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"2009 Global Leadership Awards"

March 19, 2009- Vital Voices Global Partnership gathered over 1,000 friends and supporters to celebrate women improving our world at the 2009 Global Leadership Awards. The event took place in Washington DC's John F. Kennedy Center and drew celebrity presenters such as Maria Bello, Sally Field, Candice Bergen, Diane von Furstenberg, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Nicholas Kristof, Maggie Grace, Ben Affleck and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The benefit honored courageous women leaders who have overcome poverty, human trafficking, violence against women and other forms of discrimination to promote positive change in their communities. Receiving our Global Trailblazer award was special guest Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The international women leaders who were honored shed light on the triumph of the human spirit and highlighted the tremendous accomplishments being made by women leaders across the globe. Presenters underlined the power of women's participation in society and emphasized the importance of partnerships that transcend age, gender and culture. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, declared the United States government's dedication to supporting women's issues, stating:

"No nation can be successful if it invests only in or listens to only half of the population. So for all of those women who aren’t here tonight, who are enduring unspeakable abuse, who are laboring under unbearable burdens, who are wondering whether there is a future for themselves and their children, we pledge that we will do all we can to ensure that America is not only an example of the best values that humanity has to offer, but that we pursue every chance we can to give every woman a vital voice on behalf of herself, her family, her community and her country.”

Those that were present left with a new-found understanding of the challenges many women face across the globe and a conviction in the power of investing in women's leadership.

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