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.

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

September 25, 2007, New York: Meeting 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 12, 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.