Press Releases: Call to Action: Supporting Women Through Water
Notice to the Press
On Thursday, March 21, 2019, in honor of Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day and World Water Day, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Water Partnership, the Aspen Institute, Global Water 2020, and the Global Water Challenge will host a conference to raise awareness about the link between women’s empowerment and water. The conference will highlight how ready access to safe water and sanitation can drastically advance the quality of life for women and girls. Globally, women and girls spend some 200 million hours every day collecting water, taking precious time away from opportunities for paid work and education. Moreover, evidence shows that improving water quality, sanitation, and hygiene access in medical facilities improves maternal and infant health.
Speakers include:
- Laura Schulz, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau of Economic Growth, Education, and Environment, USAID
- Marcia Bernicat, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
- Paula J. Dobriansky, former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs and Senior Fellow at the “Future of Diplomacy Project” at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
- Chris Long, 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year for the National Football League and the Founder of Waterboys
- Kelly Ann Naylor, Associate Director of Water and Sanitation, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
- Salamatu Garba, Founder and Executive Director, Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN)
- Jennifer Sara, Senior Director of Global Water Practice, World Bank
- Alma Golden, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau of Global Health, USAID
- Arikana Chihombori-Quao, African Union Ambassador to the United States
- Mina Guli, Ultra Runner and Founder, Thirst
The program will take place on March 21, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:25 p.m. in the Department of State’s George C. Marshall Center.
The event is open to the press. Media representatives may attend through an RSVP no later than Wednesday, March 20 at 3:00 p.m. to OES-PA-DG@state.gov.
Pre-set time for cameras is 8:15 a.m. from the 21st Street entrance. Final access time for writers and stills is 8:45 a.m. from the 21st Street entrance.
The day of the event, participants are asked to please provide one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued photo media credential (e.g., Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), or (2) an official photo identification card issued by their news organization, or (3) a letter from their employer on official letterhead verifying their current employment as a journalist.
Additionally, they must present an official government photo identification card (i.e., U.S. driver’s license or passport).
For further information, please contact OES-PA-DG@state.gov.