The Trust Women Conference

Christy and Erin are currently attending another conference and this time, they’re in London for the Trust Women Conference.  While sometimes it feels like there are a few too many conferences and not enough on-the-ground action, the truth is, conferences help us better understand the complicated issues surrounding the status of women in the world. They also give us a chance to see old friends, create new partnerships and enjoy the company of super-smart, super-talented, like-minded people from all over the world who are working towards the same goals we are.  People like journalist and author Mariane Pearl, Queen Noor of Jordan and Melanne Verveer, US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues are brainstorming along with Christy and Erin about how to eliminate violence against women and empower them to achieve their greatest potential.   

While every conference is unique, Trust Women is special because Christy is part of the advisory board that has spent the past year putting this powerful event together. Trust Women is an action-based conference organized by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and the International Herald Tribune to bring together 350 leaders in their fields (men and women) of government, business, the legal world, civil society and the media.  This two-day event offers a provocative mix of keynote speeches, multimedia, plenary discussions, debates, and break-out “action groups” that will explore clashes between culture and thelawby examining issues like corruption, child marriage, female genital mutilation, women’s role in the Arab Spring, human trafficking, honor killings and acid attacks.  Then, speakers and attendees will hone in on concrete strategies to tackle these wrongs. Christy is speaking about child marriage and how it contributes to maternal mortality and poverty.  

Check back later this week for Christy and Erin’s stories and pictures about how the Trust Women Conference will help make Every Mother Count.