Into sexual slavery. Nadia is a survivor. She shares her story with World Leaders at the United Nations and beyond, she advocates for women who are still not free, still at risk and is still struggling. Wai wai nu is a pioneering peace builder in myanmar. Ethnic conflict continues in the nation and the formal Peace Process is at a standstill. On the western border, the minority are facing a textbook case of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the military. Wai wai nu uses her status as a former political prisoner to advocate for womens equality, and it justice and peace in myanmar. Lyse doucet is a canadian journalist covering conflict in some of the most challenging places. From syria to afghanistan and beyond, she has demonstrated a fearless commitment to telling the stories of those caught behind the front lines. Her reporting exposes the unique impact that conflict has on women and children and also the daring and vital work with are women are doing to build these. Build piece. Peace. They exemplify womens leadership in advancing human right, justice and peace. Today, Georgetown University is honoring these brave women. [applause] melanne good morning, everyone. Welcome to this awards program to honor extraordinary leadership in advancing women in peace and security. I want to give a very special welcome to our remarkable honorees and to their relatives and friends who have traveled here to be with them. I also want to welcome the members of our diplomatic corps, ambassadors from finland, kosovo, the netherlands, sweden, albania as well as officials at the canadian and british embassies. Georgetown has always recognized our obligation to engage with the pressing challenges of our time. And to seek ways to contribute to the flourishing of our global community. As our president has observed, there are many approaches to the complex work of building sustainable peace or realizing the full development of our diverse society. Yet one theme emerges, the importance that women are full participants and valued leaders in global affairs. And that is the focus of our coming together this morning. In december of 2011, then secretary of state Hillary Clinton came to georgetown to launch the u. S. National action plan on women, peace and security. On that occasion, the president of the University Also announced the creation of the Georgetown Institute for women, peace and security. It would pioneer Innovative Research and scholarship, that is evidencebased. Work to bridge theory and practice, and bring together Global Leaders to advance womens participation in peace and security. As the secretary said at that time, whether it is ending conflict, managing a transition , or building a country, the world cannot afford to continue to ignore half the population. This is not a womens issue. It cuts to the heart of our National Security and the security of people everywhere. The institute recently released a new global index on women, peace and security that was undertaken with our norwegian partners. The index for the first time ranks 153 countries on the status of womens inclusion, justice and security. We are thrilled that secretary clinton is back with us today. Over 20 years ago as first lady, she made a historic speech on behalf of the United States at the u. N. Conference on women that took place in beijing. She said then, that it is no longer acceptable to discuss womens rights as separate from human rights. And went on to pronounce words that would echo around the world. Womens rights are human rights, and human rights are womens rights. It was a key moment in the empowerment of women as womens rights were chiseled into international law. And it sparked a Worldwide Movement that continues to this day. Those years found her traveling to over 75 countries on behalf of progress for women and girls, speaking out for example against the treatment of afghan women, leading efforts to combat Human Trafficking, helping to support women in Northern Ireland who were involved in the Peace Process. And now she continues to champion these issues as the first elected woman senator of new york and then as secretary of state, she reminded us that womens issues are critical to National Security and elevated them as a central component of u. S. Foreign policy. And as you all know, in 2016 she became the first woman to run for president of the United States as a nominee of a Major Political party and won the popular vote. So please welcome [applause] please welcome the honorary founding chair of the Georgetown Institute for women, peace and security, secretary Hillary Rodham clinton. [applause] hillary hello. [applause] thank you. Hello, georgetown. It is great to be back here and i am delighted to join you for this awards ceremony once again. I want to thank melanne, who has been my partner, colleague and friend for decades now. Theres an old expression you probably heard. If you want something done, ask a busy woman. I have to say that is melanne summed up very well. The institute for women, peace and security is a testament to her vision as well as her sheer determination to make that vision a reality. I also want to thank president joya. He truly embodies the georgetown motto of men and women for others and his leadership about so many important matters but particularly this institute is absolutely extraordinary. You know, this university and this institute have flourished because so many people have seen its merits and have understood that it was filling a gap that many didnt even know existed. So i always am delighted to return to the hilltop and to sing the praises along with all of you of heroic women and men who