embody the long tradition of supporting free expression and free inquiry in the cause of human rights around the world. i know that the president himself has taught a course on human rights, as well as on the ethics of international development with one of my longtime colleagues, carol lancaster, the acting dean of the school of foreign service. i want to commend the faculty here who are helping to shape our thinking on human rights, conflict resolution, development, and related subjects. it is important to be at this university because the students here, the faculty, every single year ad to the into religious dialogue. you give voice to many advocates and activists who are working on the frontlines of the global human rights movement for the human rights institute here at the law school and other

programs. . . thank you for all ofthat you do. [applause]

today i want to speak to you about the obama administration's human rights agenda. it is a subject on the minds of many people who are eager to hear our approach. because it is a critical issue is that warrant our energy and attention, my comments today will provide an overview of our thinking on human rights and democracy and how they fit into our broader human policy. let me also say what this is not. it could not be a comprehensive accounting of abuses within nations with whom we have raised human rights concerns. it is not a checklist. we issue a human rights report every year. that goes into great detail on any concerns we have for many countries.

i hope we can use this opportunity to look at this important issue in a broader of light and appreciate the full complexity and urgency. let me turn to the business at hand. in his acceptance speech for the nobel peace prize, president obama said that while war is never welcome or good, it will sometimes be right and necessary. only a just peace, based upon the rights and dignity of every individual, can be truly lasting. throughout history, there have been those who violently denied that truth. our mission is to embrace and work for lasting peace through a practical strategy to implement it. the speech reminded us that our basic values that are enshrined

in our declaration of independence are not only the source of our strength and endurance, and they are the birthright of every one in, man, and child on earth. -- endurance, and they are the birthright of every new one in woman, man, and a child on earth. we will have every effort to foster developments. the potential within every person to learn, discover, and embrace the world around them, the potential to join freely with others to shape their communities so that every person can find fulfillment. it is the potential to share the duties and tragedies of life,

laughter and tears, with the people we love. that potential is sacred. that is a dangerous belief to many who hold power and who can stretch their position against another. it expands the circle of rights and opportunities to all people, advancing their freedoms and possibilities is why we do what we do. we observed steven wright week. -- human rights week. week proclaimed a new framework for laws and institutions that the phil the dow of never again. they affirmed the universality of declaration.

it challenges discrimination against women and religious minorities. every person counts. it exposes those who violate the standards. if we celebrate the progress, our focus must be on the work that remains to be done, and the preamble it encourages us to use it as a standard of achievement bri. we cannot deny the eloquent promises and the life experiences of so many of our fellow human beings. we must finish the job. our human rights agenda is to make human rights a human

reality. the first step is to see it in the broader context. people must be free from the oppression of tierney and discrimination and fear of leaders who will imprison them. they must be free from the oppression of want of health, food, and education. to fill their potential, people must choose laws and leaders, a share and access information, criticize and in debate. they must be free to worship. they must love in the way they choose. they must be free to pursue the dignity that comes with self- reliance and improvement. human rights have both negative

and positive requirements. people should be free of tyranny in whatever form. that is why fostering development is a cornerstone of our human rights agenda. this administration will promote, support, and defend democracy. we will relinquish neither the word nor the idea to those who abused it to nearly or to justify unwise policies. we stand for democracy because we want all people to enjoy a consistent protection of the rights that are naturally theirs, whether they were born in tallahassee or pteron -- tehran. it is crucial that we clarify

what we mean when we talk about a democracy. democracy means not only elections to choose leaders but also active assistance and transparent institutions that are accountable to all citizens. respecting rights is not a choice leaders make day-by-day. it is the reason they govern. democracy protect citizens every day, and not just on election day. of democracies it demonstrated their greatness by using their principles to make themselves and their union more perfect britt.

human development must be a part of our agenda. from it is necessary for people to exercise their rights. democratic governments are not likely to survive long get their citizens to not have the basic necessities of lights. the desperation caused by poverty lead to violence that further in perils the right people in threatens the stability of government. democracy delivers on rights in development for their people. it is most likely to enable people to live up to their potential.

human rights, democracy, and development are not three separate goals with three separate agendas. that review does not reflect the reality we face. to make a real and long-term difference, we have to tackle all three simultaneously with a commitment that is smart, strategic, determined, and long term. we should measure our success by asking this question, "are more people in more places better able to exercise their universal rights and live up to their potential because of our actions?" our principal are our north star. our tools must be flexible and reflect the reality on the ground were ever we are trying to have a positive impact. in some cases, governments are willing but unable without support to establish strong

institutions and protection for citizens. for example, the democracies in africa. we can extend our hand as a partner to help them try to achieve authority and build the progress they desire. in other cases like cuba or nigeria, governments are able but unwilling to make the changes at their citizens deserve. there we must vigorously press leaders to in depression while supporting those within society's to a working for change. in cases where governments are both unwilling and unable, like the eastern congo, we must support the courageous individuals and organizations to try to protect people in battle against the odds. the challenges we face are diverse and complicated. there is not one approach or formula, documentary work.

they can they apply. i want to outline for elements of the approach to putting our principles and to action and share with you some of the challenges we face. commitment to write star to the accountability. president obama issued an order prohibiting the use of torture by any u.s. officials and ordered the closure of guantanamo bay. next year, we will report on human trafficking as we do every year. this time, not only just on other countries but also on our own her we will participate through the united nations on their own human-rights record just as we encourage other

nations to do. by holding ourselves accountable, we reinforce our authority to demand that all government adhered to obligations. we must counter the pretensions of those that deny our abdicate their responsibilities and told violators to account. sometimes you have the most impact by publicly denouncing a government action like the coup in honduras. other times will be more likely to help the oppressed by engaging in tough negotiations behind closed doors like china and russia. in every instance, our aim will be to make a difference, not to prove a point. calling for accountability did not start or stop and naming of

vendors. -- offenders. our goal is to have government alternate responsibility by putting human rights into law and embedding them in institutions, by building strong independent bloc in police enforcement. the government should be expected to resist the temptation to restrict freedom of expression when criticism arises and to be vigilant in preventing loja becoming an instrument of oppression. we know that all government and leaders sometimes fall short. there has to be internal mechanisms. often the toughest test for government, which is essential to the protection of human rights, is observing --

absorbing criticism. we should lead by example. in the last six decades, we have done this with significant outcomes. we have established legal recourse for victims of discrimination when in justice is ignored, injustice everywhere is denied. remitting mistakes did not make us weaker. it reaffirms the strength of our principles and institutions. we must be pragmatic in pursuit of our human rights agenda. we must do what is most likely to make them real. we will use all the tools of our disposal.

when we run up against a wall, we will not retreat with resignation or recrimination or run up against the same problems, but respond with strategic resolve. for we acknowledge that one side does not fit all. we will not be afraid to attend a new approaches. in iraq and, we have negotiated with the government on nuclear issues. president obama said we had them on their side. we will hold government accountable for their action.

as the president said last week, we must try as best we can to balance isolation and engagement, pressure and instances, so they human rights and dignity are advanced over time. we are working for positive changes in multi lateran institutions. they are viable tools. we have rejoined the human rights council not because we do not see the flaws but because we think that participating gives us the best chance to be a constructive influence. in our first session, we co- sponsored the resolution on freedom of expression, a forceful declaration of principle in a time when the freedom is jeopardized by new efforts to constrain religious practice including recently in

switzerland. i was privileged to share the september session where we mandated protection against sexual violence. principal pragmatism informs our approach. cooperation is critical to the help of the global economy and nonproliferation agenda. it addresses global problems like climate change. the united states seeks positive relationships. that means candid discussion of the views. in china we call for protection of rights of minorities.

religious organizations can advocate their positions within a framework of the rule of law. we believe strongly that those who advocate peacefully for reform with in the constitution should not be prosecuted. with pressure, we deplore the journalists and supports the courageous individuals who advocate and great peril. we are engaging on issues of mutual interest. there also engaging societal actors in the same countries were working to advance human rights and democracy. the assumption that we must pursue human rights our national interests is wrong. the assumption that only coercion and isolation are effective tools for advancing

change is also wrong. across our efforts, we keep striving for innovative ways to achieve results. that is why commissioned the diplomacy and development review to develop a forward- looking strategy to build on an analysis of our objectives and capacity to achieve america's foreign-policy and national- security objectives make no mistake. issues of democracy and governance are central to this review. we supported changes driven by citizens in their community. it cannot beat this one for government. it requires cooperation among individuals and organizations within communities and across borders. it means that we work with

others who share our commitment to securing lives of dignity. in morocco, i met with activists across the middle east. they exemplify how lasting change comes from within and how dependent activists to create the state in which they can build a foundation. civil society cannot impose change. fofor this means using tools lie our global human rights

defender fund that has provided targeted illegal and relocation assistance to 170 dinners around the world. we can stand with them publicly by sending a high level of diplomatic mission. we are working to the back channels for the safety of protection in from persecution. we can amplify the voices. we shine a spotlight on the process. they often pursue their mission in isolation, often so marginalized within their own society. we can endorse the legitimacy of their efforts.

