US unveils first-ever strategy on global women’s economic security

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken launched the first American strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security on Wednesday to promote women’s rights and gender equality.

“The idea that every woman and girl should be able to reach their full potential is central to our diplomacy,” Blinken said at a news conference. “Whenever women's rights and fundamental freedoms come under threat, we speak up, we mobilize others, we take action.”

“We're committed to standing up for women wherever their rights are threatened, including in Afghanistan,” he said.

Four key strategies advanced by Blinken were advancing women’s economic competitiveness, strengthening the foundational support for childcare, promoting women's entrepreneurship and working with partners to help dismantle some of “the societal, legal and regulatory barriers.”

He said the coronavirus forces millions of women around the world to withdraw from the workforce. “So, we will expand access to options so that caregivers, most of our women, can actually return to work.”

To aid in those efforts, the US is supporting programs like the World Bank's invest in child care initiative, he said.