Security. We honor today for individuals who have demonstrated Fearless Leadership and an unwavering commitment to the common good in their efforts to promote peace and human rights in columbia appeared of their actions provided a model for each of us, seeking a more piece full and just world. It is a privilege to thank them for their service and their courageous work. We want to take a moment to recognize that the honorable Clinton Hillary rodham he will have the honor of introducing in just a few moments and our authorities. Awardees. We are deeply grateful for your presence with us today. Secretary clintons legacy of leadership and the promotion of womens rights and her distinguished career of public service, we recognize the significance of ensuring, in the words of secretary clinton, that human rights are womens rights, and womens rights are human rights. We have had the privilege [applause] we have had the privilege of welcoming secretary clinton to campus on many occasions. In december 2011, she joined us for the launch of the u. S. National action plan for women, peace and security. [applause] today she serves as the honorary founding chair of our institute for women, peace and security. In the years since its founding in 2013, the institute under the extraordinary leadership of the ambassador, has convened leaders, scholars and practitioners in dialogue. It has helped to forge and strengthen georgetowns collaboration with organizations engaged in this work. It has provided a framework for our students to gain the understanding and experience to develop Global Leaders committed to womens inclusion and has undertaken research to advance the broader dialogue on the role of women in conflict and in peace. The work of this institute has a residence with our identity, deepening our commitment to social justice and advancing our efforts to prepare young women and men to address the local and global challenges that threaten peace, security and the quality. Securityy and and equality. It is an honor to present the Hillary Rodham clinton awards for advancing women in peace and security. In past years, we have presented the awards to his excellency, mustra, the u. S. Special envoy to syria, the first woman chief negotiator of a successful Peace Process, the very honorable william hague, foreign minister to the United Kingdom who brought to light the prevalence of Sexual Violence in conflict, and a surgeon that worked tirelessly with women victims of violence in the democratic republic of congo. And the secretary general of nato. This year, we are again honored to present the awards to four individuals whose abiding courage and exemplary determination played a pivotal role in securing peace in a country devastated by a halfcentury of war. Secretary clinton will share more about their efforts in a moment. Before she does, i want to introduce her. As many of you know, she has championed the rights and role of women for more than four decades in many leadership roles in which she has served. As first lady, as senator of new york, on the global stage as secretary of state, and most recently as the first woman in our countrys history to be nominated for president by a Major Political party. [applause] she has strengthened opportunities for womens political, economic and social engagement, creating and institutionalizing new positions and policies that have helped to ensure greater recognition of women in the economic develop and political systems in communities and nations around the world. She continues to serve our community as honorary cochair of the u. S. Afghan womens council, which is housed here at georgetown. And we are grateful for her ongoing commitment and example of public service. It is a privilege to have the opportunity this morning to have secretary clinton with us. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in extending a very warm welcome to secretary Hillary Rodham clinton. [applause] [loud cheers] sec. Clinton good morning [applause] sec. Clinton thank you. Thank you so much. [applause] sec. Clinton thank you. [crowd chanting hillary] sec. Clinton thank you. Sec. Clinton thank you. Wow. Lets do that again. [laughter] [applause] sec. Clinton this warm welcome is one of the many reasons that i always appreciate coming to this campus, to this great university. And i am so pleased to have a chance to talk with you today about an issue that as the president said, has really provided the impetus for a lot of the work that is being done here at the university, particularly in the institute that has been the first of its kind anywhere in the world, studying women and security and the contributions that can be made. Im grateful to the president s Visionary Leadership and to this university for your commitment to nurturing diplomats, peacemakers and leaders. Im one of those who thinks we need more peacemakers, diplomats and leaders who are devoted to the ongoing and difficult work of bridging divides, of bringing people together, of trying to find common ground. Now, some of you may have been here back in 2011 when we announced the creation of this institute. It came about for an ultimately, profoundly simple reason. About a decade earlier there had , been a landmark resolution passed in the Un Security Council affirming womens crucial roles in peace and security. But the promise of that resolution, with very few exceptions, has remained largely unfilled. It is something i talk often about with my close friend and predecessor, secretary madeleine albright, who bleeds blue and gray. [applause] sec. Clinton because we thought back in the 1990s, that we needed to do more to elevate the rights and opportunities of women and girls on every level. Obviously, education and health and economic opportunity. But also to unleash the potential for involvement in ending conflict, for creating more secure environments for all people to live in and thrive. Back in 2011, we came here to georgetown