Press Releases | Council of Women World Leaders

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TO DRIVE A CALL TO ACTION ON ADDRESSING CONFLICT, TERRORISM, CLIMATE CHANGE, ECONOMIC INEQUALITY

Largest Ever Summit in the US of Women Leaders on Security Issues:

Heads of State and Government from Ireland, Canada, Latvia, Ukraine join 75 Women Leaders from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, Europe, North America

November 13, 2007 (New York, NY)—This Thursday, November 15, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, The White House Project, the Council of Women World Leaders and the Women Leaders Intercultural Forum of Realizing Rights will launch the historic International Women Leaders Global Security Summit to convene women leaders from over 30 countries, to address critical issues including protecting civilians in conflict, terrorism, climate change and economic inequality.

The largest-ever gathering in the US of women leaders on security with current and former women heads of state and government and over 70 other high-level women leaders, will be hosted by H.E. Mary Robinson, President, Ireland (1990-97) and Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, Prime Minister, Canada (1993). Also attending are H.E. Emily Saidy de Jongh-Elhage, Prime Minister, Netherlands Antilles, Yulia Tymoshenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine (2005) and Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations.

The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State, United States (1997-2001) and Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Senior Adviser on Women’s Empowerment to the Secretary of State, United States (representing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice) will welcome the participants.

Margot Wallström, Vice-President, Institutional Relations and Communication, European Commission will moderate a panel with Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, who was detained in Iran this year on allegations of endangering Iranian national security, Bineta Diop, Executive Director, Femmes Africa Solidarité, Senegal and President Mary Robinson.

Over the course of the Summit, Olubanke King-Akerele, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Liberia, Sarah Sewall, Director, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University, United States, and Ms. Sheila Watt-Cloutier, climate change activist, 2007 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, and former Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, will present personal stories about their experiences handling critical security issues.

Angelique Kidjo, Grammy nominated Beninese singer-songwriter, who recently returned from a peacekeeping trip to Eastern Chad will perform, and Academy and Golden Globe-winning actress Geena Davis will introduce the documentary film on women leaders and security. Poet Maya Angelou, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Arts and Mother Teresa Award, will read the Call to Action to commemorate the Summit via video address.

The three-day conference will begin the evening of Thursday, November 15, with a dinner featuring women heads of state, at the Jumeirah Essex House in Manhattan, where the Summit will be held. The workshops, panel discussions and breakout sessions on November 16 and 17 will highlight an interactive action-oriented agenda with a focus on securing commitments to achieve tangible results from the Summit’s influential leaders in the public, private and non-profit/non-governmental sectors. Leaders will actively engage one another and share ideas; information exchange and feedback will be assisted through the use of computer software linking the live discussions to large in-room screens. Members of the philanthropic community and the media will join key sessions.

The International Women Leaders Global Security Summit comes at a pivotal historical moment when an injection of new voices and innovative ideas has the potential to positively impact a broad range of situations—from conflict in the Middle East to terrorism’s roots in economic inequality to the effects of climate change on all human beings. As the long-term effects of globalization come into clearer focus, both the needs of states and the safety of people are pre-eminent concerns.

The Initiative views the recent emphasis on women’s leadership at the national level—including Benazir Bhutto’s return to Pakistan and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s rise in Argentina—as an opportunity for women to advance and deepen their roles on the global stage.

The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands in partnership with The White House Project, the Council of Women World Leaders, and the Women Leaders Intercultural Forum launched the International Women Leaders Global Security Initiative in October 2006.

"Leadership is exercised increasingly by women at the international, national and local levels,” said Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders. “This is the first summit to commit to harnessing the collective power of those women leaders as we join together to address issues of human security."

“There is a global leadership crisis on issues of security, and the Summit’s core goal is to bridge this gap,” said White House Project Founder and President Marie Wilson. “We are meeting to put forward a new security agenda—one created by women and intended to meet the needs of all. Our agenda views the safety of people as inseparable from state security. Indeed, the two are complimentary and we must cease posing them as tradeoffs."

“Seeing a group of women in leadership roles helps remove a psychological barrier for both women and men,” said Council of Women World Leaders Secretary General Laura Liswood. “Many don't realize how many women have made it to the highest political offices around the world. By bringing these leaders together, their voices can work together to move issues of concern to women and all human beings to the forefront."

“This Summit will provide women leaders a unique opportunity to deepen relationships, share ideas and approach complex issues with fresh eyes. With unity, trust and respect, women leaders can help make the world a better place," added Wallis Annenberg, a Trustee of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands.

For more information about the International Women Leaders Global Security Summit and for credentialing information, please go to www.WomenandGlobalSecurity.org.

