Asia Women's Leadership meet from Sep 14; 24 nations to attend

The four-day Summit, co-sponsored by Vital Voices, an NGO and the US State Department, aims to recognise the critical role that women in South Asia and East Asia Pacific can and must play in moving the region forward socially, politically, and economically.

The meet will bring together government and political leaders, community and NGO advocates, leading businesswomen and delegates from the 24 countries.
Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand are the other countries which will participate.

The Summit will examine critical issues relevant for women and focus on three key areas -- 'women as an economic force', 'women in political leadership and public life: fostering good governance and transparency' and 'safeguarding women's human rights: combating violence against women and children'.

Holding of such a summit was proposed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit last year to India. Among others, key speakers at the summit will include US Ambassador to India Tim Roemer, US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer, former senior police officer Kiran Bedi, famous CNN International anchor Zain Verjee and Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India Usha Thorat.

'Seven' documentary actors Shabana Azmi, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Tanvi Azmi, Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal and Urmila Matondkar will also attend the meet. The 2006 documentary was an initiative by Vital Voices to make seven award-winning female playwrights write collaboratively and depict the stories of seven women from its Global Leadership Network.