we recognize these like the woman of courage awards. we can applaud others. we can enlist other allies like international labor unions who are instrumental in the solidarity movement or religious organizations who are championing the rights the people living with hiv aids in africa.

thousands of protesters have broadcast their demands. in virtually every virtuallcouni visit, i conduct a town hall or roundtable discussion with those outside the government to learn from them and provide a platform for their opinions. when i was in russia, i visited an independent radio station to express through word in feed our support for independent media. i made a point in meeting with women activists.

in 1998, and it did a small group of lawyers in a crowded apartment on a fifth floor of a walkup building they described their efforts to win rights for women. when i visited china and again, i met some of these same women. they had grown and expanded the scope. now women were working not just for legal rights, but for economic rights as well. many regimes have tried to limit the effectiveness by restricting their activities,

including more than 25 governments that have recently adopted new restrictions our funding can get a foothold to local organizations, training programs, and independent medians. it fosters broadbased economic development. to build success, our assistance needs to be as effective as possible. it paves the way for broadbased growth and long term self- reliance. economic empowerment to give them a stake in the futures.

our development activities act in concert with our efforts to support democratic governance. that is the challenge we face in afghanistan and pakistan today. the fourth element is that we will widen our focus. we will not forget the positive change must be reinforced and strengthened when hope is on the rise. we will not ignore places of seemingly intractable tragedy and despair. we must do what we can to tilt the balance toward a better future. our efforts to support those working for human rights and democratic governance are driven by commitment, not convenience. they have to be sustained. they cannot be subject to the winds of political change. democratic process is urgent but

not quick. we should never take for granted the permanent. backsliding is always a threat in kenya, the perpetrators of violent having escaped justice. we are worried about leaders that have accused justice to enhance personal rule. when democratic change occurs, we cannot afford to become complacent. we must continue reinforcing democracy. they need our help to improve health, education, and welfare. we must stay engaged. they experienced democratic breakers. the struggle to consolidate the democratic gains because of internal and a external factors. we stand ready both in our

bilateral relationship and international institutions to help governments that have committed to fight corruption. they take their own steps to defend institutions. they continue to make progress. there are hard issues like ending gender inequality against gays and lesbians from the middle east to latin america.

we have to continue to press for resolutions. tensions threaten to add to the devastation. we will work to identify ways that we and our partners can in hand human security while focusing greater attention on efforts to prevent genocide elsewhere. we have to remain focused on women's rights and responsibilities. human rights are women's rights. this is far from being realized. there is no place that it epitomizes the very difficult and tragic circumstances facing

women. i was in the epicenter of one of the most violent and chaotic regions on earth. when i was there, i met with victims of sexual violence. i met with refugees driven by their home. i talk to those working to end the conflict. i saw the best in the worst of humanity in a single day. they were brutalized and that all the heroism of the men and women themselves of those working to repair bodies and spirits. there on the front lines on the struggle for human rights. they saw the courage and tenacity.

those aspects, accountability, pragmatism, partnering, keeping a wide focus where rights are at stake -- will help build a foundation that helps enable people to stand and rise above poverty and disease and secure their rights under democratic governance. we must light a fire of human potential to access to education and economic opportunity. when a person has food and education but not the freedom to discuss and debate with fellow citizens, he is denied the right he deserves. when a person is 200 or sick to work or boat or worship, she is

denied the life she deserves. freedom is not come and half measures. we know that the champions for human potential have never had it easy. we make all rights in a ruble -- in alienable. taking action to make them row requires tough choices. we will not always agree on what course of action fits that description. we can learn from the instances in which we have fallen short.

they are proof of how it difficult progress is. we do not accept the argument by some that progress in certain places is impossible. we know progress happens. indonesia moved from repressive roles to democracy in an open democracy. they ushered in multi-party democracy without violence. there is no better example than the progress made in central and eastern new eager -- europe. while the work in front of us is daunting, we face the future together with partners on every

continent, partners in database in notes -- faith based organizations and social irresponsible corporations. from india, one that continues to use democratic processes and principles to perfect its union, of $1.1 billion. their promise to govern according to the five greens./ it provide a recipe for responsible governments that contrasts starkly with the unnecessary zimbabwe. this is not just about what we do. it is about who we are. we cannot be the people we are, people who believe in human rights if we opt out of this fire. believing in human rights means committing ourselves to action.

