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DATE=        MARCH  23, 1998
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-07704
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  IMPROVING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 
MARCH 23, 1998.

ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 
VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    AT A RECENT CEREMONY HONORING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, 
FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON SAID REMAINS MUCH TO BE DONE TO
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD.  SHE SAID, "WE MUST
GIVE VOICE TO WOMEN PLAGUED BY VIOLENCE IN ALL ITS FORMS.  IT 
DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S BY LAW OR CUSTOM, IGNORANCE OR INACTION." 
ONE PARTICULARLY ATROCIOUS FORM OF ABUSE IS TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN.

    AT LEAST ONE-MILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD INTO
VIRTUAL SLAVERY AND TAKEN ACROSS BORDERS EVERY YEAR.  MANY 
COUNTRIES THAT ARE SOURCES OF THIS TRAFFICKING ARE IN SOUTHEAST 
ASIA AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.  TO HELP STAMP OUT THIS CRIME, 
THE U.S. AND UKRAINE ARE DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO COMBAT 
TRAFFICKING IN UKRAINE.  IT IS HOPED THAT THIS EFFORT WILL SERVE 
AS A MODEL FOR OTHER COUNTRIES STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

    THE U.S. WILL USE ITS CONSULAR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE 
IN OTHER NATIONS TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN WORLDWIDE AND TO 
ASSIST VICTIMS.  THE U.S. WILL WORK WITH OTHER COUNTRIES TO WRITE
TOUGHER LEGISLATION AND TRAIN JUDGES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 
PERSONNEL.  IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP TRAFFICKING AT ITS SOURCE, THE 
U.S. WILL STEP UP EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS ABROAD.  THE GOAL IS TO 
ENSURE THAT YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS DO NOT FALL PREY TO 
TRAFFICKERS' TACTICS OF COERCION, FRAUD AND DECEIT.

    THERE IS A GREAT DEAL YET TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE 
RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD ARE RESPECTED.  
PROMOTING DEMOCRACY IS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE.  AS SECRETARY OF 
STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAID, "WE ARE LEADING A GLOBAL EFFORT TO
CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND GIRLS, BECAUSE WE 
BELIEVE THAT IF THOSE WHO TRAFFIC IN DRUGS SHOULD BE PUNISHED 
SEVERELY -- AND THEY SHOULD -- SO SHOULD THOSE WHO TRAFFIC IN 
HUMAN BEINGS."

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. 
GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, 
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT 
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR  FAX US AT (202) 
619-1043.  

20-Mar-98 3:51 PM EST (2051 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
 .