Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Dobriansky To Lead Delegation to Afghanistan

The delegation will focus on projects to assist Afghan women in areas such as women’s development centers, literacy, political participation, job skills training and small business development. A list of U.S. delegation members is below. In addition, the Council will host a digital video conference from Kabul for a discussion with supporters of Afghan women in New York City, Washington, DC, and Kabul. Members of the delegation will meet with representatives of international and Afghan non-governmental organizations and make a number of site visits.

Under Secretary Dobriansky will also meet with Afghan officials to discuss trafficking in persons, counternarcotics activities, police and justice reform, and the needs of displaced persons and refugees. She will also consult with officials of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and discuss U.S. assistance in efforts to develop an Afghan Conservation Corps. In all her meetings she will underscore the continued U.S. commitment to the government and people of Afghanistan.

The Council, which is co-chaired by Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah, Minister of Women’s Affairs Habiba Sarabi, and Under Secretary Dobriansky, is dedicated to creating public-private partnerships to mobilize resources that facilitate Afghan women’s involvement in rebuilding their country. The first meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council was held in Washington, DC on April 24, 2002. Presidents George W. Bush and Hamid Karzai launched the Council in January 2002 on the occasion of President Karzai’s visit to Washington, DC.

For more information, contact Diana McCaffrey, International Women’s Issues Office, (202) 312-9669.

Delegation Members:
Connie K. Duckworth
Founding Partner of 8 Wings Enterprises and
Chair of the Committee of 200 (an organization of
pre-eminent women business leaders)

Karen Hughes
Advisor to President Bush

Timothy J. McBride
Vice President of the Washington Office
DaimlerChrysler Corporation

April Palmerlee
Senior Coordinator for International Women’s Issues
U.S. Department of State

Diana N. Rowan
Co-founder and Special Advisor
The Afghan Women’s Leaders Fund

Patricia Sellers
Writer/Journalist, FORTUNE Magazine
Co-chair of the Most Powerful Women in Business Summit