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Fern Holland Award recipient Mariane Pearl listens while Vital Voices Chair Melanne Verveer speaks at the news conference for Vital Voices' 2008 Global Leadership Awards on April 7, 2008, in Washington, DC.

Last night, the Jewish World Watch presented its "I Witness Award" to U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer.

Jewish World Watch is a group centered on fighting genocide and other atrocities on a global level, and it confers the award each year on a figure who makes significant contributions to this fight.

Ambassador Verveer is receiving the award for her role in illuminating injustices faced by women and girls in conflict zones, specifically the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition to her position in the State Department, she is also the co-founder, chair and co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Parnership, a non-governmental organization preoccupied with supporting female leadership around the world.

What initiatives has Ambassador Verveer worked on recently? What progress is being made for women in conflict areas? What particular threat do women and girls face when genocide is present? How can the conversation on these issues be amplified?

Guest:

Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues