Geeta Rao Gupta: The New US Ambassador for Resolving Global Women’s Issues
Geeta Rao Gupta, an Indian-American, recently took office as the Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues in the State Department. With a vote of 51 to 47, the US Senate approved Gupta’s appointment earlier this year, in May.
During her testimony before lawmakers, Ms Gupta shared that her doctoral research in India centred around studying the obstacles females encounter in pursuing their careers. This research served as a catalyst for her commitment to addressing gender disparities.
She noted that her work has allowed her to witness the resilience of women worldwide, including entrepreneurs in Kenya and India who overcome financial limitations, as well as the courageous women in Liberia who advocate for peace amidst challenging circumstances.
The new US ambassador emphasised the resourcefulness of females in providing for their families and safeguarding others, underscoring her deep admiration for their strength and determination.
Ms Gupta has an illustrious professional background, with notable roles, including Executive Director of the 3D Program for Girls and Women and a Senior Fellow at the United Nations Foundation.
Her career highlights also include serving as the Deputy Executive Director at UNICEF and holding a Senior Fellow position at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Moreover, Gupta spent over a decade as the President of the International Centre for Research on Women, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organisation dedicated to leveraging research to shape development policies and initiatives to empower women and girls.
Her wealth of experience and expertise across various sectors and her relentless dedication to female empowerment positioned her as a capable and influential advocate for advancing global gender equality and championing their rights.
