CELEBRATING WOMEN LEADERS
DC Celebration of Women Leaders Luncheon
Women Center Stage in Foreign Policy and the Global Economy
Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues

Full Transcript | Ambassador's Remarks | Article | Podcast | Sponsors and Honorary Committee

Washington, DC—On July 15, 2010, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer addressed WFPG members and guests on the importance of women's leadership and women's empowerment for US foreign policy and the global economy. WFPG's Celebrating Women Leaders Luncheon was attended by representatives from embassies—including many of the women ambassadors—the government, corporations, international organizations, and NGOs. Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspondent for PBS NewsHour, moderated a question and answer session following Ambassador Verveer's remarks.

Ambassador Verveer spoke about the progress made since the Beijing World Conference on Women, and emphasized the "growing recognition that women's empowerment must be a central component of any effort to solve our most pressing global problems." These issues cannot be viewed solely as women's concerns, relegated to a place of lesser importance in the United States' foreign policy agenda. Ambassador Verveer explained that the creation of her position was part of an attempt to address this need by prioritizing women's voices and integrating them into the decision-making process at the State Department and throughout the government. The Ambassador also lauded the United Nations' creation of UN Women, noting that this agency will hopefully "really elevate [women's issues] in ways they have not been elevated and not been funded and not been supported as they ought to have been." She reaffirmed the widespread hope that the new head of UN Women will be someone of international acclaim with experience in management. Read More

 

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Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer with PBS NewsHour Senior Correspondent Judy Woodruff


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WFPG Board Members and President with Melanne Verveer and Judy Woodruff


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WFPG President Patricia Ellis, Melanne Verveer,
and Judy Woodruff

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Patricia Ellis and Melanne Verveer

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Ambassador Morean Phillip (Trinidad and Tobago),
Patricia Ellis, Ambassador Sumbana (Mozambique),
and Ambassador Siwela (Zambia)

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WFPG Board Member Mary Catherine Toker,
Kathryn Hauser of the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue,
and WFPG Board Member Theresa Loar

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Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Maria Otero and Patricia Ellis

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Melanne Verveer and Ambassador Morean Phillip

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Ambassador Meera Shankar (India) and Judy Woodruff

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Melanne Verveer with Stephenie Foster, Mary Yerrick,
and Donna McLarty of Vital Voices

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Dima Alfaham of the Embassy of the UAE
and Fred Tipson of UNDP

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Ambassador Jones-Bos (Netherlands),
Under Secretary Maria Otero,
and Ambassador Barco (Colombia)

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Lorie Jackson of ExxonMobil,
Ambassador Siwela, and Melanne Verveer

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Kit Bigelow, Ambassador Nonoo (Bahrain),
and WFPG Board Member Theresa Loar

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Maureen Bunyan of ABC7 and Jocelyne Croes
of the Embassy of the Netherlands

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WFPG Corporate Advisory Council Member
Janet Howard of Coca-Cola with guests


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