Hillary Clinton’s 1995 Assertion: ‘Women’s Rights Are Human Rights’ – Chelsea Clinton Voices Concern Over Regression.

The Clinton Global Initiative included gender equity as a fundamental aspect of its nonprofit mission to raise awareness about the growing hardships faced by women and girls. Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, conveyed this message during an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The conference, which concluded on Tuesday evening, tackled a range of urgent global concerns. These ranged from food insecurity, described by Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, as a state of “desperation,” to addressing climate change. During the event, there were 160 new financial pledges announced, potentially amounting to billions of dollars in fresh funding.

“Regardless of the specific problem at hand, it’s interlinked with women’s experiences and often impacts them more significantly,” expressed Chelsea Clinton. She emphasized the need to prioritize women when formulating our collective response to these issues.

She drew parallels with the well-known statement, “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights,” originally articulated by then First Lady Hillary Clinton during her address at the United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. However, Chelsea Clinton noted that despite advancements in gender equality since then, there has been stagnation in certain areas and regression in others.

“I believe it’s crucial to recognize all these aspects,” she remarked. “We must safeguard the strides we’ve achieved and continue to strive for further progress.”

This principle also extends to Ukraine. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton introduced the CGI Ukraine Action Network, a commitment to maintaining a concerted global spotlight on Ukraine and fostering new commitments to drive positive change.

CGI unveiled a variety of fresh initiatives for Ukraine, including actor Orlando Bloom’s initiative to generate $20 million to supply 50,000 students with brand-new laptops. Additionally, So-Light Design committed to delivering 30,000 SoLights, independent solar-powered lighting devices, to individuals in Ukraine facing intermittent electricity access.

“We are committed to standing by Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and the cause of democracy worldwide for the long term,” affirmed Hillary Clinton. “Their struggle is our struggle, and don’t allow anyone to suggest otherwise.”

In addition, she bestowed this year’s Clinton Global Citizen Award upon Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, in recognition of her “exceptional leadership in the face of unimaginable challenges and unwavering advocacy for peace, as well as her tireless support for her resilient nation.”

Zelenska, who collaborated with Hillary Clinton over the past year to formulate the Ukraine Action Network, received the award on behalf of all Ukrainians. She acknowledged their enduring resilience in the midst of Russian aggression, saying, “All of them are my fellow citizens, and I appreciate their strength.” She added, “A leader is someone who steps forward to provide assistance, who supports those in need. I extend my gratitude to the American people, their friends, and families for exemplifying such leadership.”

Cindy McCain turned to CGI in search of like-minded leaders who could assist in tackling the escalating issue of food insecurity.

Speaking to former President Bill Clinton, she conveyed the urgency of the situation from the World Food Programme’s viewpoint, stating, “The world is in a state of crisis. This is not a matter to be taken lightly… We are confronted with hundreds of millions of people who are uncertain about where their next meal will come from.”

McCain expressed concern that recent disasters in Africa could lead to chaos in the region due to a lack of food. She shared, “For the first time in this role, I am genuinely fearful about what lies ahead.”

Chef Jose Andres, the founder of World Central Kitchen, echoed McCain’s perspective, emphasizing that food insecurity should be viewed as a matter of national security. He pointed out that the conflict in Ukraine is not just about preserving freedom but also about ensuring the world’s access to food, as Ukraine typically provides sustenance for approximately 500 million people annually.

Andres expressed his pride in being a part of the Ukraine Action Network, contributing through World Central Kitchen to offer assistance during these challenging times.

He shared with The Associated Press, “For nearly the last two years, I have dedicated a significant amount of my time in Ukraine and worked closely with the Ukrainian team at World Central Kitchen.” He continued, “Since the invasion of Ukraine commenced, WCK has distributed more than 240 million meals. This has been made possible through the coordination of local cooks, community leaders, and volunteer groups, ensuring food is delivered precisely when, where, and in the manner it’s most needed. Our approach involves identifying and addressing gaps in collaboration with the Ukrainian people themselves – it’s Ukrainians helping Ukrainians. We continuously adjust our efforts to meet the evolving demands.”

Chelsea Clinton emphasized that the addition of the gender equity pillar and the establishment of the Ukraine Action Network offer a framework for extending CGI’s efforts, enabling it to operate with greater efficiency.

She stated, “This endeavor must possess both cohesion and a bold, ambitious vision, while also maintaining explicit, measurable objectives to ensure accountability. This approach ensures that we have a precise understanding of our objectives and the direction in which we are steering our efforts.”