Nathan & Pamela Jacobson Public Lecture Presented by the United States Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey L. Bleich
The issue of violence against women is a priority in foreign policy; it can no longer be “relegated to the margins” in any nation. Coming on the heels of
the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, Ambassador Bleich will discuss U.S. efforts to combat this
deeply rooted social problem, both at home and abroad.
Until violence against women is stopped, the world will continue to lose
the true contribution of half of that nation’s population. Women’s
participation is essential for good governance, the rule of law, and
economic prosperity – and gender-based violence today is a barrier to
each and every one of those.
Ambassador Bleich will argue that strengthening the legal framework and enforcement is only the first step, and that fundamentally addressing the issue requires engaging
civil society and changing a country’s very culture and norms. The
United States works bilaterally with other nations, and multilaterally,
as well as with NGOs, faith communities and religious leaders to prevent
and stop gender-based violence. Ambassador Bleich will specifically
discuss joint efforts with Australia in the Asia-Pacific region,
highlighted by the bilateral Policy Dialogue to Combat Gender-Based
Violence to be held in Canberra in early November.