have been been recognized over the years for their commitment to advancing women and peace and security. So be prepared to be humbled, inspired and energized. They are particularly relevant this year, when the steady drumbeat of women speaking out about their own experiences has never been stronger. I think this is a watershed moment. And a powerful reminder of how important it is to make sure that women have a place at any table where decisions are made from the c suite to media to government to the peace table everywhere. We can all do a better job of making this a priority every day. And as americans, standing up for human rights and against injustice around the world is vital. I would argue it is part of the american dna. It is also, however, important to be clear eyed about the challenges we face in our own country. That is true whether we are grappling with endemic harassment and assault, threats to Womens Health and reproductive rights or pay disparities and other persistent inequities in our own economy. But no one should ever underestimate the power of women and girls, not only to improve their own lives, but to help lift up families, communities and entire nations. The extraordinary courage and resilience of women and girls in the face of vast inequity and injustice is humbling. Ive listened to girls as young as 12 argue forcefully and passionately against child marriage. Ive met activists who risk their own safety to speak out against honor killings. Ive held the hands of women and tiny little girls who lived through unimaginable horrors, and emerged determined not to be destroyed by what was done to them, but to do everything they could to prevent others from facing and enduring what they had. Through it all, i have seen that women are not only victims of war and conflict, but they are agents of change, makers of peace, and drivers of progress. That was truly the belief behind the creation of the Georgetown Institute for women and peace and security, the first of its kind in the world, back in 2011. We came together to declare that the issue of womens full participation in peace and security could no longer be relegated to the margins of international affairs. And in the years that followed, the institute has gathered the data to support what we knew in our hearts, that encouraging womens participation is strategic and necessary to peace, prosperity and security. The tradition of women standing up for human rights and democracy stretches across centuries and continents. From the british suffragettes who fought for and won the right to vote 100 years ago tomorrow, before we did, to the women around the world who are at the forefront of taking on urgent global threats, like Climate Change and violent extremism, to todays honorees. There is nadia murad, an activist working to bring isis to justice while helping survivors of genocide and Human Trafficking heal and rebuild their lives and their communities. Nadias work is close to my heart because for decades, we have tried to take on the global scourge of Human Trafficking. I started working on it as first lady, as a senator, and as secretary of state. In fact, it was 20 years ago this march that with the help of your professor, secretary of state madeleine albright, we worked with the Clinton Administration to help change the way that america saw this issue. To recognize Human Trafficking for what it is, not a cultural artifact, not collateral, but a crime that deserves to be prosecuted. When we first took on this issue , we addressed what we called the three ps. During my time as secretary of state we had a partnership. Added partnership. We brought together ngos, governments and the private sector to fight together against Human Trafficking and forced labor. And because we know that this is not an issue that affects only the farflung corners of the world, we made sure that for the first time, the 2010 trafficking in persons report included data on Human Trafficking here in the United States. This is not just someone elses problem. This is all of our problem. Our second honoree, wei wei nu is a human rights activist and democracy activist in myanmar. She spent years as a political prisoner under the Burmese Military government. One of the horrors of her imprisonment was being cut off from everything that was going on in her society. So, out of that experience she has worked to raise awareness and Mutual Understanding and improve human rights of the rohinga. As secretary of state, i introduced resolution 1888 to the Security Council of the United Nations, it was months after visiting with survivors of mass rape and brutality in the democratic of the congo. We wanted to bring together the International Community to expand our commitment to combating Sexual Violence in conflict zones that we created the First National action plan on women, peace and security to do just that. It was gratifying to see the Congress Pass a law to codify that National Plan just last year and i look forward to seeing our government implement it. In recent years, the evidence has only grown to support the fact that Sexual Violence in conflict is both a gross human rights violation and a security challenge. It fuels displacement, weakens governance, destabilizes societies. It inhibits postconflict resolution and imperils the longterm stability of countries. Clearly, we still have a urgent work to do. Just last fall, the current u. N. Special representative on Sexual Violence in conflict traveled to where hundreds of thousands have fled to escape the crisis in myanmar. She reported that every single woman she met had either witnessed or endured brutal sexual assault. The stories