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Summary Hillary Clinton has denounced the stripping and beating of a female protester in Egypt.
An impassioned Hillary Clinton accused post-revolution Egypt of failing its women as she denounced the stripping and beating of a female protester as shocking and a disgrace.In unusually strong language, the US secretary of state accused Egypts new leaders of mistreating women both on the street and in politics since the revolt nearly a year ago that overthrew leader Hosni Mubarak.This systematic degradation of Egyptian women dishonors the revolution, disgraces the state and its uniform and is not worthy of a great people, Clinton said in a speech at Georgetown University.In images widely seen over YouTube, helmeted troops were shown beating a veiled woman after having ripped her clothes off to reveal her bra and stomach.Other pictures circulating on social media networks that have enraged protesters include one of a military policeman looming over a sobbing elderly woman with his truncheon.Recent events in Egypt have been particularly shocking. Women are being beaten and humiliated in the same streets where they risked their lives for the revolution only a few short months ago, Clinton said.She denounced a deeply troubling pattern of military authorities and the major political parties alike keeping Egyptian women out of decision-making.Responding later to a question by a student, Clinton said that Egyptians and not Americans should be the first ones disturbed by poor treatment of women.Clinton, who narrowly lost her bid to be the first female US president, has frequently been outspoken about womens rights during her tenure as the countrys top diplomat.She addressed events in Egypt as part of a broader speech in which she argued that peacemaking efforts around the world would benefit from greater involvement by women.President Barack Obama on Monday signed an executive order setting up a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which Clinton said would advance womens role in peacemaking throughout US government agencies.As part of the new effort, the United States will monitor violence and discrimination against women to help detect future conflicts, Clinton said.The United States will also step up assistance to grassroots groups working to stop violence against women and increase their economic empowerment.
