UPCOMING!!!! Secretary Clinton to Celebrate International Women's Day With Events in Washington, D.C. on March 10th

Secretary Clinton to Celebrate International Women's Day With Events in Washington, D.C. on March 10th

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 24, 2010

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will celebrate International Women’s Day with two events on March 10th in Washington, D.C. During the day, Secretary Clinton will host the annual International Women of Courage Awards at the Department of State. In the evening, Secretary Clinton will present an award at the ninth annual Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center. Information on additional events in recognition of International Women’s Day will be forthcoming.

Secretary Clinton will host the annual International Women of Courage Awards on March 10th at the Department of State. Then-Secretary Condoleezza Rice established the annual International Women of Courage Award in March of 2007 to recognize women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights. This is the only award within the Department of State that pays tribute to outstanding women leaders worldwide. It recognizes the courage and leadership shown as they struggle for social justice and equal rights.

The International Women of Courage Awards will be open to the press. Additional details will be forthcoming.

Secretary Clinton will present an award at the ninth annual Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards on March 10th at 6:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center. Secretary Clinton founded the Vital Voices Global Partnership, a leading international NGOs dedicated to supporting emerging women leaders, after the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing to promote the advancement of women as a U.S. foreign policy goal. This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Beijing UN World Conference on Women.

Secretary Clinton will present the Global Trailblazer Award to Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation. Other presenters include Vital Voices Honorary Co-Chair Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair, Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon, Avon Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung, NPR’s Michele Norris, New York Times Columnist Nicholas Kristof, CNBC’s Suze Orman, Academy Award-winning Actress Sally Field, Artist Angelique Kudjo, Businesswoman Shelia Johnson, Vital Voices Chair Susan Davis, Vital Voices Vice Chair Bobbie Greene McCarthy and Vital Voices CEO Alyse Nelson.