International Women’s Day

Afghan and Iraqi Women Delegations Invited to the United States for International Women’s Day Celebrations

Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and Senior Coordinator for International Women’s Issues Charlotte Ponticelli will host two high-level delegations of Afghan and Iraqi women leaders in New York City and Washington, DC, February 28 to March 11, 2005.

In New York City, the delegations will attend plenary sessions of the 49th Session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. In Washington, the delegations will attend events marking International Women’s Day on March 8, participate in training workshops, and meet with Administration officials, members of Congress, and the press.

Through these visits, the State Department continues its programs to provide training in political leadership, governance, networking, and communications to ensure that Iraqi and Afghan women have the resources necessary to lead democratic reconstruction in their respective countries.

Massouda Jalal, Afghan Minister of Women’s Affairs and a presidential candidate in the October 2004 Afghanistan election, and Narmin Othman, Iraqi Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, will head the delegations.

For more information about International Women’s Day activities contact Susan Crais Hovanec, (202) 312-9675.

2005/210 Released on February 18, 2005 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC