Melanne Verveer, Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues, will travel to Burma and northern Thailand on May 6 -11, 2012, to highlight issues concerning women and girls. She will begin the visit in Rangoon, meeting with women civil society leaders and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy. She will travel to the capital Naypitaw to discuss ways to improve the lives of women and girls with senior government officials, including health, education, economic opportunities, and other women's rights issues. Specifically, she will underscore the critical role of women in peace and reconciliation. She will also visit ethnic minority women in Shan State to understand their perspectives on environmental and sustainable development.

Ambassador Verveer will conclude her trip in Chiang Mai, Thailand where she will hold meetings with ethnic minority women’s groups.

U.S.-based foundation leaders will join the delegation to focus on challenges and opportunities for women's empowerment programs.