Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Dobriansky Chairs U.S.-Afghan Women's Council Meeting

Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky chaired the tenth meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council on January 17, 2008 at Georgetown University. The Council was pleased to welcome First Lady Laura Bush, an honorary member and active supporter of Council initiatives that promote educational opportunities for women. Ambassador Said Jawad co-chaired on the Afghan side, on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Spanta and Minister of Women’s Affairs Ghazanfar.

President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai established the Council as a public-private partnership in 2002. Its mission is to assist Afghan women gain the skills and education they need to fulfill their rightful role in society. At the Georgetown meeting, this bi-national Council of Americans and Afghans reviewed initiatives to assist Afghan women and girls in the areas of education, health, economic participation and access to justice. Projects under a special children’s initiative were also discussed.