The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands
The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands was established in 2001 by The Annenberg Foundation primarily to address serious issues facing the nation and the world community. The Trust engages in a variety of educational and charitable programs, by hosting and participating in retreats and conferences, and educating visitors through public access on the significance of the historical and architectural importance of the property known as "Sunnylands," located in Rancho Mirage, California. www.sunnylands.org

The White House Project (WHP), a U.S based, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization, aims to advance women’s leadership in all communities and sectors, up to the U.S. presidency. By filling the leadership pipeline with a richly diverse, critical mass of women, The White House Project seeks to make American institutions, businesses and government truly representative. The WHP’s Real Security Initiative is based on the premise that real security requires harnessing all elements of U.S. power—strengthening diplomacy, economic leverage, and intelligence in addition to a strong military. The long term objective of the Real Security Initiative is to increase the profile of women and their values both in the media and politics, on issues of U.S. national security and the need for different national priorities. www.thewhitehouseproject.org

The Council of Women World Leaders
The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers. The Council, chaired by Mary Robinson, currently has 37 members, who represent nearly all of the world's current and former women world leaders. The Council's mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development. A ministerial initiative, chaired by Margot Wallstrom, which engages sitting and former women ministers and cabinet members, is an integral and essential part of the Council structure. www.cwwl.org

Women Leaders Intercultural Forum of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative
By addressing common issues that transcend perceived cultural, religious, sectoral and generational divides, the Women Leaders Intercultural Forum aims to leverage the efforts of women leaders to raise greater public awareness about global human security concerns and serve as a catalyst for collaborative action. www.wliforum.org

Chris Matthews, Delegation of the European Commission – 212-401-0134 / christopher.matthews@ec.europa.eu

New York, NY. - Monday, November 13, 2007. Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission, in charge of Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy will visit the United States this week to accept a new role as Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative--a position held by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright since 2002.

The handoff will occur between the two leaders in a private meeting Friday, November 16th, directly after they give a press briefing at the Jumeirah Essex House in New York City on the occasion of the International Women Leaders Global Security Summit.

The Council of Women World Leaders, a network of 35 current and former prime ministers and presidents. The Council's Ministerial Initiative is dedicated to advancing democracy, gender equality and excellence in governance throughout the world by promoting ministerial level exchange on global issues. The Initiative convenes meetings for women ministers within a variety of portfolios such as health, education, environment, finance, economy and development, women's affairs and culture.

As a top leader in Europe, Mrs. Wallström joins this extraordinary group of women leaders who provide inspiration to women around the world. Her leadership in European Union-US relations, and interest in combining economic growth with protecting the environment and social policies make her a sought after expert around the world.

The Council and its Ministerial Initiative provide a global architecture for women at the highest levels of government to work collectively with both multilateral institutions and grass roots efforts. Members of the Council include Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, and Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile.

New York City will serve as the host city for the historic, first-ever, “International Women Leaders Global Security Summit,” November 15-17, 2007. The international conference will feature current and former women heads of state and government and over 70 high-level women leaders representing more than 40 nations who will tackle the world’s most pressing security issues.

The Summit is a project of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands in partnership with The White House Project, the Council of Women World Leaders and the Women Leaders Intercultural Forum.

Members of the media interested in applying for credentials for the International Women Leaders Global Security Summit must use the following link to access the application: www.womenandglobalsecurity.org

All online applications must be completed by November 11, 2007. All members of the media wishing to cover the Summit must have credentials.

international Leaders Examine impact of Climate Change on Women - September 12, 2007

H.E. Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and H.E. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland to lead the discussion

New York, NY. – September 12: On Friday 21 September, the Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL), the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation will convene a high-level roundtable discussion entitled Examining How a Changing Climate Impacts Women on the occasion of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Event on Climate Change on Monday 24 September 2007.

The purpose of the Roundtable is to ensure that the impacts of climate change on women, as well as women’s roles in curbing climate change, are reflected in the outcome of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Event. Global climate change negotiations via the UNFCCC have not responded to the evidence of a strong correlation between gender-based discrimination and high female mortality rates during natural disasters. The Roundtable will be the first global gathering of high-level government, UN, and civil society representatives to raise these and other side effects of climate change on the world agenda.

While numerous global policies mandate the incorporation of a gender perspective and women’s participation in environmental and development efforts, few governments have drawn on these mandates in their adaptation plans or national reports to the UNFCCC. The Roundtable is part of CWWL’s Levers of Global Security series and part of WEDO’s campaign to ensure that national and global responses to climate change consider the poorest of the poor–namely women–who are most impacted by climate change.

In preparation for the meeting of Heads of State and Ministers at the Secretary-General’s Event, the Roundtable will convene former presidents, ministers, and high-level representatives of the UN and other multilateral organizations working on climate change. Roundtable participants will raise the gendered aspects of climate change in the Secretary-General’s event, guided by the Roundtable and a set of WEDO-CWWL recommendations on climate change and gender equality.

Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, will give the keynote address. Confirmed participants to date include the former Minister of Environment of Sweden, Lena Sommestad; the former Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Han Seung Soo; the Minister of Environment of Kenya, David Mwiraria; and the Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Richard Kinley. Dr. Brundtland and Mr. Han serve as two of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoys on climate change.

Examining How a Changing Climate Impacts Women will convene from 13.15-15.00 on Friday, 21^st September 2007 at the German House, located at 871 UN Plaza in New York City. Members of the press are cordially invited to attend the Roundtable, as well as the related press conference at 11.00 on Thursday, 20^th September 2007 at the UN Secretariat Room S-226 (2^nd floor) with speakers Gro Harlem Brundtland and gender and climate change expert Lorena Aguilar of IUCN in Costa Rica. Please notify the contacts above if you wish to attend the Roundtable, as space is limited.

