Hillary Clinton backs Saudi women defying their kingdom's ban on female driving

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, listens to Robin Niblett, right, Director of Chatham House, during an event in London, Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. Clinton is to be presented with the institute’s annual award in recognition of her contribution to the significant improvement of international relations, according to the institution. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (The Associated Press)

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton laughs as she arrives for an event at Chatham House in London, Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. Clinton is to be presented with the institute’s annual award in recognition of her contribution to the significant improvement of international relations, according to the institution. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (The Associated Press)

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, laughs as she arrives for an event with Robin Niblett, right, Director of Chatham House, in London, Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. Clinton is to be presented with the institute’s annual award in recognition of her contribution to the significant improvement of international relations, according to the institution. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (The Associated Press)

Hillary Rodham Clinton has supported Saudi women who this week defied their kingdom's ban on female driving.

The former U.S. secretary of state told an event in London: "I'm all for it. It is an issue that is symbolic." She added that the ban is "hard to even rationalize" in today's world.

Clinton was speaking at London's Chatham House international affairs think tank on Friday. The organization awarded her its annual Chatham House Prize to recognize her contribution to international diplomacy and her work in furthering gender equality.

Previous winners of the prize include Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi and former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.