WASHINGTON D.C. – On Tuesday, July 22, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah and U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russell will co-lead the U.S. delegation to London to participate in the first Girl Summit hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom.  UNICEF will co-host the event.

Ambassador Russell will open and introduce the Spotlight session at the Girl Summit on Bringing It All Together: Ending FGM through Strong and Effective National Action.

The Summit will focus on mobilizing domestic and international efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation. It will bring together women, girls and community leaders as well as governments, international organizations and the private sector to agree on action to end FGM and CEFM.