportunity to choose whether we want to migrate or not. The right to dream a different place where we can live and be to have a tree in our backyard has become something so hard. And we cant allow that to continue to happen. [applause] so, tell us a little bit about the organization you founded and still continue to guide, combat this type of violence. What interventions have had the most impact in the work that you do in your community . And i know this is hard, what gives you the hope for tomorrow . [speaking in native tongue] [applause] translator good morning and thank you everyone. [speaking in native tongue] translator i i just wanted to start this one by thanking you for this award, this award that is devoted to all women and their work for peace. [speaking in native tongue] translator so your question to me was, what is it that we do from them moving. We work in many communities to organize women and to teach women about their rights, because even though we are in the First Century right now, women continue to face discrimination and we need to continue to fight for our rights and fight against the patriarchy to make sure that our rights become more visible. [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] translator each day when we awaken, we hear news of yet another woman who has been murdered. In choloma or i am from, is one of the most violent cities in all of honduras. And, unfortunately, after these events we are tasked with consoling the families of the victims. We try to provide them with therapy. We seek out psychologist to help them out as well as attorneys, because we want the perpetrators of this violence to be brought to justice. The truth is, in honduras, only 9 of murders are prosecuted. [speaking in native tongue] translator do i still have more time . [speaking in native tongue] translator just to give an example in terms of the Justice System that we have to deal with, we are currently working with four prosecutors and the Public Prosecution ministry. There were four women who denounced actions by the court needing prosecutor. The court needing prosecutor was involved in discrimination and harassment. So if you can imagine the Public Prosecution ministry is where we need to go seek justice. We are simple, grassroots workers, and yet the very employees of that Public Prosecution ministry are the ones often violating the rights of the women whose cases we have to bring to them. Well, i dont know how you treat each day, but we are grateful that do and make such a difference. [applause] secretary clinton, you had mentioned the situation of women in afghanistan in your remarks. And we have a question from matthew from the school of Foreign Service. Hes a graduate student. He asked the following question. The United States has been engaged in negotiations to withdraw from afghanistan. While progress has been stalled, it seems inevitable that we are headed toward a world in which the taliban would be a legitimate political actor in the future. How can the United States prepare to leave afghanistan in a way that preserves the hardwon gains on womens rights, particularly in education . Well, thanks for the question. Because its something that we should all give some thought to. We have been involved, as you all know so well, for a very long time. And as the president pointed out, i am one of the honorary cochairs of Georgetown Program on behalf of afghan, women, along with laura bush. And i would make just three points. First, there is an election in afghanistan that starting today, and it is under tremendous threat from the taliban, threatening people not to vote, trying to continue delegitimize the government of the country. Im hoping that the election continues and concludes and the outcome will create support for the new government. Because at the end of the day one of the problems that we face going back to two administrati, before this one, is the refusal of the taliban to negotiate with the government of afghanistan. Originally it was because the government had been installed by the International Community, which was the only option since it was impossible to do otherwise at the time. But since then there have been elections, not perfect, but you know we have experienced ourselves with not perfect elections. [laughing] i think the fact is they were judged to be free and fair, even with all their flaws. So governments were installed. But the taliban refused to negotiate with the recognize government. That makes it really hard to create the conditions for any kind of lasting peace and security. I do not agree with the recent effort undertaken by the current administration, which was to reach an agreement with the taliban and then basically to tell the government of afghanistan, heres the agreement. It fell apart for both legitimate and crazy reasons, and so everybody is kind back at it. Like heres the challenge for the United States, is if we cannot help to facilitate a legitimate Peace Agreement, and its not unusual for armed groups to join you governments, so long as they forswear the use of arms come so long as they say we are transforming ourselves from an insurgency, a guerrilla operation, a Militia Company into a Political Party and we will compete on those grounds. The taliban has never been voting to make that kind of commitment. That must be part of any ongoing peace negotiations, as must be the protection of human rights. Not only for women but for all afghan people. Because they gains which are often not covered or understood by the press here and around the world are significant. Women have been going to school. They have been starting businesses. They have been speaking out. They have been serving in the parliament, and so they gains from the end of the taliban period to today are significant. And i do not want to see the clock turned back on the entire country, and particularly on the women of afghanistan. So any kind of resumption of peace negotiations should be led whoever the new government is, the United States and the International Community should be facilitating that. Now, if the taliban refuses to participate, there has to be some effort to find whatever leverage we can to entice them to