, that to the process for rights that apply everywhere to everyone, that rights will be able to protect and in able human dignity, we also sign up for the hard work of making that promise a reality. those of you here spent time studying the cases of what we tried to do in human rights. you see the shortcomings and shortfall. we need your ideas. we need your criticism. we need your analysis of how we can slowly and steadily expand

the circle of opportunity and rights to every single person. it is work that we take so it seriously. it is work that we know we do not have all the answers for. it is the work that america signed up to do. we will continue day-by-day, inch by inch, to try to make whatever progress is humanly possible. thank you all very much. fo>> thank you for an inspiring

and wonderful speech. it made me proud to be an american. theit made me proud to be at georgetown, too. we have time for three questions. we thought because so many of you have abandoned your final papers to be here, students, that we would take those questions from our students. let me ask you. we have several people along the side with microphones. here is someone with a microphone. we have one more.

let's have a first question from a student. that does not look like a student. here. let's get the young people here. we are not discriminating. which is one day, approach to thing. >> thank you so much. he spoke about the situation in it you got a. could you talk a little bit more about how the united states can protect the rights of the people in areas where the rights are not respected? >> yes. over this past year, we have elevated into our human rights dialogue and a public statement a very clear message about protecting the rights of the lgbt community worldwide. we are particularly concerned about some of the specific cases that have come to our attention of around the world.

there have been organized efforts to kill and maim gays and lesbians in some countries that yes spoken out about. we have conveyed their very strong concerns about their government, not that they were government fully implemented. the government needed a much greater attention to the kinds of abuses that we have seen. we are deeply concerned about the stories coming out of a run. in large measure, we think to the response to the election that there have been abuses committed with in the detention facilities and elsewhere that we are deeply concerned about.

there was a situation in a gondola not only criminalize, said shakti, but -- in you gone dead and not only criminalizes homosexuality, but attaches the death penalty to it. it has a lot of public support. we do this as a serious potential violation. it is clear that across the world that this is a new frontier about how we protect the community. it is at the top of our lives. we see many instances where there is a very serious assault on the safety.

we think it is important for the united states to stand against that. >> thank you for being here. i'm a graduate student here. i want to witness what happened. it was an incredible moment. now the six months has passed, what can the united states to do to balance our support of the human rights activists and the demonstrators with our agenda regarding international security? >> it is a balancing act. the most important balancing act is to make sure that our very strong opposition to what is going on inside iraq and it is not in any way undermine --

inside a run it is not in any way undermine the legitimacy of what has taken hold. this is one of those good examples of a hardball. after the election and the reaction that began almost immediately by people who felt the election was in dallas, it put this in a position of seriously considering what is the best way we can support those who are putting their lives on the live by going into the street. we wanted to convey clear support, but we did not want the attention shifted from the legitimate concerns of the united states. we have nothing to do with the spontaneous reactions that grew up in response to the behavior of the i iranian government. it has been a delicate walk. i think that the activists know

that we support them. we encourage the communication of what is going on. they knew there was a lot of communication going on. it was unconnected -- they have planned some kind of lapse in service to do something on their system. you can tell i have no idea what they are doing. [laughter] i do not know twitter from tweeter. i will be honest with you. these young technical people at our state department called twister in said do not take twitter down right now. whatever you are going to do,

we boat or what ever it is -- [laughter] people depend -- are depending upon it. we think that pursuing an agenda and of not -- of non- proliferation is an issue. what can be worse than nuclear material or weapon being in the hands of either a state or a non state that would be used to intimidate and threaten thand destroyed? we see a continuum. pursuing what we think is in the national security interest of the united states and countries in europe in the middle east is also a human rights issue. we do not want to be in an either or position. are we going to pursue non- proliferation or are we going to support the demonstrators inside iran?

