Urgent Action Needed on Afghanistan: Afghan and US Women’s Leaders Hold Forum at National Press Club

WHERE: National Press Club, Holeman Lounge
529 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC
WHEN: Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 9:30 AM
WHY: As the U.S. Congress debates Iraq/Afghanistan funding, Ms. magazine Forum features Dr. Sima Samar and feminist leaders. Forum will focus on the dire conditions for Afghan women and girls, and the urgent need to change U.S. policy in Afghanistan.
WHO: Dr. Sima Samar, Chair, Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and former Minister for Women’s Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. As the most prominent Afghan woman official, Samar takes on U.S. and Karzai government policy.
Eleanor Smeal, President, Feminist Majority; leads efforts to pass in Congress the Afghan Women Empowerment Act of 2007 to authorize funding for Afghan women-led programs for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Mavis Leno chairs the Feminist Majority’s Campaign for Afghan Women & Girls to increase public awareness about the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Yanming Lin, Program Officer for Afghanistan, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. UNFPA’s program there focuses on maternal health since Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the world.
Katherine Spillar, Executive Editor, Ms. magazine. Spillar’s interview of Dr. Samar is featured in the Winter issue of Ms.

 

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