of the atrocities being committed against these women and girls, some very young girls, should horrify each and every one of us and more than that, should spear all of us to action. This is not a partisan issue in this time of such great partisanship. In fact, its not even a womens issue. It should be an issue that goes to the very heart of who we are as human beings, to our common humanity. Our third honoree, lyse doucet, is a reporter who has worked to shine a light on the experiences of women and children in conflict, telling the stories that are too often overlooked. She has reported from some of the most important and dangerous areas in the world and done so with courage, compassion, and clarity. Good reporting is not only compelling and and lightning, it is absolutely essential. I still believe in truth, evidence, facts. There is no such thing as alternative reality and we have to make sure we do not try to live in it or let anybody else push us to live in it either. [applause] at a time when expertise, truth, and facts are under siege, the work of journalists like lyse is particularly crucial. It is easy to be overwhelmed by all that is going on in the world and on the worlds stage and here at home. I know that. I get overwhelmed at least a dozen times a day. I have spent the last year traveling the country, meeting people at signings for my book and other events, listening to what is on their minds, and i have been asked more times than i can count, what can we do . One answer is clear, advancing the rights, opportunities, and full participation of women and girls is the great Unfinished Business of the 21st century. I intend to keep fighting to pursue this agenda and remain on the front lines of democracy. The most important question for everyone here is what can you do . What will you decide to make your mission, your purpose, your passion, to use your education, your mind, your resolve to make our world a better place . In particular, what can you do to make sure the lives of women and girls is never again relegated to the backstage somewhere, seen as frivolous or a luxury that we cannot afford because of all the other important matters that are facing us. I think the stories of todays honoree are proof of what is possible. When we refused to give in or let our voices be silenced, it is hard to continue to speak up, speak out, stand up against what you think of as obvious wrongs, but do not grow weary, bring a sustained commitment, think of these honorees, dont get discouraged. Draw hope and inspiration from each of them and leave here today with a renewed commitment to making your own mark on the world. I know that is what we need more than ever and i am very confident that this university, the students, and all of you here today can really make a difference. Thank you all, very much. [applause] thank you so much, secretary clinton, for your inspiring words and for your ongoing commitment on these issues. It is now time for our honorees. Imagine you are 19 years old, as probably some of you are, you are going to school, you have aspirations for your future. However, one day, terrorists come and subject you, and your entire family to unspeakable horrors. That is what happened to nadia when the Islamic State raided her village and rounded up a kurdish minority. Isis killed many members of nadias family and then abducted her. Thousands of men, women, and children were massacred or kidnapped by isis and hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the violence against their religious community. The women have faced additional abuse, the abuse of sexual torture at the hands of their captors. Many were sold into sexual slavery at slave markets. Nadia is a survivor. She was one of the fortunate who managed to escape her brutal captivity and has since devoted her life to being a voice for those left behind. She said it never gets any easier to tell her story. Each time, she said, she relives it. She added it is the best weapon she has against terrorism and she plans on using her voice until the terrorists are put on trial. She has recently written a book about her experience entitled, the last girl my story of captivity and my fight against the Islamic State. I hope you will all buy it. She has joined forces with amal clooney to insist that the International Community bring the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity the justice. She has also founded an organization, nadias initiative, to help women in marginalized groups to have a role in stabilizing and rebuilding their communities. In 2016, the United Nations named her the first goodwill ambassador for the dignity of survivors of Human Trafficking. She has experienced, in her life, unimaginable brutality, yet, despite that pain and suffering, she is determined to ensure justice for her people and she truly wants to be the last girl in the world with a story like hers. As has been said of her, nadias resilience and dignity are the most powerful rejection of what isis stands for. Now for the citation. For her powerful efforts to advocate for her people, urging that isis terrorist who perpetrated the atrocities committed against them are brought to justice, for helping survivors by bringing their voices to the world and working to break the stigma of Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking that continues their nightmare. And for her determination to make it possible that other girls never have to endure the experiences she faced, georgetown is proud to present the 2018 Hillary Clinton award for dancing women in peace and security to nadia. [applause] during her seven years in prison, she learned from other processor