we will do goes to the best of our ability to get a result that will further the cause we are seeking to support. >> one final question in the back. >right there. with the the red. a christmas tree. >> thank you i am wondering what -- what you see the role of artists doing in helping to promote human rights? i had the privilege earlier this summer to hear the playwright speaker in one of the senate and buildings. i wondered how use of creative practice amplifying policy. >> that is a wonderful question, because i think the arts and

artists are one of our most effective tools in reaching beyond in through repressive regimes and giving hope to people. it was a very effective tool during the cold war. i have had so many eastern europeans tell me that it was an american music and literature, american poetry, that kept them going. i remember when he came to the white house during my husband and administration. i said, who do like to entertain? i do not know who use going to say. he said l ou reed. it does his music who is so important for us. you could name many other american artists who have traveled.

we are going to try to increase the number of exchanges we do so that we can get people into settings where they will be able to directly communicate. there is something about the american government sending somebody to make that case, which i think is very important to our commitment. artists can bring to life in major medical way some of the challenges we face. we mentioned women in the condo. i remember years ago seeing a play about women in bosnia. it was so gripping. i still see the faces of those women who were pulled from their homes and separated from their husbands, often reached -- raped and left for garbage. i think artists can illustrate

better than any speech then i can give that to the spirit of that lives within each of us is not confined. no matter how hard they trial, there is no way that you can deprive people from the feelings inside their souls. artists can give voice to that. it is so important in places where people feel forgotten in marginalized and depressed to have that glimmer of that there is a better future and a better way. this is a great area for private

foundations and for artists themselves. it is interesting. in today's world, we are given so much information. we are living in information overload time. we need ways of cutting through all of that. we are living in that media environment. for i always took a television station or a newspaper interview somebody who is claiming that the earth is round, you have to put someone in from the flat earth society. that is fair and balanced. [laughter] [applause] what we have to do is look for those ways of breaking through

all of that. i think that the power of the cards to do that is so enormous. we must never forget about the role it does play in getting life to the aspirations of people around the world. thank you all very much. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] >> can ask you to be seated for a few minutes while secretary clinton departs?

>> next on c-span, we look at u.s. policy in afghanistan and pakistan. the national review editor remembers the by with the magazine's founder, william f.

buckley. later, historians discuss the lives and senator ted kennedy. -- lives of senator ted kennedy. >> on tomorrows "washington journal" we will talk to clark and urban -- clark kent ervin and a look at the obama family's christmas vacation in hawaii. it begins at 7:00 a.m. eastern every day on c-span. beginning monday, a rare glimpse into america's highest courts their unprecedented on the record conversations with 10 supreme court justices about the court, in their words, and the history of the buildings. five days of interviews with supreme court justices starting monday at 8:00 p.m. eastern. get your own copy on dvd.

it is part of the american icons collection, a free disc set, including programs on the white house and capitol, with the many items available at c- span.org.store. >> the chair did the initial policy review of afghanistan and pakistan. he now gets a historical perspective of the past eight years of american presence in the region. the president's decision to send additional troops and the prospects for deceiving the insurgency. this hourlong top came at a recent conference hosted by the jamestown foundation.

>> bruce is well-suited for all of this. today you will be delighted to know that to not only speak for 10 minutes, but he is a 40 minute plan. there'll be an in-depth opportunity to hear what his thoughts on the strategy in afghanistan are. fohe is a senior fellow. he retired in 2006 after 30 years of service to the central intelligence agency. he was a senior advisor in the middle east. he was a negotiator of several israeli peace summits, including camp david. here is the secretary of defense in south asia and a senior advisor at the north atlantic

treaty organization of a brussels. in 2009, president obama asked him to chair a review of american policy toward afghanistan and pakistan. the results were announced in a speech on march 22, 2009. the author of this book and the leadership and ideology -- he will be available for a book signing in the back. he will promise to save you were siepi purchase the boat. he will sign it. it is coming out in paperback. this is your last chance to get one in hard copy. he will be available for that briefly. at the top he will take the questions in answers. i would like to turn the floor over tubers.

>> thank you very much for that kind introduction. it is an honor for me to be here today. the jamestown foundation has consistently provided americans and people around the world is some of the best analysis of what is going on. it is a very special pleasure to have this chance to be the keynote speaker. 10 months ago, i was minding my own business in my home on the eastern shore of maryland when the phone rang and a voice came on in said, "please, hold for the president." a couple of seconds later, on came a voice, "hello, it is

barack." i got an offer like an offer in the mafia movies -- you cannot say no to it. the offer was to come in and share a 60 the review on american policy toward afghanistan and pakistan and toward al qaeda. as the president explained, this is the single most important policy and national security issue that he will face as president of perhaps background is in order. they ask me about tig