At the U.N., Making the Case for Women and Girls

Yesterday morning, President Obama addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations. During his speech, which addressed topics from the change sweeping the Middle East to the challenges facing the global economy, he made sure that the world’s women and girls did not go overlooked. As he put it, “No country can realize its potential if half its population cannot reach theirs.”

The President also challenged world leaders to include women and girls at every level of society. “Next year,” he said, “we should each announce the steps we are taking to break down economic and political barriers that stop women and girls from reaching their full potential.”

As part of that effort, the United States signed a new Declaration on Women’s Participation earlier this week. We have also put together a factsheet that details the Obama Administration’s commitment to our country’s women and girls.

You can view the full factsheet here.

From ensuring equal pay, to preventing domestic violence, to creating new economic opportunities, President Obama has made empowering women and girls one of the central pillars of his administration.

As we move forward, the Council on Women and Girls will work to meet the President’s challenge, and take even more steps to give women the social and economic opportunities they deserve.

The Obama Administration looks forward to next year’s UN General Assembly meeting, when we join allies and partners from around the world to announce the progress we have made, as each of our countries works to reach its potential.

Valerie Jarrett is Senior Advisor to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls