Sec. Of State Clinton Says Reproductive Rights Important In U.S. Foreign Policy

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Abortion
Article Date: 31 Mar 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday said that women's reproductive health and rights are key issues in the Obama administration's foreign policy and important parts of U.S. efforts to develop democracy abroad, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports. Speaking at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's national conference in Houston, Clinton said, "A society that denies and demeans women's rights and roles is a society that is more likely to engage in behavior that is negative, anti-democratic, and leads to violence and extremism." PPFA presented Clinton with its Margaret Sanger Award, the group's highest honor, for her work on reproductive rights and women's health.

Clinton also discussed women's development in an earlier speech on Friday. After President Obama announced additional troop deployments to Afghanistan, Clinton said that "we cannot lose sight that assisting women's development" in Afghanistan and Pakistan "is part of America's strategy to be successful" in defeating al Qaida. Clinton noted that nations "with higher infant mortality rates are more susceptible to political upheaval," adding, "It's connected to lower quality of life and a lower quality of life is a byproduct of inadequate health care and inadequate family planning options" (Lozano, AP/Houston Chronicle, 3/28).

Antiabortion-Rights Groups Meet With Administration

In other administration news, leaders from antiabortion-rights organizations met last week with the White House Office of Faith and Community Partnerships to discuss ways to reduce the need for abortions, among other issues. NPR's "Tell Me More" on Friday included a discussion with Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, about the meeting (Eckstrom, "Tell Me More," NPR, 3/27).

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