Tweet
Hilary's Fight for Freedom -- Her Crucial Legacy
The Huffington Post
03/01/2013
By Frank Vogl
No U.S. secretary of state devoted as much energy, time and
determination to encourage non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in
many difficult and dangerous parts of the world to speak truth to
power. Her actions in support of human rights, the building of
democracy, the strengthening of the rule of law, and opposition to
government-driven corruption, were remarkable.
As her successor, John Kerry, now starts traveling the world -- this
week sees his first overseas trip to Europe -- it is vital that he
continue to voice unequivocal support for the increasingly besieged
NGOs in a rising number of countries.
Right now we are seeing authoritarian governments react harshly to the
successes that civil society are registering in organizing mass public
protests and promoting their causes. Accordingly, activists are
confronting increasing barriers to their operational activity, curbs
on their ability to undertake advocacy, restrictions on their ability
to build contacts and communicate widely, and mounting difficulties in
organizing meetings and public demonstrations. From Russia to Sri
Lanka, the activists for freedom and against governmental abuse of
office are under mounting attack.
Kerry needs to learn from Hilary's example. To illustrate -- on July
5, 2010, at a meeting with civil society leaders in Yerevan, Armenia,
Clinton declared: "Democracy requires not just elections, but open
dialogue, a free exchange of ideas, government transparency and
accountability, and above all, an empowered citizenry, who constantly
work together to make their country fairer, juster, healthier, and
freer."
Tirelessly, Mrs. Clinton toured the developing world and Eastern and
Central Europe to encourage civil society activists to speak truth to
power and pledge U.S. support for their pro-democracy, human rights,
anti-corruption agendas. She recognized that government threats
against these non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and restrictions
on their activities were rising as a direct result of the success of
so many of the campaigns.
The former secretary of state's contribution in support of NGOs
deserves to be recognized as one of her outstanding accomplishments in
office. It provided enormous encouragement to activists in many
countries where they are threatened on a daily basis. Her tireless
efforts, often to the considerable discomfort of her government hosts
overseas, improved the standing of the United States in much of the
world.
She spoke passionately. For example, at an international conference in
Poland in early July 2010, she recalled the heroes of the Solidarity
Movement in the 1980s, and then she said:
"Over the last six years, 50 governments have issued new restrictions
against NGOs, and the list of countries where civil society faces
resistance is growing longer. In Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, physical violence directed against individual activists has
been used to intimidate and silence entire sectors of civil
society. Last year, Ethiopia imposed a series of strict new rules on
NGOs. Very few groups have been able to re-register under this new
framework, particularly organizations working on sensitive issues like
human rights. The Middle East and North Africa are home to a diverse
collection of civil society groups. But too many governments in the
region still resort to intimidation, questionable legal practices,
restrictions on NGO registration, efforts to silence bloggers."
But Mrs. Clinton then said:
"It is our responsibility to address this crisis. Some of the
countries engaging in these behaviors still claim to be democracies
because they have elections. But, as I have said before, democracy
requires far more than an election. It has to be a 365-day-a-year
commitment, by government and citizens alike, to live up to the
fundamental values of democracy, and accept the responsibilities of
self-government. Democracies don't fear their own people. They
recognize that citizens must be free to come together to advocate and
agitate, to remind those entrusted with governance that they derive
their authority from the governed. Restrictions on these rights only
demonstrate the fear of illegitimate rulers, the cowardice of those
who deny their citizens the protections they deserve. An attack on
civic activism and civil society is an attack on democracy."
The secretary announced the creation of a special fund to help to
protect embattled NGOs, adding:
"For the United States, supporting civil society groups is a critical
part of our work to advance democracy. But it's not the only part. Our
national security strategy reaffirms that democratic values are a
cornerstone of our foreign policy. Over time, as President Obama has
said, America's values have been our best national security asset.
Hilary Clinton's activities in this area will form a central part of
her legacy in public office. Her efforts have helped to encourage many
NGOs, who despite the tightening vice of governmental threats and
restrictions, continue to wage their increasingly effective
campaigns. Many of them are deeply grateful for the explicit
encouragement that they received in recent times from government of
the United States."
