- Three generation of women in my family, including me now,
have been refugee.
I hoped that that wouldn't be the future for me as well,
but here I am.
(gentle music)
- Vital voices was created by a group of people
who were deeply invested
in the future of women's leadership.
And one of those founders
was none other than Hillary Clinton.
For the past 24 years in every essential role
that she has played, Hillary Clinton
continues to elevate the organization's mission.
She makes sure that women and our allies
are being heard loud and clear.
Here is Hillary Clinton.
(inspiring music)
- Thank you so much, Oprah and NowThis NEXT,
for amplifying Vital Voices Global Partnership
and our efforts to advance the rights
of women and girls all over the world,
vital Voices and its mission to invest in women
solving the world's greatest challenges
is very close to my heart, particularly now.
As we are watching the consequences
of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Vital Voices;
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security;
Mina's List; and a coalition of women leaders,
both Afghan and American. are working together
to help the most at-risk women and their families.
We're assisting in evacuations
and planning for longterm resettlement.
Tonight, we honor the courage of all Afghan women and girls,
and we feel very lucky to have Muqaddesa Yourish,
who left Afghanistan with her family.
Leaving your country must have been
one of the hardest decisions that you have ever faced.
- You're right.
It was the most difficult decision of my life,
but when Taliban took over Kabul, I had two choices.
I could stay or die,
if not right away, a gradual death to be silent observer
and watch a massive rollback
of my rights taken away from me,
or to flee, keep my voice,
and try to continue to work for the Afghanistan
that I desire to live in.
- You tweeted recently, "It breaks my heart
that 20 years of excruciating hard work is just lost."
- It pains me that the world
is silently observing the atrocities.
It even makes me feel that probably the world thinks
that the people of Afghanistan deserve their misery,
and they're satisfied in the situation, which is not true.
- I think there are a lot of people who will watch us,
particularly in the United States,
who may wonder what can U.S. citizens do to help?
- I think I would like to ask the U.S. citizen
to first join me in my desperate hope for the country,
because to be able to do anything,
you first need to believe in something.
And I still believe in my country.
This is not the end of Afghanistan.
And I think with that,
the U.S. citizens could then push their leadership.
This is a democracy.
- And I know at Vital Voices
we're always talking about our internal driving force.
As an organization started by women focused on women.
What do you see your mission as now?
- I think end of war.
Three generation of women in my family,
including me now, have been a refugee.
I hoped that that wouldn't be the future for me as well,
but here I am.
- And you clearly believe in the future
because you were just married.
- Yes.
- That's a great bet on the future.
- Taliban have taken away my past.
Taliban have taken away my present.
I just didn't want them to take away my future husband.
- (laughs) I can see the two of you looking at each other,
and I love that you are both committed
to a different future.
And you're not going to let the Taliban or anybody else
take that future away from you.
- Take that away from us. Yes.
- I cannot thank you enough because I think your voice
is not only vital, it's essential.
It is part of a chorus that we want to help create,
reminding all of us not to give up on Afghanistan.
And your being here sends support
to all of the courageous women in Afghanistan tonight.
Thank you so much for joining us.
- Thank you, Madame Secretary.
(gentle music)