participate. Because here is their problem. Their problem is that they are now starting to compete for land and power with isis, with other kinds of militia type groups. So there should be a way that patient, intelligent diplomacy, which i have seen and which i applaud, can begin to try to move the parties toward some resolution. And so, melanne, you have been a tremendous support and advocate for the afghan women. And yes, we want to end our combat role. We want to continue to support the afghan military, which is doing most of the fighting and dying by the way, and we want to create the best possible environment for there to be some kind of Peace Agreement that politicizes differences as opposed to weaponized differences. And we cannot walk away from the involvement of women here got a personally would like to see afghan women at any keys table for future negotiation. [applause] piece table. Commissioner bachelet can we have two student questions here that are similar in their questioning. School of Foreign Service, 23, asks what role do womens rights activists in developed countries have in the promotion of the rights of women in developing countries . And she asks, liking india or many of the countries in the middle east. And then another student, im sorry if i am butchering your name, college 23. What obstacles have you faced, are facing women are trying to make social change . And how would you suggest young women like those of us were interested in this area go about tackling human rights issues . Often those that impact women in a negative way, yet in an international, International Bodies that are still maledominated. Well, thank you for that question. I would say the first thing is that when i mentioned before human rights is having a pushback on the committees because you can imagine how difficult it is in any discussion negotiation resolution to include the word human rights. And weve seen just last week on the discussion resolution of universal health coverage, that some countries im not going to mention which country but you know it very well, did not want to include the possibility of sexual rights of womens rights and some other stuff. In terms of the provision of services. And also in a discussion a couple of months ago in the security council, on the resolution that was very good on gender violence come on conflict and women who were raped. The whole was completely impossible to include because theres vetoed by country that women who had been victims of genderbased violence and conflict, rape come should have access to sexual reproductive services. So were not talking women all over the world. Were talking about womens who are victims of violence, sexual violence. I would say we are leaving the situation, and you mentioned, hillary and melanne, next year, this year we have i can the discussion in the International Committee of the member state, have been very difficult. In many places when you think how we can move forward for human rights, the thing is were trying to montaigne what we have. Maintain. We want to not try to get backwards because maybe people, many Member States are pushing backwards. We really need you. We really need your voices, your organizations. We really need women and men, this is not a womens issue. Its everyones issue, to be standing up, to raise their voices come to organize, to support of the womens organizations. The first thing i was city and people, organize yourself, vote, elect good leaders. Thats the one thing everywhere is important. [applause] even dare you to be elected. We need young people. I mean, we need young people to be there to remind us to their thinking outofthebox, to giving you creative ideas, new forms of engaging more people. How can you support from developed countries, organizations of developing countries . Today i believe some tech comes, theres a lot of possibility of communicating all over the world. You dont need to go physically. You can provide, think of progress that can support either women in terms of the knowledge, the Capacity Building in terms of skills, on what the right are, like the women who are he with me. But also you can support the thing on your area women who want to make sort of an entrepreneurship or something. You can mentor, support, really build. I think when you have a pushback on womens rights, is not going to talk to the converted lines, to be among us but also, today theres a lot of human rights organizations, human rights defenders but they all needlework and if i become able to work on women and so on. And we need to make our voices be heard louder. With that we need to build stronger and if think you need in the u. S. To build strong constituencies. There been many meetings with ngos and they will say to me, how can we help you . They say how can you help us . Our rights in the areas and in many states, theres a lot of pushback. And i think of course you could be part of the International Community. You can participate in different activities. You can i would say produce some movements. Like the me too movement theres been everywhere. In latin america its committee on how you want to say. I think its a lot of Womens Networks but please get involved. Take contact with you. In india for example, is a lot of work done. And i think everything that you can do to support of the countries but on the other hand, support yourself here. You needed here, too. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] and were going to end with to my questions that have similar themes, derosa and martes. On days when mistakes are made, when things go wrong, what do you hold onto to know your value and the importance of the work you do . And then from kayla reeves, school of Foreign Service 23, how have you remained with strength, grace, and positive energy at a a time when the politics of division and so much else affects life . How would you advise us students to build resilience and maintain our commitments to our voices can make a difference . Thank you for those questions. So for me its very hard to do the work we do because you saw the pictures there, right . Were not working with the classic, you know, kid, poor kid that is in a very harsh situation. Us im sitting next to martes here who was really working with those women who have suffered the violence directly and who have been traumatized. So its very hard for me to talk about this publicly in the first place. But i have to remember all the peace that have to remember always that the day we bury my father my mom stood up in the church and said, her words were aggregated for the person who killed my father. He is right there in front of her in his coffin. So for me to remember all of us, that if we are to stop the cycle of violence, we need to start by modeling what that interruption means. And if it means for me to be hugging the person who killed my father, thats what im going to do. And that is literally what we are doing. It is very hard to do this because it takes time. Theres no magic in this. It takes a lot of respect for the victims. We have to be reminded how much it hurts. And i would like you to one of our biggest tools. Look at the person next to you. Look at the person next to you. Yeah. Tell that person big smile come first of all. Big smile. Right . Say thank you. For being the human being that might be ready to change the world. Tell them. Please do. Come on. Come on. Shake hands. Come on, shake hands. Its okay. Give them a hug if you are willing. Yes. You see what i just did right here . Ive done this with 800 members in front of me. Gang members i hear to tell you that we can change and rehabilitate people. I am here to tell you that violence needs to stop, but not based on impunity. Justice must be served, but justice is not vengeance. If we continue to think that doing vengeance we are going to have our justice, let me tell you that your liver is going to suffer quite a bit. I choose not to be eaten by hate. I choose every day to think about the person who was able to torture, to kill, and that every day today, might he doing the same thing. What have we done as a society . What have we done so wrong that our children are willing to go to a gang instead of coming back home . What is our problem in our society that we are not giving our kids the love that they need and deserve, that they think the better option to gain respect is a gang . It is not a gangs fault. That is on us. We have created the society by action or a nation. Everything that you do could either change the life of a person or it can just, you know, toss it to the end of the cliff. We need to make a conscious choice to be peace builders. Because violence often, violence chooses for us, and we have to choose not to continue down that path. Even, think about the person you hate the most. Do you have that person in your head . Oh, yeah. [laughing] oh, yeah. Would you be willing to forgive that person . [laughing] [applause] so the task is an easy one womens human rights are probably goes at first had to think that human rights are for those we hate the most, but we need to respect and we need to find Common Ground to build a different world. Thank you. [cheers and applause] so, martes, what does it take . [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] [applause] translator well, i think rosa already said it all, but what we really need to do is we need to spread and radiate happiness. We all have anger. We all have things were angry about and we have to get it out. But its only in loving ourselves and loving our bodies that we are able to then begin to see in others. And in doing that and starting with ourselves, we are able to visualize that in others. So without love our lives are very fast, and their fast paced and we all have things to do. Theres a lot going on. And so we are very focused on accumulating goods and hitting ahead. But without love, having those goods does nothing. Love is something that we feel ourselves and we feel for each other. Its something reciprocal, and thats the way to move on. [applause] so from our human rights activists, reconciliation, forgiveness, outreach, love. Maybe we, too, can create a better world. So lets thank them for the courage and leadership. [applause] [cheers and applause] so thank you all again for coming. It takes a village to make a day like this happen, and i just want to thank mary and jeff, especially hourly smith who was our coordinator writ large, and our fabulous on the students who helped us get to this day. So thank you all and everybody i didnt mention, and does come if i could just ask you remain in your seats until our guests leave, and then enjoy the day. Thank you all. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] but at the end of the day those Founding Fathers, they never realize they would be questioning bill clinton, george w. Bush, the first black president Barack Hussein obama, and they never imagine that donald trump would be there either. But i stand on those pillars that our Founding Fathers put in place. My story is your story. Like i said i was going to find everything why and how my daughter got killed, and it was all these leniency programs of these kids, like they had to frisk him before school, he was a dangerous. That i found out, they frisk him and he wasnt allowed in with a backpack. Thats a dangerous he was. He threatened to sue the school up but wasnt arrested. He threatened students lights, never arrested. And we were still debating about whether a 12th grade education is enough. Its obviously not enough, and all of the signs from the company at the labor market are that its not enough. Now unlike our predecessors were able to respond to that basic, those basic economic signs pressing okay, lets educate our young people, we are fighting about it and turn it into questions of identity and snobbery, and politics and partisanship when clearly theres just a sign that our young people need our support, need our help, need more education and credentials and skills in order to survive in the current economy. Watch booktv at the weekend on cspan2. A House Committee is looking into migrant detention facilities near the southern border. We will show you that hearing shortly but first the acting director of use immigration and Customs EnforcementMatthew Albence rate reported at the white house on migration at the southern border and sanctuary city policies