USA (Commonwealth Union)_ The US Senate recently confirmed Indian American Dr Geeta Rao Gupta as the Ambassador-at-Large for the Office of Global Women’s Issues in the State Department. This appointment is significant because it highlights the United States’ commitment to promoting gender equity and advancing women’s rights globally. President Joe Biden nominated Gupta for this position, and she was confirmed by a vote of 51 to 47. The State Department welcomed Dr Gupta’s appointment and tweeted that they look forward to her initiatives to promote the rights of women and girls through US foreign policy.
This statement was echoed by Peter Yeo, Senior Vice President for the UN Foundation, who highlighted the importance of Dr Gupta’s appointment, stating that Gupta’s appointment demonstrates the United States’ commitment to gender equality at a time when women’s fundamental human rights and welfare are under threat worldwide. The Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues took to Twitter and posted, “Dr Geeta Rao Gupta was confirmed by the US Senate as the Ambassador-at-Large for the Office of Global Women’s Issues. @StateDept looks forward to her efforts to promote women and girls’ rights through US foreign policy”.
Dr Gupta is a prominent global leader in advocating gender equality and women’s economic security. She has collaborated closely with various United Nations (UN) agencies and programs, including the UN Foundation’s 3D Programme for Girls and Women, the UNAIDS Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Education and Gender Equality, the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme, and the World Bank’s Global Gender-based Violence Task Force. Her expertise in gender and development spans several decades, and she has also held leadership positions at the International Center for Research on Women.
According to Michelle Milford Morse, Vice President of the UN Foundation’s Girls and Women Strategy, “Dr Gupta is a deeply admired leader with extensive experience in the priority areas of the Office of Global Women’s Issues. This is a critical role for US global leadership, and Dr Gupta will fulfill it with great distinction”. In addition, Gupta has served as president of the International Center for Research on Women and has received numerous honors, such as the Anne Roe Award from Harvard University in 2006 and the “Women Who Mean Business” Award from the Washington Business Journal in 2007.
Dr. Gupta graduated from Bangalore University in India with a Ph.D. in social psychology and an MPhil and MA from the University of Delhi. Her extensive experience and numerous honors make her an ideal candidate for this crucial position in advancing women’s rights worldwide. As the Ambassador-at-Large for the Office of Global Women’s Issues, Dr Gupta will play a crucial role in developing and implementing US foreign policy that promotes gender equity and advances women’s rights globally. Her leadership will be especially important given the many challenges facing women and girls worldwide, including gender-based violence, a lack of access to education and economic opportunities, and limited political representation.