Washington, DC, October 18-19, 2005

Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Abdullah, and Afghan Minister of Women's Affairs Massouda Jalal co-chaired the seventh meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council in Washington D.C. on October 17-18, 2005. This bi-national Council of Americans and Afghans reviewed progress on initiatives to assist Afghan women and identified additional means of support. The Council specifically addressed the status of Afghan women in the economic sector and job market, education, health and the political and judicial arenas.

Reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan have improved the daily lives of millions of Afghans. Additional details on the office of International Women's Issues and the Council are available at www.state.gov/g/wi.