Washington, D.C. - Feb 5th, 2007. The Council of Women World Leaders announced today that German Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has become its newest Member.

In 2006, Merkel was ranked as Forbes Magazine's most powerful woman. After being appointed in 2005 as Chancellor of Germany, she became the second woman, following Margaret Thatcher, to be Chair of the G8 summit and one of only three women to serve as President of the European Council.

Other new Members to the Council as of 2006 include Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, and Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica. Chancellor Merkel is the 37^th Member in this extraordinary group of leaders who provide inspiration to women around the world.

The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of current and former women heads of state and government. Mary Robinson, President of Ireland (1990-97) is Chair of the Council, and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright (1997-2001) is Chair of the Women’s Ministerial Initiative. Its Secretariat is housed at The Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C.

The Council and its Ministerial Initiative create a global architecture for giving a collective voice to women at the highest levels of government on issues crucial not only to women but all humankind. Their mission is to promote good governance and enhance the experience of democracy globally by increasing the number, effectiveness, and visibility of women world leaders.

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Washington, DC, Feb 1, 2007 – As a Fellow in the Council of Women World Leaders’ Ministerial Fellows Exchange Program, women leading at the highest level in government get a rare opportunity to

Dr. Parker, Assistant Director of Fisheries and Habitat Conservation for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will travel to Lesotho on February 3, 2007. As part of the exchange, she will shadow Mrs. Nthabiseng Majara, Principal Environment Officer for Lesotho’s Ministry of Tourism, Environment, and Culture, and will meet officials in the Ministry of Gender and Youth to learn about gender issues in Lesotho.

On her return to the U.S., Dr. Parker will stop in South Africa to speak at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. She will give a talk about women in leadership to students of the newly opened school.

Mrs. Majara of Lesotho visited the United States as a Ministerial Fellow last fall to complete her exchange visit with Dr. Parker’s office in the U.S. Department of the Interior. She and Dr. Parker also participated in an executive training program at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and

The Ministerial Fellows Exchange Program aims to promote and support women’s governmental leadership and gender-aware policy development through cross-cultural exchange. The Program is sponsored by the Council of Women World Leaders and funded by the U.S. Department of State.

The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of 37 current and former women presidents and prime ministers. Mary Robinson, President of Ireland (1990-97) is Chair of the Council, and U.S. Secretary Madeleine Albright (1997-2001) is Chair of the Women’s Ministerial Initiative.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, to address education, health and gender equity issues at special breakfast event; pbs’ judy woodruff to moderate - OCT 11, 2006

Washington, DC, October 11, 2006 – Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female president, will discuss how Americans can help open Liberia’s school doors as part of the Council of Women World Leaders Presidential Series on Girls’ Education. The event will take place at a breakfast featuring a discussion led by PBS newswoman Judy Woodruff. The event will be held at The Mansion on O Street, 2020 O St. NW, Washington, DC. on Tuesday, October 17, 2006 from 8:00-10:00 AM. Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit the Liberian Education Trust, … The breakfast is co-sponsored by Ambassador Swannee Hunt’s Initiative for Inclusive Security.

With specific respect to the HIV/AIDS crisis, education has been called the social vaccine for the disease. Evidence further shows that educated girls are more likely to be financially secure, marry later, and have fewer and healthier children. Given the likely and significant impact on society as a whole, providing girls with equal access to education and equitable opportunities within the school system proves to be a powerful investment for developing nations.

Prior to President Johnson Sirleaf’s election, Liberia was a non-functioning state with no civil services of any kind. While the country faces many pressing tasks on the path toward recovery, restoring access to education for the next generation of Liberians is among President Johnson Sirleaf’s top priorities.

Liberia’s education system is dilapidated: most school buildings were destroyed during the war; there are few qualified teachers and even fewer books; more than half the Liberian children of school-age are out-of-school and of that number, a majority are girls; and, the drop out rate is high. Illiteracy rates in Liberia have been historically high, and the illiteracy rate among women is more than double than that among man.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf envisioned the Liberian Education Trust as a way of harnessing support from Americans for Liberia’s educational needs. The Trust supports 50 schools, 500 teachers, and 5000 students a year and focuses on post-war recovery efforts such as rebuilding schools and providing universal education.

The October 17^th benefit breakfast will be followed by an experts meeting at the Aspen Institute. This meeting will include approximately 40 high-level education experts including those from CARE, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, the Nike Foundation and Save the Children, among others.

Members of the press are invited to attend the breakfast event free of charge by notifying Kim Mance at: kim.mance@aspeninstitute.org or 202-736-2531. The dialogue with President Johnson Sirleaf will begin promptly at 9am.

The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers. The Council currently has 35 Members, which represents nearly all of the world’s current and former women world leaders. Mary Robinson, President of Ireland (1990-97) is Chair of the Council, and Secretary Madeleine Albright is Chair of the Women’s Ministerial Initiative.