This week kicks off a flurry of activities for Vital Voices, and for the women of the World.

Although widely celebrated from Russia to Indonesia to Nigeria - in the United States, International Women’s Day is just beginning to gain mainstream recognition.

For me, International Women’s Day on March 8th is an opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come and explore new ways to move forward.

A hundred years ago, leaders gathered to call for economic security and increased rights for women. The march of 15,000 women in New York in 1908 sparked a chain of events which three years later led to the founding of International Women Day in 2011. On Monday, as we begin International Women’s Week - Vital Voices is bringing together a new and diverse group of partners to kick off an innovative campaign to advance women and the world - gathering 100 years later to spark another a chain of events to foster greater investments in women’s leadership.

This week kicks off a flurry of activities for Vital Voices, and for the women of the World.

Although widely celebrated from Russia to Indonesia to Nigeria - in the United States, International Women’s Day is just beginning to gain mainstream recognition.

For me, International Women’s Day on March 8th is an opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come and explore new ways to move forward.

A hundred years ago, leaders gathered to call for economic security and increased rights for women. The march of 15,000 women in New York in 1908 sparked a chain of events which three years later led to the founding of International Women Day in 2011. On Monday, as we begin International Women’s Week - Vital Voices is bringing together a new and diverse group of partners to kick off an innovative campaign to advance women and the world - gathering 100 years later to spark another a chain of events to foster greater investments in women’s leadership.

The Campaign “Women Can” is inspired by the words of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. On the eve of the Liberian Presidential Elections when asked how she would work as President to rebuild her nation - she responded that African women are an incredible, but largely untapped resource - that Women Can work to lift their families out of poverty, Women Can bring an end to violence in their communities, Women Can lead their countries to greatness - simply put - Women Can.

For the past 100 years, women’s groups and non-governmental organizations have been working to support women leaders to achieve greater economic opportunities, political participation and increased human rights protections. In the past decade, following the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, governments have begun to do more by enacting new laws to protect women and provide increased opportunities. But in order to create sustainable positive change for women and for the world - we need the participation - and frankly the strength of all sectors of society. Corporations, leaders, and the media can and must play a key role in supporting women4 leadership globally.

At our launch on Monday - we’ve begun to bring together such partners.
Renowned fashion designer and advocate for women’s leadership, Diane von Furstenberg is hosting us in her beautiful new studios and will discuss how she has worked with Vital Voices to develop a series of events at her stores around the world to raise awareness about women’s leadership and raise fund for our work by donating 10 percent of sales to Vital Voices this week. Carly Fiorina, former CEO and Chairman of HP will join us to talk about her new organization and commitment to women’s leadership - particularly in the Middle East. Lorie Jackson of ExxonMobil Foundation’s Educating Women and Girls Program will discuss how the company is doubling their efforts this year and ramping up their programs to support women’s leadership with a commitment of $11 million. David Jones of Euro RSCG will discuss the new campaign as our creative partner and finally the AMAZING Maria Pacheco will communicate the impact that she has made in her country as an emerging leader who has been invested in training, support and new connections.