to declare that the issue of womens full participation in peace and security could no longer be relegated to the margins of international affairs. [applause] sec. Clinton i believed then, and i believe even more fiercely today, that advancing the rights and full participation of women and girls is a great Unfinished Business of the 21st century. [applause] sec. Clinton it seems selfevident. It is not only the right and moral goal for us to be pursuing. After all, women represent half of humanity and we do have a fundamental right to participate in the decisions that shape our lives, but, and this is what i really want to impress upon you, this is strategic and necessary for matters of peace, prosperity and security. It is not a partisan issue. It is a human issue. A rising tide of womens rights lifts entire nations. So each year, when ive had the chance to come back for these awards, i am inspired although increasingly not surprised to see how far this institute has come. Georgetown is very fortunate to have my dear friend, ambassador revere at the helm and backed up fully by the leadership of the university. Fully by the leadership of the because the leaders, as the president just read out, that you recognize women and men alike whove come from different backgrounds, certainly different countries, but united in the belief that women are not only victims of war but must be viewed and helped to become agents of change, makers of peace and drivers of progress. That was the principle behind our efforts at the state department in the first term of president obama. We wanted to set a standard and im proud of it because i do see it as strategic and necessary. Not just a nice thing to do. On the margin somewhere, deep in the bowels of the state department, but front and center. Because standing up for the rights and opportunities of women and girls must be a cornerstone of american Global Leadership. And therefore, it must be woven throughout our Foreign Policy with the resources, staffing, accountability and attention needed to back up that commitment. [applause] sec. Clinton and what i was very pleased by and excited to know is how the u. S. Military also recognizes the role of women in peace and security. Over the years, i had the privilege of working alongside and standing beside some of our military leaders on this stage. The former vice chair of the joints chief of staff, the former undersecretary for defense for policy, helped to put new emphasis on stopping race and gender based violence in conflict zones and postconflict areas and empowering women to make and keep peace. This is especially important now when we have across the globe more than 60 million refugees, fleeing not only conflicts, but famine, drought and disease. We have to come to terms with that. Again, its not just somebody elses problem. It will affect the stability of nations and regions, which in turn could very well bring problems, whether it be conflict and terrorism or disease and criminal activity to our shores. So global progress depends on the progress of women. And i know weve seen positive results of that theme being actually implemented ever since the u. N. Womens conference in beijing in 1995. But i am here also to say, we are seeing signals of a shift that should alarm us all. This administrations proposed cuts to international health, development and diplomacy would be a blow to women and children, and a grave mistake for our country. Some of you may have seen the recent letter where 120 retired generals and admirals urged the congress and the white house not to retreat from these programs, which represent our values. These distinguished men and women who have served in uniform recognize that turning our back on diplomacy wont make our country safer. It will undermine our security and our standing in the world. Defense secretary mattis said it well, when he said, if you cut funds to the state department, that means he has to buy more ammunition. So the work that is done here at this institute here at georgetown, making the evidencebased case for the role of women in peace and security is incredibly important. Its always mattered, but today, its even more critical. As this institute has grown, so too has the body of evidence. Showing that when women participate in peacemaking and peacekeeping, we are all safer and more secure. Studies show that, here i go studies show here i go again, talking about research, evidence and facts. [applause] [loud cheers] sec. Clinton but in fact, when women are included in peace negotiations, agreements are less likely to fail and more likely to last. And we know that womens rights and physical safety are often the very first targets of fundamentalists. We also know that women are often the first to spot conflict on the horizon, coming their way. And when their insight and information is ignored, it often leads to consequences that might have been averted. At a time when Sexual Violence continues to be used as a strategy by terrorist groups, when women are being recruited by isis and boko haram, evidence suggests leaders who want to do more to guard against terrorism and violence should work even harder to help support and enable the participation of women. Now for anybody, before anybody jumps to any conclusions, i will state, clearly, women are not inherently more peaceful than men. That is a stereotype. [laughter] sec. Clinton that belongs in the alternative reality. [laughter] [applause] [loud cheers] sec. Clinton but, history does show that when women are at the peace table, they bring together coalitions and work really hard to build consensus. And they are the ones most likely to shine a bright light on issues of human rights, Transitional Justice, National Reconciliation and economic renewal. Ive seen this. Over the years, i worked with the women of Northern Ireland and watched as they reached across sectarian divides to forge a lasting peace. When that process started back