Women in the World: Hillary Clinton, Meryl Streep & More Best Moments from the Summit

Meryl Streep Hails Hillary Clinton

She’s won Oscars and played world leaders, but now she can cross hugging the Secretary of State off her list. Meryl Streep paid tribute to Clinton, praising the Secretary for her tireless work on behalf of women. Bonus: Streep’s new Oscar hardware made a cameo.

Hillary Clinton’s Call to Arms

As the summit came to a close, the Secretary of State left the delegates with a final thought: Be a woman in the world. “Everyone of us needs to be part of the solution…We need to be as fearless as the women whose stories you have applauded,” she said.

Hillary Clinton: Women Should Be Able to Make Their Own Choices

 Why do extremists—in every country—want to control women? The Secretary of State said that even the U.S. ought to live its own values because “America needs to set an example for the entire world.” Watch the Clinton’s rousing call for change.

Feminism and the Internet

Julie Zeilinger, the 19-year-old founder and editor of the blog The FBomb, was part of The Digital Lives of Girls, a panel devoted how young, socially conscious women are using the Internet to spur innovation. Here, Zeilinger talks to host Chelsea Clinton about defining feminism.

Suma’s Song

Suma Tharu returned to the stage to reprise her touching song about her time as an indentured servant in Nepal. Watch the moving performance below.

Life Behind Bars in Burma

How did Zin Mar Aung survive 11 years in a Burmese prison? The political prisoner was initially sentenced to 20 years for disseminating statements critical of the government. Now she tells her captivating story in a panel moderated by Newsweek & The Daily Beast’s Tina Brown.

Day Three Tina Brown Welcome

Newsweek/The Daily Beast Editor in Chief Tina Brown gave a warm welcome to begin the final day of the Women in the World Summit. Watch as she gives a preview of what’s to come in the program from a panel on ending female genital cutting to key speakers Meryl Streep and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Learning Through Play

Liberty Mutual presented a short film on Allyson Felix, the Olympic runner. In the film she highlighted how games and sports can help bring peace through the power of play.

The Power of Women in Politics

Without political power, women can’t make the giant strides for the advancement of women that are needed. Watch as women who hold political positions explain why it’s absolutely crucial for women to hold political offices with the highest level of decision making.

Fashion for a Cause

Lauren Bush Lauren spoke to Alex Witt about the Feed Projects, which feeds children through the sale of artisan-made bags. Watch as Bush Lauren explains how one bag can feed 1,000 people.

Women in Justice

Talk about a power duo: Kamala D. Harris and Maya L. Harris are two sisters with powerful careers in the justice system. Watch as they explain why “women can have it all.”

Putting an End to Female Genital Cutting

Ending a practice that is considered a social norm is complex and takes the involvement of the entire community. Watch as Demba Diawara, a local imam in Senegal, explains why he became involved in ending the brutal practice.

Valerie Jarrett Responds to the ‘Mancovery’

If the U.S. experienced a “mancession,” does that mean it’s experiencing a “mancovery”? President Obama’s senior adviser touted his jobs record and discussed the difficulty in assessing whether or not the recovery has been gendered.

Tzipi Livni: Iran Isn’t Just an ‘Israeli Problem’

Is Iran’s threat to the international community overblown? In a conversation with Simon Schama, Israel’s opposition leader, Tzipi Livni, stressed that Iran isn’t merely an Israeli issue, but one that threatens the rest of the world.

Lynsey Addario: ‘Do You Ask Men That Question?’

The war photographer took Newsweek and The Daily Beast’s Christopher Dickey to task after he asked her about leaving her 10-week-old baby to report. And, he agreed: her response was fair.

The Arab Spring for Women: ‘Heaven’

Women didn’t just play a role in protests during the Arab Spring—they began fighting for rights far in advance. Dalia Ziada, the Egypt director of the American Islamic Congress, called the 18 days of revolution in the country “heaven,” thanks to the diverse group of protesters who answered the call to arms.

A Diva Takes the Stage

Day two of the summit ended on a high note—literally. Anna Netrebko, the world-renowned soprano, took a break from rehearsing at the Metropolitan Opera to take the summit stage for a breathtaking performance.

Day Two Welcome by Tina Brown

Newsweek and The Daily Beast's editor in chief, Tina Brown, opened Day 2 of the summit with her favorite quotation from the conference so far: Madeleine Albright’s proclamation that “there’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other.” Brown then previewed the day’s activities, with panels discussing the role of women in the future of Afghanistan, how the definition of women’s professional success is evolving, and how women in combat are protecting the country.

Holland Taylor as Gov. Ann Richards

Broadway star Holland Taylor took the Women in the World stage to perform an excerpt from her one-woman show about former Texas governor Ann Richards. Watch as Taylor channels the fiery Richards to imagine what she would have said if she were here today.

Why Don’t More Women Run for Office?

Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg led a fierce discussion on the role of women at work and the importance of their professional success. Here Anne Kornblut, deputy political editor of The Washington Post, gives her take on why there aren’t more women in power.

Envisioning a New Future for Women

If you could picture a different world for women in the future, what would it look like? Gloria Steinem, Cheryl Mills, Anne Kornblut, Shelby Knox, and Jill Abramson closed out their panel with their innovative ideas for women in the future.

Gbowee’s Path From Victim to Activist

The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee explained her path to activism by first defining victimhood: “A victim is that person who sits and waits for a knight in shining armor,” she said. Gbowee then went on to give poignant advice on how to change from waiting to be rescued to taking control of your own destiny. “We have to be our own Gandhi, we have to be our own King, we have to be our own Mandela,” she said.

