Vital Voices Announces Week of Events to Celebrate Courageous Women Leaders Worldwide in Recognition of 'International Women's Day'

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --In recognition of International Women's Day (March 8th) and the fifteen-year anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Vital Voices Global Partnership (www.vitalvoices.org), a leading international NGO dedicated to supporting emerging women leaders, will host a week-long series of events to highlight the crucial role of both women and men in combating violence, advocating for human rights and unleashing economic opportunities that empower women to build a stronger future for their families and communities.  

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100224/NY60357)

Events of the week include:

March 9 at 9:30 am, New York Stock Exchange:  **WOMEN CAN AND DO!** An innovative advertising campaign on the power of women to lead designed in conjunction with Diane von Furstenberg will be unveiled at the New York Stock Exchange opening bell. **Press contact: Diana Aldridge

March 9th-11th, U.S. State Department: **THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN** Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon, Avon CEO Andrea Jung, leaders from 20 nations, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer and the Vital Voices Global Partnership, host a global summit and will announce a $2 million public-private partnership between Vital Voices, the US Department of State and Avon to develop new strategies to address all forms of violence against women worldwide: domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking. **Press contact: Hilary Perry

March 9th at 6:00pm, W Hotel, Washington, DC: **MEN'S VOICES TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN** An evening to honor courageous male leaders from around the world who have, through their work, taken a stand to end violence against women.  Emceed by CNN Anchor Candy Crowley, honorees include Dr. Denis Mukwege, Congolese Surgeon; Stephen Lewis, Former United Nations Special Envoy; Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. **Press contact: Diana Aldridge

March 10th at 6:30pm, Kennedy Center, Washington DC:  **THE NINTH ANNUAL VITAL VOICES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS** Gala honoring extraordinary woman leaders and five unsung heroines who are on the frontlines of positive political, social and economic change in their home countries.  Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation will accept the Global Trailblazer Award from Vital Voices founder, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Presenters include NPR's Michele Norris, NY Times Columnist Nicholas Kristof, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair, Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon, US State Department Global Women's Issues Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer, Avon Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung, financial expert Suze Orman, Vital Voices Honorary Co-Chair and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Academy Award-winning Actress Sally Field, Artist Angelique Kudjo, Businesswoman Shelia Johnson, Vital Voices Chair Susan Davis, Vital Voices Vice Chair Bobbie Greene McCarthy and Vital Voices CEO Alyse Nelson. **Press contact: Tammy Sun

March 12th at Hudson Theater, New York City:  **ONE NIGHT PERFORMANCE OF VITAL VOICES PLAY SEVEN** A special one night only performance of the Vital Voices theatrical play Seven highlighting the stories of seven extraordinary women leaders directed by Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor and featuring Academy Award-winning Actress Meryl Streep. The performance is hosted by The Daily Beast in partnership with Vital Voices on the opening night of the Women in the World Conference, a collaboration between The Daily Beast, Vital Voices and the United Nations Foundation.  **Press contact: Diana Aldridge

**Media must pre-register for all events.  To do so please contact each events designated press contact**

About Vital Voices:

Vital Voices Global Partnership, a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, trains, and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe, enabling them to create a better world for us all. Vital Voices provides these women with the capacity, connections, and credibility they need to unlock their leadership potential. The Vital Voices' mission is to identify, invest in and bring visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities.

The Vital Voices international staff and team of over 1,000 partners, pro bono experts and leaders, including senior government, corporate and NGO executives, have trained and mentored more than 8,000 emerging women leaders from over 127 countries in Asia, Africa, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East since 1997.  These women have returned home to train and mentor more than 500,000 additional women and girls in their communities.

SOURCE Vital Voices