Cherie Blair joins CARE International in calling for women’s economic empowerment

8 March 2010 The event, organised by CARE International in Kenya, marks International Women’s Day, and will focus particularly on women whose lives have been shattered by rape and violence. Other speakers include survivors of sexual violence, as well as parliamentarians.

Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women:
“I know that when women are given the chance to make the most of their talents they can achieve higher living standards and can start to escape poverty. This is an important day, and it’s a great pleasure to spend it with CARE International – and particularly to meet some of the women whose lives they’ve helped rebuild through education, training and financial support.”

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and CARE both work with women all over the world by supporting activities that help them to earn a living. They recognise that women and children suffer disproportionately from poverty, and place special emphasis on working with women to create permanent social change.

As part of its work, CARE International has been running a campaign, Voices Against Violence, calling for action to end violence against women in conflict. CARE is urging the international community to live up to the numerous commitments made over the years to protect and empower women during and after conflict, including addressing the underlying causes of gender-based violence.

Geoffrey Dennis, chief executive of CARE International UK, said:
“We are delighted that Mrs. Blair is celebrating International Women’s Day with CARE and helping to raise awareness of the role women can play in ending poverty.”

Notes to editors:

About CARE International:
CARE International is a leading aid organisation fighting global poverty and delivering emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters. In over 70 countries around the world, CARE works with communities to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, improve maternal and child health, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources.

About the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women:
The Foundation’s aim is simple: to offer women better access to business development support, networks and finance in areas of the world where they lack equal opportunities. Research by the OECD shows that women tend to invest 90% of their income back into their families, so their success is critical to the ability of their children to escape poverty too. And yet, women find it harder to obtain access to finance, the right training and good advice. The Foundation is a response to these challenges.
www.cherieblairfoundation.org

Press Contacts:

Deborah Underdown, Care International UK – underdown@careinternational.org
+44 (0) 207 934 9417

Jillian Convey, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women – jc@cherieblairfoundation.org
+44 (0) 207 563 5051