About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.

Recently I had the pleasure of joining U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Fay Hartog Levin, and a diverse and engaging assemblage of Afghans, Dutch, and Americans in The Hague for an important and timely conference entitled, “Empowering Women in Afghanistan: Stability Through Rural Development.” The United States and The Netherlands share over 400 years of strong diplomatic ties and this opportunity brought us together to emphasize the critical need to continue supporting the vital role of Afghan women in peace, security, and economic development processes. 

The conference, hosted by the U.S. Embassy, The Hague, in partnership with the Atlantic Commission, welcomed a full house of approximately 130 government officials, parliamentarians, diplomats, students, academics, and media… more »