U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE: U.S. Leads International Call to Action on Women’s Economic Empowerment

U.S. Department of State issued the following announcement on Oct. 23.

Senior U.S. officials today held a virtual Signing Ceremony to formally launch the new U.S.-led Call to Action on Women’s Economic Empowerment, along with 31 UN Member States, representing every region around the world.

The Ceremony included remarks from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, as well as a fireside chat led by Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Kelley E. Currie. Representatives from the Core Group countries also provided video interventions during the program discussing their efforts to empower women.

Secretary Pompeo noted the United States’ gratitude for the Core Group’s leadership and partnership to ensure women have the ability to freely and fully participate in the global economy stating, “We’re proud to stand with you as we sign today’s Call to Action, and I look forward to welcoming more countries into this effort. You are partners that we can count on and we will not forget your leadership here today, as together we advance our shared values of peace and prosperity.”

Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump remarked, “This first-ever United Nations Call to Action on Women’s Economic Empowerment, built off of the pillars of the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, is an acknowledgment of the collective commitment of the U.S. and the 31 countries comprising the core group, to providing economic opportunities for women around the world. We look forward to continuing to grow this support.”

The program featured a fireside chat with women who have directly benefited from full and free participation in their economies, including Ms. Mutesi Gasana of Rwanda, who manages Ubuntu Publishers, and Ms. Paola Bulgarelli Brenes of Costa Rica, who leads strategic projects at the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency.

The Core Group includes Afghanistan, Albania, Bhutan, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Estonia, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam.

The Call to Action on Women’s Economic Empowerment is now open for signature to all UN member states. To learn more, or to watch the event, please visit: www.state.gov/c2a4women.

Original source can be found here.