The U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council met today at the White House, hosted by Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman, and the White House Council on Women and Girls.

The U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council is a public-private partnership that brings together leaders in government, the private sector, and philanthropy to support initiatives that provide training and capacity building for Afghan women in health, education, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The Council was created in 2002 as a presidential initiative, and Georgetown University now serves as the Council’s home.

During their discussion, the participants focused on ways to collaborate on initiatives to support Afghan women as Afghanistan moves towards full responsibility for its security at the end of 2014, including ensuring a meaningful voice and protection of rights for women in the Afghan peace and reconciliation process. The advancement of women’s rights is critical to political, social, and economic progress everywhere around the world and the United States is fully committed to supporting Afghan women so that they can take full part in their society.

Valerie Jarrett, Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, Afghan Ambassador to the United States Eklil Hakimi, and the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Afghan Women’s Task Force, Congresswomen Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and Donna Edwards (MD-04), also participated in the meeting.