Letter to President Trump on Prioritizing Women and Girls

Mr. Donald Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Trump:

Our organizations represent hundreds of thousands of Americans, thought leaders, program implementers, and business leaders currently advancing rights and opportunities for women and girls, global development, and humanitarian assistance for peace and security around the world. While our organizations bring differing perspectives, and employ different methods in our work, one thing that unites us is our commitment to advancing gender equality, and the empowerment and human rights of all women and girls, in the United States and around the world. We believe that all people are created equal and deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential and exercise their rights.
This principle is central to our democracy and a fundamental American value. The economic, health, social, and political rights that women in the U.S. and around the world have secured to this point must not be reversed or eroded. These rights must be core to our foreign policy, our response to humanitarian emergencies, and our efforts to fight poverty around the world.

The Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been strong partners for civil society working toward the bipartisan goal of empowering women and girls. We are eager to see this work continue and stand ready to support initiatives aimed at advancing opportunities for women and girls worldwide, both in the U.S. and abroad.

We noted with interest the State Department tasker inquiring about programs and positions that benefit women and girls worldwide. It is our hope that this attention is borne out of a desire to strengthen and elevate these programs and structures.

As a businessman with international interests, you know well that a more stable and prosperous world benefits all. As our new President, we hope and trust that you will continue the long and proud tradition of promoting American ideals in our foreign policy and assistance. The U.S.’ positive engagement in the world as a partner in helping people lift themselves out of poverty and oppression will serve our country well and resonates with American values of equality, equity, and justice.

For decades, the U.S. has been a model and beacon of hope to billions of women and girls who endure daily violence, poverty, and discrimination. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have invested in women’s health, economic opportunity,rights, education, and much more. For example, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) started under the leadership of President George W. Bush and has now reached tens of millions of people through life-saving medications and one million adolescent girls via critical HIV prevention interventions.

With these initiatives and many others, the U.S. has been a leading actor advancing women’s rights at home and abroad. This leadership both reflects and advances American ideals and strength. We know that investments in women and girls bring high returns for economic growth, well-being, and democratic governance. These programs maximize the benefits gained from the investment of U.S.’ taxpayer dollars.

For example, research by the International Monetary Fund has found that gender inequality is simply bad for economic growth.1 A 2015 McKinsey Global Institute study found that under a “scenario in which women participate in the economy identically to men…it would add up to $28 trillion, or 26%, to the annual GDP in 2025 compared with a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario.”2 Such growth of economies around the world will further strengthen the U.S.’ economic position by creating more opportunities for U.S.’ exports. To work toward such, we must build an environment where women are healthy, empowered, and free from violence and discrimination.

On behalf of the millions of Americans and billions of women and girls around the world who count on the U.S.’ partnership, we respectfully request your Administration to significantly build upon the U.S.’ strong commitment to reaching women and girls with effective evidence-based programs. Investing in gender equality transcends partisan politics and supports the U.S. Government’s standing as a moral leader, advances American foreign policy objectives, and creates economic opportunities for the United States.

1 Hakura, Dalia, Mumtaz Hussain, Monique Newiak, Vimal Thakoor, and Fan Yang. “Inequality, Gender Gaps and Economic Growth: Comparative Evidence for Sub-Saharan Africa.” IMF Working Paper. June 2016.
https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2016/wp16111.pdf
2 McKinsey & Company. “The Power of Parity: How Advancing Women’s Equality Can Add $12 Trillion to Global Growth: Executive Summary.” September 2015. Page ii. 

Sincerely,

1. 1,000 Days
2. Action Against Hunger
3. Advancing Girls’ Education in Africa (AGE Africa)
4. Advocates for Human Rights
5. Advocates for Youth
6. AFL-CIO
7. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
8. Amnesty International USA
9. Breakthrough
10. Build Change
11. CARE USA
12. Center for Biological Diversity
13. Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)
14. Center for Inquiry
15. Center for Reproductive Rights
16. Center for Women’s Global Leadership, Rutgers University
17. ChildFund
18. Church World Service
19. CORE Group
20. EngenderHealth
21. Episcopal Relief and Development
22. Equality Now
23. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
24. Feminist Majority Foundation
25. FHI 360
26. Friends of UNFPA
27. Futures Without Violence
28. Gender Action
29. General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)
30. Girl Determined
31. Girl Up
32. GirlForward
33. Global Campaign for Education-US (GCE-US)
34. Global Fund for Women
35. Global Health Council
36. Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
37. Global Rights for Women
38. Global Women’s Institute
39. GreeneWorks
40. Handicap International
41. Heartland Alliance
42. Helen Keller International
43. HelpAge USA
44. HIAS
45. IMA World Health
46. International Center for Research on Women
47. International Justice Mission (IJM)
48. International Medical Corps
49. International Rescue Committee
50. International Youth Foundation
51. IntraHealth International
52. Islamic Relief USA
53. Jewish Women International
54. John Snow, Inc.
55. Landesa
56. Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights
57. League of Women Voters
58. Legal Momentum: The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund
59. MenEngage Alliance
60. Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office
61. Mercy Corps
62. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
63. National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
64. National Association for Social Workers
65. National Organization for Women
66. One Earth Future Foundation
67. Oxfam America
68. PAI
69. Pathfinder International
70. Peace X Peace
71. Peaceful Families Project
72. Physicians for Human Rights
73. Placerville Historic Preservation League
74. Plan International USA
75. Planned Parenthood Federation of America
76. Population Council
77. Population Institute
78. Population Media Center
79. Population Services International (PSI)
80. PRBB Foundation
81. Project Concern International (PCI)
82. Promundo-US
83. Refugees International
84. Save the Children
85. School Girls Unite
86. Tahirih Justice Center
87. The Alliance for International Women’s Rights
88. The Baha’is of the United States
89. The Hunger Project
90. The Presbyterian Church USA
91. The Solidarity Center
92. The WomanStats Project
93. Too Young To Wed
94. U.S. National Committee for UN Women
95. Unchained At Last
96. United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
97. United Nations Association of the United States of America
98. Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA)
99. WaterAid
100. We Will Speak Out US
101. What Works Association
102. Win-Win Strategies
103. Women for Women International
104. Women Graduates-USA
105. Women of Reform Judaism
106. Women Thrive Alliance
107. Women Watch Afrika, Inc.
108. Women Win Foundation, Inc.
109. Women’s Refugee Commission
110. Women’s Action for New Directions
111. WomenStrong International
112. World Learning