The Lithuanian President will participate in the high level meeting on Women in Power at the invitation of María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the United Nations General Assembly. The event aims to attract special attention to major obstacles for women’s participation in politics and business, to promote women’s leadership and share experience on their empowerment.
The President will underscore the importance of women’s leadership, address the need to educate young female leaders and highlight the main obstacles that women face to be fully engaged in political and economic life.
The high level event on Women in Power will be attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the UN General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of Croatia, President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia, the presidents of Nepal, Trinidad and Tobago, the prime minister of Iceland, the vice president of Columbia, the vice president of Panama, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, ministers, and other high ranking officials.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė will hand over the leadership of the Council of Women World Leaders to President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of Croatia. In order to ensure the organization’s smooth work, the change of chair will take place before President Grybauskaitė’s end of term in office.
Five years ago, the President took over the chair from Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland. Ten women presidents and twelve prime ministers joined the Council of Women World Leaders during Dalia Grybauskaitė’s leadership. Currently the organization unites 74 women leaders.
In 2014, the President initiated a high level debate on women’s empowerment and fight against violence. Last year, a Women Political Leaders Global Forum was held in Vilnius, which attracted over 400 participants from all over the world.
During her visit to the United States, the President will travel to Pennsylvania where she will meet with Major General Anthony J. Carrelli of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Military cooperation between Lithuania and the US, reinforcing security and defense as well as responding to cyber threats will be discussed at the meeting.
The United States of America is Lithuania’s strategic security partner, and the presence of US troops in the region is crucial for our national defense. The Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Pennsylvania National Guard share 25 years of partnership.
The President will also visit the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York. The institute was established back in 1925 in Vilnius. It was forced to relocate during Nazi occupation. YIVO keeps a collection of documents of high historic value to the Jews of Lithuania.
