Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC July 5, 2006
Under Secretary Dobriansky to Host U.S.-Afghan Women's Council MeetingOn the occasion of Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta’s inaugural official visit to the United States, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky chaired the eighth meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council on July 5, 2006. The Council was honored to welcome Mrs. Laura Bush, who has been an active supporter of Council initiatives that promote educational opportunities, and has traveled twice to Afghanistan since 2005.
This bi-national Council of Americans and Afghans reviewed progress on initiatives to assist Afghan women, and identified additional means of support. The Council specifically addressed the status of Afghan women in the economic, education, health, political and judicial sectors.
President George W. Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced the creation of the Council in January 2002. The Council was established to help ensure that Afghan women gain the skills and education necessary to participate in all sectors, and to stimulate private and public assistance for such activities. The first meeting was held in Washington D. C. in April 2002.
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Released on July 5, 2006
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