Leymah Gbowee: ‘It’s Time for Women to Stop Being Politely Angry’

Gbowee brought down the house with her take on the contraception wars. In short, she summed it up best with “you only qualify [to make decisions about reproductive rights] if you’ve gone through the process, if you understand what the process is.”

Empowering Women in Afghanistan

What will become of women and girls once the U.S. pulls out of Afghanistan? Christiane Amanpour’s panel addressed the critical issues women face in Afghanistan, where men hold the vast majority of the positions of power. Watch as Afghan leader Bibi Hokmina speaks passionately about her role in government, and why she wears the traditional dress of men.

What Makes Women Better Soldiers?

Security is a woman’s work: in war zones, secure women often create secure families and villages. And owning the Women in the World stage is a woman’s work, too. Watch as Sir Harold Evans gets a special message from the audience.

The Century for Women

Say goodbye to the “century of the brics”: some entrepreneurs have called the 21st century the century of certain developing nations, but Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, said he believes the age of the woman has arrived.

How Does Forced Prostitution Happen?

How are South American teenage girls forced to become slaves to prostitution rings? And how do they escape? Watch the harrowing account of a young woman who was forced to become a prostitute—and how she escaped.

The Death Toll of Prostitution

Roughly 49 women are killed a month over prostitution in Latin America—more than one a day. Sylvia Gereda, founder and editor in chief of Informe Especial, discusses the devastating violence some women endure.

The Tiger Mother’s Guide to Life

Firebrand Amy Chua has one piece of advice for Chinese parents—and if you’ve read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, it might come as a surprise. The controversial author said she encourages Asian parents to let their children have sleepovers.

Women and Suicide in China

The Foxconn factory suicides brought the issue to the attention of many Americans, but statistics show that suicide in China is worse outside the factory.

Rape in the Military: A Firsthand Account

Claire Russo shared her courageous story of prosecuting her perpetrator after she was raped as a Marine. Warning: her story is graphic.

Nancy Pelosi: Limbaugh Should Be ‘Advertiseless’

What happens now that the talk radio host lost advertisers for his comments over reproductive rights? In the wake of Sandra Fluke’s showdown, the Democratic leader of the U.S. House of Representatives said women shouldn’t have to continue to fight for reproductive rights in this day and age.

The Real Story on Catholics and Contraception

Talk about strange bedfellows. Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic herself, quipped that most Catholic women now use contraception methods that have evolved much since the 19th century—and it should be that way.

Behind the sOccket Rockets

What’s the key to become a successful inventor? Jessica O. Matthews and Julia Silverman—both in their 20s—said seeking out diverse experiences helped them invent the “sOccket,” which brings electricity to impoverished communities.

Masha Gessen: Putin Isn’t Legitimate

Journalists who’ve reported on the reelected Russian president often face the threat of violence, but Gessen isn’t holding anything back. The author of The Man Without A Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin said that in the wake of last week’s election, there’s no way Vladimir Putin is a legitimate leader.

Where Are Women at Internet Companies?

Once women are already in business, how can we advance them in the company? Gilt Groupe chairman Susan Lynne discusses the lack of capital for female Internet entrepreneurs—and there’s “no question” women lack funding.

Suma’s Song Kicks Off the Summit

Suma Tharu opened the third annual Women in the World Summit with a poignant song about her struggle as an indentured servant in Nepal. Watch the 16-year-old’s performance.

Tina Brown’s Welcome

And we’re off: Newsweek and The Daily Beast’s editor in chief talks about what inspired the conference, how it’s resonated around the world, and why the struggle for women’s rights is the defining human-rights issue for the 21st century.

Diane von Furstenberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Jane Harman Give Voice

The summit’s vibrant co-hosts took the stage one by one to give a voice to women who were unable to attend the summit. From Diane von Furstenberg’s invocation of Awzia Koofi, an Afghan woman targeted by the Taliban, to Harman’s salute to men who promote women’s rights, watch a selection of their readings.

Who’s to Blame for Forced Marriage?

It may seem unlikely that mothers and grandmothers play a pivotal role in forcing many of the world’s women into unwanted marriages. But that’s the point Albert David, M.B.E., and Jasvinder Sanghera make to Leslie Stahl: that mothers invest in their daughters the responsibility of upholding the family’s honor.

Anatomy of a Forced-Marriage Rescue

What’s it like to rescue young women from forced marriages? Albert David, M.B.E., British head of consular assistance, recalled one rescue that took six hours before he was able to help a women return from Kashmir to the United Kingdom.

Madeleine Albright on Shattering the Glass Ceiling

There’s only one reason there are so few women in power, according to Madeleine Albright. What is it? “Men,” she said in one of the evening’s lighter moments.

Madeline Albright: What to Do About Syria

On a more serious note, the former secretary of State talked about Syria, and why she hopes a decision will be made soon on whether to intervene. If that happens, she emphasized, it is important to form an alliance to take action.

Sandra’s Story

Sandra Uwiringiyimana, a genocide survivor, opened up about witnessing violence firsthand, before explaining her touching photographs of other conflict survivors.

Angelina Jolie Takes the Stage

Cue the standing ovation: the Hollywood star turned U.N. ambassador read the account of Dr. Hawa Abdi, a 2011 Women in the World delegate who was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Abdi has housed thousands of displaced people in her clinic in Somalia since 1983.

Christine Lagarde: If Lehman Brothers Had Been ‘Lehman Sisters’…

Maybe she was kidding, maybe she wasn’t. Responding to Niall Ferguson’s question about whether there would have been a financial crisis had more women been in senior positions, Christine Lagarde got the laugh of the night when she (jokingly?) said “Lehman Sisters” might have avoided default.