in the 1990s, who would have ever predicted that martin mcguinness, who just passed away, would ever shake hands with Queen Elizabeth . Weve seen the women of liberia force an end to a bloody civil war. If youve never seen the movie pray the devil back to hell, i highly recommend it. Because it shows the points i am making from this podium today. The women of liberia went to where the men had been talking about ending the conflict for weeks and weeks. A hotel in ghana. They surrounded it and would not leave. They would not let those who had met to negotiate a peace out of a window or a door. Until they came to an agreement. And then of course, they ended up electing Ellen Johnson sirleaf as the first woman president on the continent of africa. [applause] sec. Clinton i have seen women in the democratic republic of congo survive the most horrific, almost unimaginable abuse and cruelty. And then summon the resilience to rebuild and help others go on. In colombia, which you will hear much more about in a few minutes, a country whose trajectory i have followed intently for years, weve seen women organize, educate and negotiate to help bring to a close more than 50 years of bloodshed. While conflict raged and efforts to stop the violence failed, women not only took their places at the table, they opened up the Peace Process to women across colombia and urged over and over again that all parties not walk away until they reached an agreement. So if we are to build more just, free and peaceful countries and indeed a world, its not enough to just Pay Lip Service to empowering women, we have to take seriously their concerns and give them the tools to be equal partners in helping to shape the world they inhabit. The leaders we are honoring today have seen that firsthand. From humberto de la calle, the rock of the peace negotiations in havana. [applause] sec. Clinton yes, a round of applause. [applause] sec. Clinton Maria Paulina riveros, one of two women appointed to represent the colombian government in the talks. [applause] sec. Clinton elena ambrosi, who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, like so many women, to help make peace a reality. Im [applause] sec. Clinton and Jineth Bedoya, a journalist who continued her pursuit of the truth and her advocacy for victims of Sexual Violence in the face of her own horrors. [applause] sec. Clinton like so many Peace Agreements, as hard as it was to get to it after 50 years of war, it is just the first step. Implementing peace will be a constant task. As hard as it is to imagine letting go of the peace that is so hard won, there will be sides,at work from all to undermine it, to act as if it did not apply to them. To do Everything Possible to prevent it from becoming the reality in the lives of colombians that it can be. Yes, the work will require difficult decisions, Transitional Justice and economic viability. But peace is truly within reach. So, from Peace Processes like the one we celebrate today to important steps that nations and institutions are taking to recognize the role of women in confronting violent extremism and addressing Climate Change and standing up against terrorism and conflicts of all kinds, weve got to continue this work. And i, i am pleading that our government will continue its leadership role on behalf of peace in the world because the world must continue this work with or without u. S. Involvement. [applause] sec. Clinton and the choices are ours to make. In this complicated, interconnected, interdependent world of ours, it is not as if you can pick one or two or three things and you can say that is all i will work on. Events move too quickly. Borders dissolve in the face of pressures. The great connectivity of the internet can spawn both opportunity and despair. So we have to ask, will we be left behind or will we continue to lead the way . I hope the answer is that we will do whatever it takes to make our country and the world stronger and more secure. Standing up for our values, for human rights, and opportunities, security for all. And continuing to finish the business of making sure that girls and women have the same rights as men and boys. And by extending and guaranteeing those rights, unleashing human potential, the likes of which in the world has never seen. That is what i hope your generation, students of georgetown, will be committed to actually making a reality. Thank you all very much. [applause] [loud cheers] [applause] director verveer secretary clinton, it is clearly wonderful to have you back at georgetown. [laughter] [applause] director verveer good morning, everyone. Let me add my welcome to each one of you. I particularly want to acknowledge the relatives and friends of our honorees, many of whom have traveled here from colombia. [speaking spanish] [applause] director verveer and a welcome also to the representative of colombia to the United Nations, ambassador maria velez. She is a tremendous a leader. So welcome to her, too. [applause] director verveer to the dcm, members of the staff of the embassy of colombia, thank you for your tremendous help with this event. The u. S. Special envoy for the colombian Peace Process, bernie aronson, who knows some of this work. [applause] director verveer and to all the members of the diplomatic corps who are with us this morning. I especially want to mention the ambassador from norway. [applause] director verveer whom you saw in the film. Norway played a leading role in facilitating the Peace Process as a guarantor country, and similarly, the ambassador of chile, which was an accompanying country to the Peace Process. Welcome to both of them. Because of the critical roles their countries played especially. [applause] director verveer and let me just add, later this year, the institute will be releasing a study describing how the women in colombia are influencing the unfolding of the Transitional Justice process there. Now to the awards. The success of the pea