U.S.-Afghan Women's Council

Highlights

President and Mrs. Bush Host Reception in Honor of the United States-Afghan Women's Council, December 18, 2008
President Bush: "I just came back from Afghanistan, Ambassador, and I told the people there that the United States will not forget them; that it's essential that the people in Afghanistan realize that even though the Presidents have changed, our commitment to Afghanistan remains very strong -- at the governmental level, as well as in the private sector. And I am confident that the Afghan Women's Council sends that same signal -- that you can take a risk for peace and freedom; that your courage won't be -- won't be really isolated in the face of thugs who can't stand the idea of women having freedom." Full Story

 


President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush stand in the Yellow Oval Room in the Private Residence of the White House Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, after the President dropped in on a coffee in honor of the U.S. Afghan Women's Council. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian  

Under Secretary Dobriansky Leads Members of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council to Afghanistan, Nov. 21, 2008
Under Secretary Dobriansky traveled to Afghanistan November 19-20, to hold formal discussions with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, and Afghan Minister of Women’s Affairs Dr. Hosni Banu Ghazanfar concerning the transition of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council to its permanent home at Georgetown University [more]

Meeting at Georgetown University of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, January 17, 2008
Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky chaired the tenth meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council on January 17, 2008 at Georgetown University. The Council was very pleased to welcome First Lady Laura Bush, an honorary member and active supporter of Council initiatives that promote educational opportunities for women. Ambassador Said Jawad co-chaired on the Afghan side, on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Spanta and Minister of Women’s Affairs Ghazanfar. Georgetown University President Dr. John DeGioia welcomed Mrs. Bush. He was joined by Dr. Phyllis Magrab, Director of Georgetown University's Center for Child and Human Development, who will become the Council's point of contact upon its transition to the University in 2009.

First Lady Laura Bush speaks at the 10th meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council and is joined at the table, from left to right, by Council member, Timothy McBride; Director of Georgetown University's Center for Child and Human Development, Dr. Phyllis Magrab; Georgetown University President John DeGioia; and State Department Under Secretary of Democracy and Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky.	Georgetown University's Center for Child and Human Development Director, Dr. Magrab; Georgetown University President DeGioia and Mrs. Bush participate in the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council’s 10th meeting at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

Meeting in Kabul of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, July 18, 2007
Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky traveled to Afghanistan July 16-20, 2007 to convene the ninth formal meeting of the U.S. Afghan Women's Council. U/S Dobriansky led a delegation of distinguished Americans from the private sector and philanthropies: Barbara Barrett, CEO Triple Creek Ranch; Caroline Firestone, Founder, The New Hudson Foundation; Timothy McBride, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Freddie Mac; Terry Neese, President, Women Impacting Public Policy; and Diana Rowan, Founder, Afghan Women Leaders Connect.

Under Secretary Dobriansky and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, William Wood, participate in the ninth session of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council in Kabul on July 18, 2007.	The Council's U.S. delegation visits the Afghan Women's Business Federation in Kabul.

In Kabul on July 18, U/S Dobriansky co-chaired the Council's session with Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, and Afghan Minister of Women's Affairs, Dr. Hussn Banu Ghazanfar. The meeting helped bring U.S. and Afghan members up to date on new and ongoing projects to assist Afghan women in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, civic empowerment and health. Participants reviewed some of the Council's investments such as intensive entrepreneurship and mentoring programs for aspiring Afghan women business owners, efforts to train women judges and lawyers, community health-related projects and the successful training of 384 village-based literacy teachers, 50% of them women, at the Women's Teachers Training Institute in Kabul. Attendees were also briefed on plans under Ayenda, the Council's special effort targeted at the critical needs of children. Throughout the meeting, the Council's Afghan partners offered welcome insights into the current needs, aspirations and achievements of Afghan women and girls.

U.S.-Afghan Women's Council Partnership with Georgetown University
On December 4, 2006, Mrs. Laura Bush announced a new partnership between the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council and Georgetown University. Over the next two years, the Council and Georgetown will work to help empower Afghan women through educational opportunities, skills training, improving political and legal participation, and access to medical care.
The U.S.-Afghan Women's Council is a bi-national Council of Americans and Afghans that meets semi-annually to address 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 is co-chaired by Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Dr. Paula Dobriansky, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta and Minister of Women's Affairs Dr. Hassan Bano Ghazanfar of Afghanistan. It was established to help ensure that Afghan women gain the skills and education necessary to participate in all sectors of society, and to stimulate private and public assistance for such activities. The first meeting was held in Washington D. C. in April 2002.

Mrs. Bush Highlights Women's Achievements in Afghanistan; Meets Grant Recipients
In an address at the Women's Teacher in Training Institute in Kabul, Afghanistan on March 30, Mrs. Bush noted "the incredible progress that has been made by the people of Afghanistan over these past four years.... The United States Government is wholeheartedly committed to the full participation of women in all aspects of Afghan society, not just in Kabul, but in every province." [full text]

Below, Mrs. Bush meets with grant recipients from the Afghan Women's Business Council's Artemis Program. [full story]

Fact Sheet on the U.S-Afghan Women's Council
Read about the origins of the Council and its success in promoting public-private partnerships between U.S. and Afghan institutions and mobilizing private sector resources to help Afghan women participate and take leadership roles in the political and economic life of their country.