Previously, Verveer served as the chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, which she co-founded with Hillary Clinton in 2001.[2] Vital Voices is a global NGO that supports emerging female leaders who are advancing economic, political and social progress in their societies.[3]
Prior to serving in the White House, she was executive director of People for the American Way, a progressive advocacy group,[6] where she was involved in the passage of civil rights legislation.[7] Earlier, she was Coordinator for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs for the U.S. Catholic Conference.[8] She served on the staff of US Senator George McGovern and Representative Marcy Kaptur.
Verveer was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.[14] She is married to Philip Verveer, a Washington communications lawyer who served as Ambassador and U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy. They have three children and two granddaughters.
Public service
Clinton administration
Verveer served as Deputy Assistant to President Clinton (1993–96) and then as Assistant to President Clinton (1997–2000). (See: Executive Office of the President of the United States) As a member of the White House Senior Staff, she provided advice and implemented a wide range of substantive policies, including judicial selection and legal services, arts policies, healthcare, and women's issues.[15] She was instrumental in the adoption of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 and led the effort to establish the President's Interagency Council on Women.
First, as Deputy Chief of Staff (1993–1996) and then as Chief of Staff to the First Lady (1997–2000), she served as Mrs. Clinton's chief assistant for her international activities.[citation needed] These included overseeing her global initiatives on women's rights as human rights, democracy-building micro-enterprise, girls' education, and other development programs. She organized the first lady's foreign trips to over 70 countries. She helped to create the US government's Vital Voices Democracy Initiative to promote women's economic and political progress. The initiative grew out of the US response to the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women, which took place in Beijing in 1995. It was in Beijing that Hillary Clinton made her historic Women's Rights Are Human Rights speech." Verveer was responsible for much of the planning for the US participation in the Beijing conference.
In her White House memoirs, Clinton notes, "A true policy wonk who loves the complexities and nuances of issues, Melanne had worked for years on Capitol Hill and in the advocacy world. I used to joke there wasn't a single person in Washington she didn't know. Not only was she a legend in the nation's capital; but so was her Rolodex. … There is no way to catalog the many projects that Melanne masterminded. … She also became a key player on the president's team, advocating for policies affecting women, human rights, legal services, and the arts."[16]
Obama administration
In 2009, President Obama nominated Verveer as the first United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues at the United States Department of State. She was confirmed by the Senate in April 2009.[17] She served as Ambassador from 2009 to 2013, working closely with Hillary Clinton to coordinate foreign policy issues and activities relating to the political, economic and social advancement of women and girls, traveling to nearly 60 countries, including Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She worked to fully integrate women's participation and rights into U.S. foreign policy and to mobilize concrete support for women's political and economic empowerment through public–private partnership, participation in bilateral strategic dialogues, and the agendas of multilateral organizations and policy initiatives.[citation needed] During Clinton's tenure, women's issues were recognized as integral to foreign policy. Several new policies were adopted, including Secretarial Policy Guidance on Gender Equality and the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.[18] Their work recognized the role of women's economic participation in multilateral organizations, including leadership on "Women & Economy in APEC. Verveer also met frequently with women who were on the front lines of the "Arab Awakening".[19] President Obama appointed Verveer as Ambassador to the Commission on the Status of Women.[20] She also served as the Co-Chair of the US-Afghan Women's Council.[21]
To mark Women's History Month at the White House in 2013, President Obama recognized Verveer's achievements and noted that he was making the position of Ambassador for Global Women's Issues permanent. He issued a presidential memorandum to that effect.[22]
Obama said, "We're also seeing an expanded opportunity for women to reach their full potential around the world. That's in large part because four years ago, a former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a tireless advocate for women herself, designated an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues whose sole job it is to make sure that women and girls are a central part of every aspect of our foreign policy, that their concerns are considered at the highest level of our diplomatic decision-making. For four years, the incredible Melanne Verveer held that role. We're so grateful for her service, along with the millions of women around the world that she helped to amplify and helped to fight alongside on the causes that are so important."[23]
Georgetown University
Verveer is the executive director at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security.
Vital Voices
Verveer co-founded the international NGO, Vital Voices Global Partnership in 2001 to continue the work – begun by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton – to support emerging women leaders in building vibrant democracies and strong economies. Vital Voices focuses on expanding women's participation in politics and civil society, increasing women's entrepreneurship and fighting human rights abuses, particularly the trafficking of women and children. The Vital Voices Global Leadership Network connects thousands of women leaders who have participated in Vital Voices conferences and training programs around the globe. Verveer served as chair of the board and Co-CEO until early 2009.[24]
Hillary Clinton addressed the Vital Voices annual awards gala at the Kennedy Center every year since its inception. In 2013, Clinton honored Verveer for her service to advancing women's progress.[25]
^Rushford, Greg. Appointments With Power: An Insider's Guide to the Clinton Administration's Top Business Policymakers. Legal Times Books. Published: 1993.
^"Staffan de Mistura". Georgetown Institute of Women Peace and Security. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
^Rushford, Greg. Appointments With Power: An Insider's Guide to the Clinton Administration's Top Business Policymakers. Legal Times Books. Published: 1993.
