(March 8, 2021 , Washington D.C) – CARE welcomes the Executive Order on Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council issued by President Biden today formally establishing the White House Gender Policy Council. This Executive Order creates the Council within the Executive Office of President and defines its policy priorities, including many that are aligned with issues CARE and partners have pushed to advance, such as –
- Mandating a government-wide strategy to address gender through U.S. Government policies, programs, and budgets and a report to measure progress;
- Elevating the issue of gender-based violence both domestically and globally by appointing a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor on Gender-Based Violence on Council staff and mandating a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence;
- Requiring engagement with NGOs, community-based organizations, state and local government officials, Tribal Nations, foreign governments and multilateral organizations; and
- Emphasizing systemic bias and addressing the needs of those experiencing intersecting forms of discrimination, such as Black, Latina, Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
“CARE strongly supports actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to recognize how central gender equality is to advancing effective and equitable solutions to the issues facing the world,” said Michelle Nunn, CARE President & CEO. “Today’s Executive Order defining the work of the White House Gender Policy Council will galvanize government-wide efforts to address issues CARE comes across every day in our work – the impacts of gender-based violence, increasing economic insecurity, and so many other forms of systemic discrimination that hold women and girls back from equality. The Executive Order’s emphasis on addressing gender-based violence (GBV) is particularly welcome and timely as the world grapples with an alarming “shadow pandemic” of GBV extending already staggering levels of such violence pre-COVID. CARE also appreciates the emphasis on engaging NGOs and community-based organizations – whether here in the United States or around the world, these groups are a platform for women and girls to have their voices be heard. We join others in congratulating the Biden-Harris Administration on this strong show of U.S. leadership towards gender equality and the rights of women and girls.”
For More Information:
Rachel Kent
Senior Press Officer
Rachel.Kent@care.org