WASHINGTON – Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan addressed a cross section of prominent Washingtonians today in observance of International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8 around the world, to stress the need for more investment in women’s advancement.
Her Majesty focused her remarks on the progress women have made in advancing economic opportunity and building civil society and political progress. Queen Rania also noted that despite the strides women have made, many challenges remain.
Citing her first hand field experiences, the Queen spoke passionately about the changes she has seen, especially in Jordan and in the region, when women have access to business opportunities and political participation.“We are moving in the right direction,” she said of the Arab world, “The number of Arab women entrepreneurs is on the rise… in my travels across the region, from Lebanon to Morocco to Dubai, I see Arab women taking on an ever greater role in society – as doctors, lawyers, teachers, journalists, politicians and more.”
She reminded her audience that investments in women benefit all sectors of society. “Working women are not only better able to support their families, they strengthen productivity and bolster growth for their communities and their countries,” said the Queen.
The Queen applauded Vital Voices’ newest initiative to advance the status of women, calling the campaign “a path-breaking coalition to invest in women’s leadership.”The Women Can Campaign, launched this week to coincide with International Women’s Day, will help identify, inspire, train, and empower women leaders in developing countries and emerging democracies around the world, and to communicate the value of women’s leadership.
The Queen praised the campaign's founder, Melanne Verveer, Chair of Vital Voices Global Partnership, and her partners: Exxon Mobil Corporation, designer and CEO Diane von Furstenberg, International Business Advisor Carly Fiorina, and Advertising Firm EURO RSCG Worldwide for their leadership.Last month, Queen Rania visited another project designed to empower females, Girls Count – A Global Action and Investment Agenda, whose motto is "counting girls, investing in girls and advocating for girls."
The program came out of the Coalition for Adolescent Girls, made up of UN agencies, NGOs, and companies committed to the idea that girls are the most cost effective and best investment that can be made toalleviate poverty and improve society. The program’s partners are the UN Foundation and the Nike Foundation. Today's event was co-sponsored by The United Nations Foundation, Vital Voices Global Partnership and The Coca-Cola Company.
-- From Earth Times
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