Humanity United, Avon Foundation, Mosaic Foundation, ExxonMobil Foundation, Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Donna McLarty join Vital Voices to Support “Turning the Tide —Translating the Promise of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women into Action"

Washington, D.C., September 24, 2009– A major commitment to action was made to Vital Voices programs during the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting totaling $4 million.

Humanity United, Avon Foundation, Mosaic Foundation, ExxonMobil Foundation, Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Donna McLarty joined together to seed a Vital Voices initiative in 2010 that will bring new solutions to enduring and emerging challenges facing women across the globe. The initiative named “Turning the Tide: Translating the Promise of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women into Action” is timed to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the landmark UN Fourth World Conference on Women which brought together women leaders from the public and private sectors in Beijing, China in 1995. This commitment seeks to assess progress and bring innovation to women’s empowerment efforts.

“Despite the undeniable progress towards women’s empowerment over the past 15 years, far too much remains unfinished business and threatens to remain so. The international community must leverage this milestone in history to pursue gender equality in new and innovative ways” said Alyse Nelson, President & CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, a global non-profit that traces its roots to the Beijing conference in 1995. Vital Voices has been a leader in pushing the agenda for the advancement of women forward in areas of economic growth, human rights and political participation. “With its partners,” she continued, “Vital Voices will launch a four-tiered initiative to 1) influence policy, 2) strengthen international women’s leadership, 3) attract new stakeholders to women’s empowerment efforts and 4) raise public awareness of the issues facing women across the globe. Specifically, this commitment will result in four international events; a publication documenting policy recommendations for the advancement of women; international performances of Vital Voices’ documentary play,” SEVEN”, and targeted programming to address the scourge of human trafficking and build women’s leadership in Muslim majority nations. It will engage in international programming to raise awareness and activism among youth, especially young men, through a Vital Voices Rising Voices Initiative and collaboration with the ManUp Initiative.

Vital Voices is proud to have commitments from implementing partners that include the ManUp Initiative, New York University, George Washington University and the Nexus Institute.

This initiative recognizes the critical role that women can and must play in moving the world forward socially, politically and economically. The “Turning the Tide” initiative will directly impact 5000 leaders who in turn will influence millions through the ripple effect.

Vital Voices continues to seek support for this and other programs that work to advance women leaders who are changing our world for good.

The Clinton Global Initiative is a non-partisan catalyst for action with an emphasis on results. During the three-day annual meeting, attendees participated in workshops and meetings focused on four main topics: Harnessing Innovation for Development; Strengthening Infrastructures; Building Human Capital; and, Financing an Equitable Future. Attendees made specific commitments to address one of the topics covered and will report to President Clinton on the progress made throughout the course of the coming year.

About Vital Voices Global Partnership

Established in 1999, Vital Voices Global Partnership is a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, invests in and brings visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities.

• They are at the forefront of international coalitions to combat human trafficking and other forms of violence against women and girls.
• They enable women to become change agents in their governments, advocates for social justice, and supporters of democracy and the rule of law.
• They equip women with management, business development, marketing, and communications skills to expand their enterprises, help to provide for their families, and create jobs in their communities.

For More Information contact:
Alyson Wise
Global Programs Manager
Vital Voices Global Partnership
O: 212.992.9110
C: 703.615.1278
alysonwise@vitalvoices.org
www.vitalvoices.org