Frank Vogl is the Author of 'Waging War on Corruption - Inside the
Movement Fighting the Abuse of Power'
From: Baghdasarian
The Huffington Post
03/01/2013
By Frank Vogl
No U.S. secretary of state devoted as much energy, time and
determination to encourage non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in
many difficult and dangerous parts of the world to speak truth to
power. Her actions in support of human rights, the building of
democracy, the strengthening of the rule of law, and opposition to
government-driven corruption, were remarkable.
As her successor, John Kerry, now starts traveling the world -- this
week sees his first overseas trip to Europe -- it is vital that he
continue to voice unequivocal support for the increasingly besieged
NGOs in a rising number of countries.
Right now we are seeing authoritarian governments react harshly to the
successes that civil society are registering in organizing mass public
protests and promoting their causes. Accordingly, activists are
confronting increasing barriers to their operational activity, curbs
on their ability to undertake advocacy, restrictions on their ability
to build contacts and communicate widely, and mounting difficulties in
organizing meetings and public demonstrations. From Russia to Sri
Lanka, the activists for freedom and against governmental abuse of
office are under mounting attack.
Kerry needs to learn from Hilary's example. To illustrate -- on July
5, 2010, at a meeting with civil society leaders in Yerevan, Armenia,
Clinton declared: "Democracy requires not just elections, but open
dialogue, a free exchange of ideas, government transparency and
accountability, and above all, an empowered citizenry, who constantly
work together to make their country fairer, juster, healthier, and
freer."
Tirelessly, Mrs. Clinton toured the developing world and Eastern and
Central Europe to encourage civil society activists to speak truth to
power and pledge U.S. support for their pro-democracy, human rights,
anti-corruption agendas. She recognized that government threats
against these non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and restrictions
on their activities were rising as a direct result of the success of
so many of the campaigns.
The former secretary of state's contribution in support of NGOs
deserves to be recognized as one of her outstanding accomplishments in
office. It provided enormous encouragement to activists in many
countries where they are threatened on a daily basis. Her tireless
efforts, often to the considerable discomfort of her government hosts
overseas, improved the standing of the United States in much of the
world.
She spoke passionately. For example, at an international conference in
Poland in early July 2010, she recalled the heroes of the Solidarity
Movement in the 1980s, and then she said:
"Over the last six years, 50 governments have issued new restrictions
against NGOs, and the list of countries where civil society faces
resistance is growing longer. In Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, physical violence directed against individual activists has
been used to intimidate and silence entire sectors of civil
society. Last year, Ethiopia imposed a series of strict new rules on
NGOs. Very few groups have been able to re-register under this new
framework, particularly organizations working on sensitive issues like
human rights. The Middle East and North Africa are home to a diverse
collection of civil society groups. But too many governments in the
region still resort to intimidation, questionable legal practices,
restrictions on NGO registration, efforts to silence bloggers."
But Mrs. Clinton then said:
"It is our responsibility to address this crisis. Some of the
countries engaging in these behaviors still claim to be democracies
because they have elections. But, as I have said before, democracy
requires far more than an election. It has to be a 365-day-a-year
commitment, by government and citizens alike, to live up to the
fundamental values of democracy, and accept the responsibilities of
self-government. Democracies don't fear their own people. They
recognize that citizens must be free to come together to advocate and
agitate, to remind those entrusted with governance that they derive
their authority from the governed. Restrictions on these rights only
demonstrate the fear of illegitimate rulers, the cowardice of those
who deny their citizens the protections they deserve. An attack on
civic activism and civil society is an attack on democracy."
The secretary announced the creation of a special fund to help to
protect embattled NGOs, adding:
"For the United States, supporting civil society groups is a critical
part of our work to advance democracy. But it's not the only part. Our
national security strategy reaffirms that democratic values are a
cornerstone of our foreign policy. Over time, as President Obama has
said, America's values have been our best national security asset.
Hilary Clinton's activities in this area will form a central part of
her legacy in public office. Her efforts have helped to encourage many
NGOs, who despite the tightening vice of governmental threats and
restrictions, continue to wage their increasingly effective
campaigns. Many of them are deeply grateful for the explicit
encouragement that they received in recent times from government of
the United States."
Frank Vogl is the Author of 'Waging War on Corruption - Inside the
Movement Fighting the Abuse of Power'
From: Baghdasarian