"Women's empowerment must not be seen as a matter of women versus men but as a matter of better outcomes for all. This shift will require new thinking, a true breakthrough."

- Breakthrough: Overcoming the Obstacles to Equality, Development and Peace." Vital Voices Global Partnership, 2010.

"Forget China, India and the internet: economic growth is driven by women"

- The Economist, April 12, 2006

"I think building up women’s capacity as leaders is getting them to the table; it’s getting them to be part of building the vision."

- Kah Walla, Cameroon

La Pietra Coalition

La Pietra Coalition: A Breakthrough Initiative to Advance Women and the World grew out of a meeting of government, business and civil society leaders at New York University’s Florence, Italy campus, Villa La Pietra. Over three days in the fall of 2009, the group reached consensus on moving forward as a Coalition to make the economic case for women’s empowerment. Download the report and visit the La Pietra Coalition blog. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Seizing the moment

There is a growing realization that the world’s progress — whether measured in economic growth, peace and stability, higher standards of health and education, enjoyment of human rights or overall well-being of a population — is intrinsically related to the status of women in a society. Now is the time for a sustained, growing global movement. By working in coalition we can convince the larger society and its leaders who make the decisions that investing in women’s empowerment and gender equality is not only a matter of addressing old injustices but of taking advantage of economic opportunities.

La Pietra Coalition asks the G20 to set new policies for women’s economic opportunity


Goal of the Coalition

Working together, the Coalition’s over-arching goal is to make the economic case for women’s empowerment by framing the messages, and by launching initiatives that empower women, thus leading to stronger economic growth for all.

Partnering with other organizations — non-governmental organizations, the corporate sector, foundations, academic institutions and religious organizations — will allow us to achieve our goals sooner. It will strengthen our credibility, our voice and ultimately, our impact. It will deliver the breakthrough that we need.

The Breakthrough Initiative

We are partnering with the Economist Intelligence Unit whose Women’s Economic Opportunity Index (June 2010) will provide the policy framework for our work going forward.

View the "Breakthrough" film presented at The Economist's The World In 2011 Festival:

Priority issue areas for La Pietra’s October 2010 meeting follow those outlined in the Index:

  • Labor policy and practice
  • Access to finance
  • Education and training
  • Legal and social status

Issue area discussants will adopt, revise or build on achievable goals moving forward. These goals will be made more concrete and specific, and will identify potential model examples for the working groups to consider and use as guides for the upcoming meetings.

Download the La Pietra Coalition backgrounder.

For more information, please contact:

Shelby Merkel, Program Assistant
La Pietra Coalition
A Breakthrough Initiative to Advance Women and the World
ShelbyMerkel@lapietracoalition.org