"How Women Leaders Can Change the World" by Ambassador Melanne Verveer

June 4, 2009

U.S. Ambassador At Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer

U.S. Ambassador At Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer made remarks in the "1st International Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership Summit in Istanbul. The summit opened by KAGIDER (Women Entrepreneurs Association) president's remarks followed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks to the audience through DVD. Ambassador Verveer participated in the opening panel together with Turkish State Minister in charge of Women and Family Affairs and Turkish Minister of Education. The panel was on "How Women Leaders Could Change the World." In the panel the current position and effect of women leaders in the international business and political spheres, the future role of women in the globalized world has been addressed. Ambassador Verveer's participation in the conference drew enormous interest from the media.

During her visit to Istanbul Ambassador Melanne Verveer met the representatives of prominent ngos working on women’s issues. The event was a round-table discussion where Ambassador Verveer had a chance to hear the current issues regarding women in Turkey, from women’s rights, education, labor to domestic violence, health, gender equality. Ambassador also briefed the group about her new role and her priorities in her capacity as “Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues.”

Consul General Sharon Wiener hosted a luncheon at the residence in honor of Ambassador Melanne Verveer. The luncheon provided an opportunity for the Consul General and Ambassador to come together with some of the leading Turkish women from different fields such as government, media, business, academia and ngo world, and discuss the critical issues and policies affecting women in Turkey.