WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 15 – Meridian International Center welcomed ambassadors, filmmakers, and policy makers, along with leaders in the media and non-profit communities to celebrate the launch of the Meridian Council on Women’s Leadership and share a special preview of the forthcoming CPB, ITVS, and PBS global public media campaign, Women and Girls Lead, which includes 50 powerful documentaries. After a welcome by Meridian President & CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday, and a special introduction from Meridian’s Vice President and Deputy Ambassador Sharon Wilkinson, the media campaign was described for the audience by Patricia de Stacy Harrison, President & CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). She demonstrated through her remarks and an accompanying preview the multifaceted nature of the campaign, including documentary film, serial productions, online forums, special events, and inter-organizational partnerships.
While enjoying a three-course dinner in the historic Meridian House, guests watched a preview of Women, War, & Peace, a five-part film series exploring women’s strategic role in conflict and peace building. The series, executive produced by Abigail Disney and including her award-winning documentary, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, will premiere at 10pm on Tuesday, October 10, on PBS.
As the meal concluded, Ms. Harrison then introduced panelists Geena Davis, Founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, Abigail Disney, and Ambassador Donald Steinberg, Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development. The panelists delved into the two distinct but related problems of women’s under- and misrepresentation in American media, particularly film and television, and the lack of acknowledgment of women in international peace processes. Members of the audience learned from Ambassador Steinberg that only 3% of signatories of international peace agreements are women, and that they are often ignored in amnesty agreements between warring factions. Similarly, according to Ms. Davis’ research, women are frequently two-dimensional, hyperbolic, and outnumbered in film and TV. The panelists agreed that investing in women is statistically proven to provide a substantial and reliable return, and that giving women a voice is key to their ability to lead and participate more fully in their respective communities. Audience members were given time to ask questions directly, and the panelists took that opportunity to challenge all attendees to create real change for women and girls into their own lives.
The evening concluded with all participants anticipating the upcoming film series, of which many will be shown at Meridian International Center’s Global Perspectives film series, cohosted with ITVS and premiering on Wednesday, October 19th with Peace Unveiled.
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About Meridian: Meridian International Center’s mission is to strengthen international understanding and serve as a center of innovation for engaging the public sector, private sector and diplomatic community in an exchange of people, ideas and culture. For more information, visit www.meridian.org
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