Update on the USAWC
The U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council is proud to announce the launch of a new U.S.-Afghan Women’s Coalition, building on the 23-year legacy of the Council. Led by the George W. Bush Institute, the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Coalition works to advance policies, encourage solidarity and action, and lift the perspectives and experiences of Afghan women, children, and other vulnerable populations. More information is available on the Coalition’s webpage and in a press release about the Coalition, where Mrs. Laura Bush stated “Despite the brutality of Taliban rule and its attempts to erase Afghan women from society, we will never lose hope that our Afghan sisters will one day regain their freedoms.”
Mission
The U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council (USAWC) is a non-partisan public-private partnership that convenes governments, civil society, and the private sector around the goal of supporting Afghan women and girls’ education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and leadership. The Council leverages public and private resources to advance member-driven initiatives and highlights the experiences and needs of Afghan women and girls.
The U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council (USAWC) was founded in 2002 as a public-private partnership. The USAWC is based out of Georgetown University and is co-chaired by the President of Georgetown University and the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.
Under the leadership of First Ladies Laura Bush and Hillary R. Clinton, both of whom serve together as the Honorary Co-Chairs of the USAWC, the Council has worked to address areas of need identified by Afghan women, convening interested partners and brokering connections to meaningful sustainable platforms. Through the individual initiatives and collaborative efforts of its members, who are leaders in government, the private sector, academia and philanthropy, the Council has taken steps to advance the lives of Afghan women and children.