U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the “100 Women Initiative” on March 7, 2011, the eve of International Women’s Day.
The initiative, formally titled “Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges,” was a year-long State Department program. It brought 100 women leaders from 92 countries to the United States through International Visitor Leadership Program exchanges.
The participants came from fields including government, business, academia, civil society, law enforcement, media, and the private sector. The program was part of Clinton’s broader emphasis on women’s rights, international partnerships, and what she called “smart power.”
The date can cause confusion because International Women’s Day itself is March 8. Clinton’s launch occurred one day earlier, while the event marked the day’s 100th anniversary in 2011. John Kerry, Condoleezza Rice, and Madeleine Albright were also prominent U.S. secretaries of state, but none launched this initiative.