MEMO TO: DP FR: ANDREA, SHILOH

RE: Iraqi-Afghan Women’s Roundtable and Press Event

th What: Closed Member Meeting from 2:45 – 3:30 pm, Wednesday, March 9P th Open Press Conference from 3:30 – 3:45 pm, Wednesday, March 9P

The purpose of the roundtable is to highlight continued working relationship between US and Iraqi and Afghani Women leaders. Women’s Caucus will continue their efforts to mentor future leaders in the two countries and share their experiences and views of democratic government with the leaders.

Attendees: Members confirmed: Judy Biggert Ginny Brown-Waite Shelley Moore Capito JoAnn Emerson Kay Granger Katherine Harris Nancy Johnson Deborah Pryce Hilda Solis **Under Secretary of State Dobriansky will be facilitating the discussion

Afghan delegation:

0TDr. Massouda Jalal, Minister of Women’s Affairs (Head of Delegation) 0TUNOTE: she is the woman that will be shadowing you. Suraya Amir Mohammad Paikan, Deputy Minister of Higher Education (Dec 2004) Dr. Nadera Hayt Burhani, Deputy Minister for Reproductive Health, Deputy Minister for Mother and Child Health, Ministry of Public Health

Iraqi Delegation:

Narmin Othman, State Minister for Women’s Affairs. (Head of delegation). U*NOTE: You met her on your trip to Iraq at Al Raashid Hotel in Baghdad Wijdan Michael Salim is a member of Baghdad Provincial Council and an advisor to Prime Minister Allawi on foreign affairs. She was elected to the National Assembly in the recent Iraqi election. (no photos, no media) Ansam Abayachi heads the Ministry of Planning’s civil society, non-governmental sector. (no photos, no media) Shatha Abdul Razak is a member of the Women’s Educational Society and of the Iraqi Islamic Party. (no photos, no media) Where: Closed meeting will be held in 2247 Rayburn HOB (Government Reform Committee Room)

**Press Conference will be held in Hallway outside of committee room.

Speakers:  Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Republican Conference Chairman

 Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), Republican Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues

 Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA), Democrat Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues

 Undersecretary for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky

 Dr. Massouda Jalal, ’s Minister of Women’s Affairs (Head of

Delegation) UNOTE: she is the woman that will be shadowing you.

 Narmin Othman, Iraq’s State Minister for Women’s Affairs (Head of Delegation)

Bios: Dr. Massouda Jalal, Afghanistan Minister of Women’s Affairs (Head of Delegation) Massouda Jalal was appointed Minister of Women’s Affairs for Afghanistan in December 2004. She is actively engaged in securing political and legal rights, and economic opportunities, as well as expanding education and improving medical services for Afghan women. Minister Massouda graduated from University in 1988 and practiced medicine from 1988. During the rule in 1997, she worked with the World Food Program as a program officer for women’s affairs, delivering UN humanitarian assistance to needy Afghan women all over the country. When women’s travel was restricted, she coordinated assistance from her residence. She also worked with UNHCR and Doctors Without Borders. Minister Jalal was elected as representative of Kabul in the Emergency .. During the same Loya Jirga she was a candidate for president of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan. During the Constitutional Loya Jirga in 2002 she was again the elected representative for Kabul. Massouda Jalal was the first and only woman presidential candidate in Afghanistan historic presidential election in October 2004.

Narmin Othman (head of delegation) is the Iraqi State Minister for Women’s Affairs. She is from northern Iraq, where she was a former Minister of Education and Minister of Social Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Prior to joining government service, she was an educator for eight years and a member of the Peshmerga. Ms. Othman is a former manager of the Save the Children office in Arbil, and also served as manager of the Youth Activity Center in Sulaimaniya.