Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky to Lead Delegation to Afghanistan February 24-26

The U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council will focus on projects that assist Afghan women in areas such as education, literacy, women’s development centers, women’s health, political participation, environmental conservation and small and medium business development. Members of the U.S. delegation will meet with Afghan teachers and visit several schools in Afghanistan, including the future site of a women’s teacher training college to be established by the American University of Kabul. The delegation will also visit a women’s health center and meet with Afghan officials concerning women’s health issues. A list of U.S. delegation members is attached.

Co-chaired by Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan Minister of Women’s Affairs Habiba Sarabi and Under Secretary Dobriansky, the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council is dedicated to creating public-private partnerships to mobilize resources that facilitate Afghan women’s involvement in rebuilding their country. The Council was launched by Presidents George W. Bush and Hamid Karzai during President Karzai’s visit to Washington DC in January 2002. The first meeting of the Council was held on April 24, 2002 in Washington, the second meeting was on January 8-9, 2003 in Kabul, and the third meeting was on July 15-16, 2003 in Washington.

Under Secretary Dobriansky will meet separately with Afghan officials to discuss counter-narcotics activities as well as the Afghan Conservation Corps, an important initiative providing jobs to women and other vulnerable groups in environmental projects. More broadly, the Under Secretary will underscore the continued U.S. commitment to the people and government of Afghanistan in all her official meetings.

Attachment:   U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council Delegation

For more information, contact Paul Saunders, Office of the Under Secretary of Global Affairs, (202) 647-8745, or Susan Hovanec, Office of International Women’s Issues, (202) 312-9675.
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Head of Delegation:

Paula J. Dobriansky
Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Delegation:

Barbara Barrett
Chief Executive Officer of Triple Creek Ranch
& Chairman of the U.S. Advisory Committee on Public Diplomacy

Constantine Curris
President
American Association of Colleges and Universities

Connie Duckworth
Founder, 8 Wing Enterprises and Chair of the Committee of 200
(an organization of pre-eminent women business leaders)

Kathleen Harrington
Designated Senior Advisor on Women’s Issues
Afghan Reconstruction Team

Karen Hughes
Advisor to the President

Charlotte Ponticelli
Senior Coordinator for International Women’s Issues
U.S. Department of State

Joyce Rumsfeld
U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council

Nazanin Samari-Kermani
White House Fellow

Margaret Spellings
Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy

Sally Ward
Vice President
Resource for Living