Global gender equality critical for successful development programs

"Many steps have been taken during the Obama administration to elevate the issues of global gender equality," but "[p]erhaps the most critical thus far occurred on January 30, 2013, when President Obama signed a presidential memorandum focusing on these issues," contributor Juliana Thong writes in the "Global Washington" blog. She outlines the details of the memorandum, which aims to "promote gender equality and to empower women and girls globally ... by strengthening and expanding U.S. government capacity and coordination across all its agencies." She continues, "As we know, empowering women and girls promotes economic growth, improves health, and decreases corruption in communities and nations. This is not only a matter of international morality and citizenship but also national security" (2/11).