The Canadian Press reports:

DAVOS, Switzerland — There is a simple way to help rejuvenate many of the world’s economies: invest in the education of girls and make sure they don’t become victims of the global financial meltdown, Nike’s chief executive, the head of UNICEF and Melinda Gates agreed Saturday.

For the first time, the World Economic Forum devoted one of its marquee sessions to the impact of educating girls in developing countries, an event four years in the planning that ended up coinciding with the world’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

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A Different Kind of Davos - Huffington Post

On January 26, President Obama sat for his first TV interview as the President of the United States of America and he chose an Arabic news channel—Al Arabiya—as his venue. Based in Dubai, the network predicted the interview could reach as many as 23 million viewers in the Gulf. One cannot miss the significance of the new President’s choice. Not only is he building a bridge between American and Middle Eastern societies, but he intends for the Muslim world to hear and be a part of his message. In his interview, President Obama appeared to understand the value of communication and diplomacy in foreign relations; the message itself underscores the importance of the relationship he strives to foster. Continue Reading »

Despite the January 21 ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, a recent article shows that tensions between the Jewish and Arab populations in Israel continue to worsen.  The three week war brought out the sharp differences between the two populations regarding foreign policy toward Palestine.  While the Arab minority expressed sympathy with the Palestinians, the Jewish community worried about relatives in the reserves.  Many who have lived peacefully find themselves face to face with the conflict.  The article provides one such example: a mother who sends her child to a Jewish-Arab school striving for harmony revealed, “For the first time, I felt like I don’t belong here.”  Although rebuilding a common ground will be difficult after the attacks, Vital Voices believes that bringing the two communities together is the key to reconciliation and peace.

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At a time of economic turmoil, women represent a resource we cannot afford to ignore. To raise awareness of this powerful force for growth, Ernst & Young conducted in-depth interviews and gained insights from leading thinkers in business, government and academia. Ernst & Young’s research demonstrates that the increased participation of women in the world economy could significantly enhance global growth.

Presenting the report at the World Economic Forum was Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair.  An extraordinary businesswoman and women’s advocate, Ms. Brooke has generously contributed her time and expertise to help Vital Voices Global Leadership Network members through her participation in several programs: including the FORTUNE/US State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Program & the Middle East and North Africa Businesswomen’s Network Corporate Ambassadors Program.

Press Release

More about the report on the Ernst & Young Word Economic Forum page

Download the report

Today, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act.  This piece of legislation helps to ensure that individuals subjected to unlawful pay discrimination are able to effectively assert their rights under the federal anti-discrimination laws.

It is named after Lilly Ledbetter a retired professional who discovered that she was paid less than her male co-workers for almost two decades. (Read Lilly Ledbetter’s story and watch her speak on the National Women’s Law Center website).

Before President Barack Obama signed the bill, he delivered a speech, stating:

“This is a wonderful day.  It is fitting that the very first bill that I sign…is upholding one of this nation’s founding principles, that we are all created equal- and each deserve a chance to pursue our own version of happiness.”

He went on to tell Lilly’s story and to praise her efforts to fight for justice. Additionally, President Obama discussed workplace discrimination at length, concluding:

“Making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody”

Read more on the White House Blog

Watch President Obama’s Speech on YouTube

Read news articles from The New York Times, AFP, Reuters, Associated Press.

January 29, 2009- the Gulf Times reported on the upcoming Corporate Ambassdor’s Program “SMEs: Engines for Growth” taking place in Qatar this February.

The event is a component to the MENA Businesswomen’s Network, a partnership between Vital Voices, the US State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative and local businesswomen’s networks throughout the region.

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Do any of you remember a movie called “Jerry Maguire?” Tom Cruise returns to Renee Zellweger to apologize for treating her badly and talks on and on. When he finally stops talking to catch his breath, she says to him,” you had me on the hello.” Well, that was my reaction to Kakenya Ntaiya when she walked on stage of the Kennedy Center at the Vital Voices gala last spring. She had me on the hello. I was one of four of the five founding members of the Connecticut Council of Vital Voices to have had the great fortune to attend that event. When Kakenya Ntaiya came onstage to accept her award my eyes filled with tears. So many tears and not enough tissues. Here was this young beautiful woman, wearing a red dress, which, I later found out, had been made by her mother for the occasion. When she told her story I was awed by her courage and her achievements. She took my breath away. When our group talked later, I found out everyone felt the same way. There probably weren’t enough tissues in the entire Kennedy Center. After that wonderful and inspiring evening, we all returned home to Connecticut determined more than ever to spread the word about the work of Vital Voices in general, and about Kakenya Ntaiya specifically.

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Today, the National reported on the Sakirin Mosque in Istanbul built by Zeynep Fadillioglu.

Zeynep Fadillioglu’s Sakirin Mosque is the first in Turkey to be designed by a woman, a reflection of the country’s more progressive Muslim policies.

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On Wednesday, Gulf Daily News released an article featuring Vital Voices’ efforts to fight domestic violence in Bahrain.  Domestic violence, whether verbal, psychological, or physical, is a problem that endangers many Bahraini women.  Recently, activists and psychologists have worked to increase awareness and define domestic violence as a significant issue that requires attention from the government and society.  As a result of the issue’s increasing prominence, more and more women seek help from local NGOs.  In 2006 alone, 1, 310 cases were reported to the Batelco Centre for Family Violence Victims.  Vital Voices has united concerned individuals across the Kingdom to provide women in need with more opportunity for support. Continue Reading »

Yesterday, Pakistani women councilors announced plans to protest in front of the Parliament House on International Women’s Day (March 8th). Protest organizers want to increase women’s representation from a quota of 33 to 50 percent in the country’s legislature. Continue Reading »