Ambassador Shannon Highlights US Support for Women’s Rights

São Paulo | July 10, 2012

Ambassador Shannon speaks at Women Forum in São Paulo

On July 2, Ambassador Thomas Shannon spoke at the "1o. Forum Mulheres Reais que Inspiram" conference in Sao Paulo, underscoring President Obama’s commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls as a major pillar of U.S. diplomatic, development, and defense strategy.  The conference addressed various aspects of the new roles of women in the world with special emphasis on those women who are part of the emerging Brazilian middle class. 

Ambassador Shannon spoke of the broadening relationship between the United States and Brazil that builds on mutual concerns on trade, health, social inclusion, education, and gender and ethnic diversity and equality.  He underscored President Obama’s commitment to women’s issues, evidenced by the creation of the Secretary of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues.  The Ambassador cited the historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Advancement of Women signed by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim in March 2010, which put women and girls as a cornerstone of both countries’ foreign policy.  He further noted the bilateral efforts since the signing of the MOU to increase economic empowerment opportunities for women and mentoring and educational opportunities in the sciences.  Other speakers at the conference included Governor Geraldo Alckmin, Chief Justice Eliana Calmon of the Superior Court of Justice, Professor Marcelo Neri of the Social Policies Center at Fundação Getúlio Vargas, and TV presenter Hebe Camargo.