Washington, DC, July 15-16, 2003

The Council held its third meeting in Washington, DC, July 15-16, 2003.   This successful and productive session brought together distunguished delegations of government and non-government participants from the two countries.    Key issues discussed were the education needs of women and girls, women's political participation, including the constitutional framework and upcoming 2004 elections, job skills training and business development, and an update on the Ministry of Women's Affairs' progress in creating a network of women's resource centers in each of Afghanistan's 32 provinces.   

The formal meeting of the US-Afghan Women's Council on July 15 was co-chaired by Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky, Afghan Minister of Women's Affairs Habiba Sarabi, and Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Abdullah.  

This was the third meeing of the Council; the first took place in Washington DC in April 2002, and the second in Kabul in January 2003.      Participants in the meeting are shown in the photo below:

From left to right:    Seated in Front:   The three co-shairs:   Minister of Women's Affairs Habiba Sarabi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Abdullah, and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky

Standing in the Rear:   Seema Ghani, Pat Harrison, Charlie Ponticelli, Afifa Azim, Jamila Emami, Connie Duckworth, Gul Makai Rangbar, Gila Naim Samaee, Barbara Barrett, Pat Mitchell, Daria Fane, Zohra Rasekh, Constantine Curris