ICRW Honors first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              

November 8, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C., – The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) will honor former Ambassador- at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer, with its 2013 Champions for Change Leadership Award.  An awards ceremony and conversation with Ambassador Verveer, and a high-level panel discussion on the future of advancing women and girls around the world, will take place this afternoon from 12:30-2 pm at the National Press Club.

Ambassador Verveer is currently Executive Director for the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security and served as the first U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s issues, a position to which she was appointed by President Obama in 2009. In that capacity, she traveled to nearly 60 countries, coordinating foreign policy issues and activities relating to the political, economic and social advancement of women around the world.

“Along with Hillary Clinton, Ambassador Verveer has blazed a trail for women and girls everywhere, making sure that they are at the core of U.S. policy around the world.  Although clearly much work remains to be done, through her leadership we have moved closer towards a more gender equitable – and therefore economically healthy – world,” said ICRW President Sarah Degnan Kambou.

The panel discussion following the awards ceremony will feature new research from ICRW and speakers from the Gap Foundation, Intel’s Corporate Social Responsibility Office and the Inter-American Development Bank. Moderated by Politico’s Lois Romano, the discussion will take a deep dive into the reasons why advancing women’s livelihoods starts in adolescence, why those efforts must be sustained into early adulthood – and importantly – why innovative strategies for making progress are so critical to the global economy.

Event proceeds will go to ICRW’s Turning Point Campaign, whose aim is to help change the course for adolescent girls worldwide through evidence-based advocacy and research.

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Note to Editors:

Panelists

Lois Romano, Senior Political Correspondent, Politico (Panel Moderator)

Julie Katzman, Chief Operating Officer, the Inter-American Development Bank (Discussant)

Dotti Hatcher, Executive Director, Gap Inc.’s P.A.C.E. program for advancing women workers

Renee Wittemyer, Intel Corporation’s Director of Social Impact

Ann Warner, ICRW Senior Gender & Youth Specialist