Women Leaders' Working Group

The Women Leaders' Working Group was created in 2006 by Secretary Rice to ensure that women’s empowerment issues such as education, political and economic empowerment, and access to justice are international priorities. It is comprised of female Heads of State, Ministers, and high-ranking officials from across the globe. The Women Leaders' Working Group meets intermittently to discuss current challenges to women's empowerment and strategies to address them.

Documents and Statements by the Women Leaders’ Working Group

2006 Women Leaders’ Working Group Fact Sheet

2007 Letter from the Women Leaders’ Working Group to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling for an increase in the number of women considered for United Nations special representatives and envoy positions.

2007 Statement by the Women Leaders’ Working Group on Burma

2008 Summary Recommendations of the Women Leaders’ Working Group

Calendar of Events for the Women Leaders’ Working Group

September 28, 2007, New York: Meeting of the Women Leaders’ Working Group.

September 23 2006, New York: Launch of the Women Leaders’ Working Group.

May 31, 2007, Vienna: Meeting of the Women Leaders’ Working Group and Roundtable for Peace and Security in the Middle East.

November 2007, Vienna: Women in Kosovo ( Austria ) - A special forum for women from Serbia and Kosovo to share experiences and network.

March 8, 2008, Washington , D.C.: Senior Roundtable for Women’s Justice (USA) - Judges worldwide will address obstacles to women's access to justice.

March 6 2008, Brussels: Meeting on Conflict and Security (EU) - EU leaders will discuss conflict and security in areas such as energy and climate change.

June 2008, Athens: Women in the Middle East ( Greece ) - A forum to address challenges to empowerment faced by women in the Middle East.

February 2009, Monrovia: Colloquium on Women's Empowerment (Liberia/Finland) - A conference promoting women in leadership positions in Africa.