Hillary Rodham Clinton launches global women empowerment program

WASHINGTON–Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday launches the “100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges,” a continuation of work she began when she was the First Lady and used her position to highlight the plight of women worldwide.

Tuesday–March 8–is International Women’s Day.

Clinton’s top appointment on international women’s affairs is Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer–a onetime chief of staff to the former first lady–who ran the Vital Voices Global Partnership, an outgrowth of Mrs. Clinton’s Vital Voices Democracy Initiative, established in 1997.

Verveer and Clinton Counselor and Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills “will participate in a conversation with the “100 Women” moderated by Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock.”

Background, from the State Department: This effort kicks-off a year-long series of events to highlight key foreign policy issues that directly impact women and girls worldwide through the International Visitor Leadership Program’s exchanges.

Below, State Department release…..

Notice to the Press

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 4, 2011

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will launch the “100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges” on Monday, March 7 at approximately 1:45 p.m., in the Marshall Conference Center at the Department of State. Watch live on www.state.gov.

Following the Secretary’s remarks, Counselor and Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer will participate in a conversation with the “100 Women” moderated by Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock.

The event will be open to credentialed members of the media.

Pre-set time for video cameras: 12:45 p.m. from the 21st Street Entrance Lobby.

Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 1:15 p.m. from the 21st Street Entrance Lobby.

The 100 Women Initiative brings people together to foster greater understanding among people and cultures. This effort kicks-off a year-long series of events to highlight key foreign policy issues that directly impact women and girls worldwide through the International Visitor Leadership Program’s exchanges.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. The IVLP annually brings approximately 5,200 current and emerging leaders to the United States from around the world for professional engagement with U.S. peers and for firsthand experience of American society and culture.