Secretary Napolitano Discusses the Role of Women in Government and Society with Students in Abu Dhabi

Department of Homeland Security
Release Date: November 9, 2009
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano joined students at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed University on Sunday to discuss the importance of equal opportunities in education and the value of public service for women across the world.
“The advancement and equality of women around the globe benefits the security and development of every society,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The United States is committed to working with its international partners to help ensure that all women have opportunities in education, public service and the global economy.”
In her remarks, Secretary Napolitano highlighted President Obama’s commitment to promoting education for women in all nations and commended the efforts of the United Arab Emirates to expand educational opportunities for all of their citizens.
Zayed University serves approximately 3,000 female students at campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in an innovative, diverse environment focused on supporting economic and social advancement in the United Arab Emirates through teaching, learning, research and outreach.
Secretary Napolitano also recounted her career prior to becoming the first female U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security—a career of firsts: Santa Clara University’s first female valedictorian; the first woman to serve as Attorney General of Arizona; and the first woman to chair the National Governors Association.
On March 11, President Obama signed an executive order establishing the White House Council on Women and Girls—comprised of 24 members of the President’s executive office and Cabinet, including Secretary Napolitano—to ensure agencies across the federal government consider how their policies and programs impact women and families.
While in Abu Dhabi, Secretary Napolitano also met with top Emerati officials to discuss cooperative efforts to detect and deter threats of terrorism and international crime. She discussed the Obama administration’s continued outreach to the Arab and Muslim world and echoed her remarks about equal opportunity in education and public service.
Last week, Secretary Napolitano met with her international counterparts in Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom and Belgium to discuss information sharing and privacy protection; collaborative efforts to secure cyber networks worldwide; and coordination to combat transnational criminal activity and the global threat of terrorism.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.
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