Women for Women International Announces Second Annual 'Join me on the Bridge' Event

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Women for Women International (WfWI) announced its second annual "Join me on the Bridge" event today. Join me on the Bridge brings women and men together in solidarity on bridges around the world, celebrating the achievements of generations of women before us while shining an international spotlight on the issues still facing women around the world.

In making the announcement, Zainab Salbi, Women for Women International founder and CEO, said, "Millions of women around the world are still being denied an education and most importantly denied their rights. Nowhere is this more evident than Afghanistan, where behind-the-scenes negotiations threaten to sell women's rights down the river. This is why this global campaign, on the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day, is one we are urging people all over the world to join."

"Join me on the Bridge" is a global campaign led by WfWI in celebration of International Women's Day, which this year will also mark its 100th anniversary. Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep narrated a seven minute video to highlight the importance of the campaign, to women survivors of war who have lost everything except for hope and courage.

This year the campaign will turn its focus to Afghanistan. Not only is it one of the world's poorest countries but after years of war women in Afghanistan are still excluded from the formal peace process. It is time. Time to remind global leaders that 85 percent of women in Afghanistan have still have no formal education, and the average salary is .48 cents a day. It is time to remind the world that only 8 percent of all peace talks have included women at any level. WfWI has been working on the ground in Afghanistan since 2002, helping over 20,000 women and their families in 16 different communities. Our programs include direct financial aid, jobs skills training and emotional support.

On March 8th, 2011 thousands of men and women will unite to show there can be no sustainable peace unless the voices of women are heard. As of today 29 countries have pledged to support "Join me on the Bridge." From the famed Brooklyn and Golden Gate Bridges, to Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia and the Millennium Bridge in London hundreds of grassroots events are being planned all across the world. Major politicians, celebrities, corporate partners, non-profit organizations and media entities are lending their voices to this global call for action. Last year over 20,000 people on 108 different bridges in 4 continents let their voices to this campaign to say, "no" to war, and, "yes" to peace. "Join us on the Bridge," March 8th 2011 and demand the inclusion of Afghan women in the peace process.

Additional releases will be issued closer to the event when further celebrity participants and other countries are confirmed. Events around then world will be captured by media, film and photography and available on the campaign website: womenforwomen.org/bridge

Background on the Join Me on the Bridge Campaign and Women for Women International: Women for Women International and Google are pleased to collaborate on Join me on the Bridge, a campaign honoring the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on March 8, 2011. Since 1993 WfWI has empowered nearly 300,000 women survivors of war, thanks to donors in over 130 countries. Described by Time Magazine as being "a lifeline for women in war torn countries," in 2010 Bill Clinton nominated the work of Zainab Salbi and Women for Women International as 21st Century Heroine.

For further details and events please visit www.womenforwomen.org/

Media please email [email protected], or [email protected]

SOURCE Women for Women International