Women in the World Kicks Off!

We’re doing it again!

Remarkable women leaders and activists from around the globe will begin gathering in New York City tonight to address the most urgent challenges facing women and girls. From brave dissidents who fueled the Arab Spring to outspoken advocates fighting domestic slavery; from CEOs to artists to political influencers, our third annual Women in the World Summit—now expanded to Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater—uses vivid journalistic storytelling to showcase women who are battling the status quo, picking up the pieces in the aftermath of war and shattering glass ceilings. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the newest leader to announce her participation—for the third year in a row.

Hosted by Newsweek and The Daily Beast, Tina Brown will join co-hosts Leymah Gbowee, Sheryl Sandberg, Meryl Streep, Diane von Furstenberg, Jane Harman, Lauren Bush Lauren, Nizan Guanaes, Maya L. Harris, Mellody Hobson, and Judith Rodin for the three-day event. IMF chief Christine Lagarde will share her insight into the global economy’s next act. Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni will talk to historian Simon Schama about Israel on the brink. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will appear in a special finale. Mexican congresswoman Rosi Orozco will recount her battle against sex trafficking. We’ll also welcome as moderators Barbara Walters, Christiane Amanpour, Andrea Mitchell, Lesley Stahl, Robin Roberts, Cynthia McFadden, Martha Raddatz, Charlie Rose and Juju Chang.

While not yet household names, many of this year’s participants will again be making headlines as we reveal their role in today’s most riveting news stories:

• The joint head of the U.K.'s Forced Marriage Unit will describe the dramatic rescue of a British bride from Islamabad, where she was forced by her family to marry against her will—illuminating a disturbing trend in which Western parents abduct their daughters and send them abroad to wed.

• As Africa undergoes enormous political, economic, and social changes, women are poised to become powerful leaders. Cameroon’s former presidential candidate Kah Walla will offer insight into female politicians’ meteoric rise.

• Domestic workers make up a global economy worth billions of dollars—yet tens of thousands are trapped in appalling conditions. We’ll hear from one woman who escaped oppressive employers and now fights for “the help.”

• Valerie Jarrett, chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, will discuss what the latest research reveals about the role and promise of women in the economic recovery.

• With Burma’s elections weeks away, we may soon see a dramatic turning point for women in the homeland of Nobel winner and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Tina Brown will interview Melanne Verveer, U.S. ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues, about what’s at stake.

We'll also welcome Anna Netrebko, world-renowned Russian soprano and star of the Metropolitan Opera, for a live performance. And for our closing ceremony, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Oscar winner Meryl Streep will join us for a special presentation. See our complete lineup of events and participant list, and check back often for updates.

If you can’t be there in person, we’ll livestream video and liveblog the summit on The Daily Beast, and cover it extensively through Twitter and Facebook.

We hope you’ll join us for this exciting event.