Geeta Rao Gupta Confirmed As Envoy For Global Women’s Issues

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – President Joe Biden’s nominee, for Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues at the Department of State, on May 10, was confirmed by the US Senate. Due to partisan politics, the office has lain vacant for close to two years.

Gupta, former Executive Director of the 3D Program for Girls and Women at the UN Foundation, is known as a global leader on gender equity and women’s economic security.

The foundation, in a statement, said, “Ambassador Gupta’s confirmation would not have been possible without the tireless advocacy of Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). Their leadership and perseverance will benefit our country and other countries worldwide.”

On the Senate floor, Shaheen had repeatedly highlighted the need for an ambassador dedicated to advancing the rights of girls in the U.S. and around the world and slammed Republicans’ obstruction blocking the confirmation of Dr. Gupta.

Kaine, her fellow Senator from VA, also worked to ensure the unlocking of the nomination, a press release from the Democratic politician’s  office said.

Gupta has a Ph.D. in Psychology from Bangalore University and a Master of Philosophy and Master of Arts from the University of Delhi.

She has been a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University and served as co-Chair of the Gender-Based Violence Task Force of the World Bank. Before that, Dr. Gupta served as Deputy Executive Director, Programs at UNICEF.

Earlier, she was a senior fellow at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and served as president of the International Center for Research on Women.