Hillary selection seen as a plus for women

BOSTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Observers say President-elect Barack Obama's selection of Sen. Hillary Clinton as U.S. secretary of state has energized human and women's rights activists.

The New York senator and former first lady is viewed as one of the world's leading advocates for women and girls, The Boston Globe reported Monday.

"This is a new opportunity. We're very optimistic," said Daphne Jayasinghe of Amnesty International, which has been pushing for ratification of a U.N. document calling for an end to gender discrimination.

The sheer star power Clinton offers is in itself a boost for women, according to Massachusetts Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, a supporter of Clinton's presidential bid.

"Women in these poor villages (in rural Ecuador) were beaming at the thought that Hillary might be the next secretary of state," McGovern told the Globe. "Women in indigenous communities where we visited, where there is no electricity, were excited about this possibility."