In March of 2009, within just weeks of taking office, President Obama (USA) formed the White House Council on Women and Girls, vowing to “try to find new ways to prevent violence against women, at home and abroad”. The WGG created a Task Force to see how the the we could help.  Our Task Force applauds President Obama’s active interest in the rights of women and girls, and we follow the work of this Council and other key US leaders promoting the rights of women and girls globally. 

We are pleased with the efforts these leaders have taken thus far.  For example, in May 2009 Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) led a Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Global Women’s Issues that focused on rape as a weapon of war.  After hours of listening to testimonies on this topic, Senator Boxer was clearly touched and promised to help.  She wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for the creation of a new UN Representative specifically dedicated to this issue.  Secretary Clinton soon visited women and girl victims of rape and abuse in war-torn eastern DRC.  Within weeks, while chairing the UN Security Council, Secretary Clinton introduced Resolution 1888.  Strongly supported by US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, it passed unanimously on September 29, 2009.  UNSCR 1888 calls for the creation of a Special Representative to the UN Secretary General who will press to end sexual violence against women and girls in armed conflict, to end impunity, to increase response to victims, and who will recommend UN sanctions when necessary.  This is a momentous step toward ending the suffering of women and girls worldwide. 

In his short tenure, President Obama has also appointed a woman as the US Ambassador to the United Nations (Hon. Susan Rice), a US Ambassador on Global Women’s Issues (Hon. Melanne Verveer), and a Director on Violence Against Women (Hon. Susan Carbon).  Other individuals such as Hon. Meryl Frank and Hon. Rosemary A. Di Carlo have also spoken out on behalf of girls’ rights. 

President Obama supports CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women), which the US signed in 1980.  He asked the Department of Justice to review its restrictions prior to Secretary Clinton’s referral for Senate ratification.  In addition, Senator Boxer is poised to hold hearings regarding US restrictions. 

The US signed the CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child) in 1995 but never ratified it.  The State Department is reviewing the CRC prior to submission to the Senate for ratification.  In June, Ambassador Rice stated that US officials are actively discussing “when and how it might be possible to join.”

We can hardly wait to see what this administration does next to promote the rights of women and girls globally, and have offered to collaborate on behalf of girls’ rights.  We welcome all ideas by girl-focused NGOs to help us in our endeavors to work with this Council and key leaders in this administration on their continued efforts to promote girls’ rights.

Jill Marie Sen

Chair, NGO Committee on UNICEF/ Working Group on Girls Task Force on the White House Council on Women and Girls

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