On May 2nd, the National Democratic Institute hosted its tenth annual Madeleine K. Albright Luncheon, which honors those who promote women leaders. Women Act for a Living Together (WALT) was presented with the 2017 Madeleine K. Albright award for their work in helping women bring peace, social cohesion and reconciliation amidst 20 years of devastation and crisis in the Central African Republic.

While each year the Albright Luncheon celebrates the role of women in politics and the work of women’s political empowerment, this year’s theme focused particularly on young women and inspiring the next generation of women leaders. The task falls on women around the world to push forward and knock down barriers for themselves and the next generation of women to come. Speakers from the event, including Secretary Madeleine Albright, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator Kamala Harris and Angeline Kaïgama-Kel, echoed this sentiment throughout the luncheon.

Secretary Albright welcomed guests to the 2017 Madeleine K. Albright by touching on the importance of the luncheon,

Every year when we gather at this lunch we say that the cause of supporting democracy has never been more important. Well this year, it couldn’t be more true.

 

“Democracy’s potential,” Secretary Albright asserted, “... is still being explored and nowhere is that potential greater than in the type of leaders we celebrate today – a new generation of women who are pushing aside barriers of discrimination and creating the space for other women to participate, compete, and lead.”

NDI Board Member and former Senator Barbara Mikulski gave a brief introduction of the keynote speaker, Senator Kamala Harris. In her remarks, Senator Mikulski compared her start in 1986 as one of only two women senators to the 21 women who now serve in the U.S.  Senate. When she retired in 2017, Senator Mikulski was the longest-serving woman in the history of the U.S. Congress, and the longest-serving senator in Maryland history. Her remarks represented a passing of the torch from a woman political leader with many firsts to a new generation of women senators.

Senator Kamala Harris - like Secretary Albright, Senator Mikulski and the women of WALT - has been a trailblazer in her leadership as the first African-American and first woman to serve as Attorney General of California, and as only the second African-American woman in the Senate.

In her keynote speech, Senator Harris addressed the many young women who sat in the crowd with the stories of how she overcame obstacles to be in elected office:

I was told ‘it's not your turn’. Young women in the audience, when you hear that, do not listen.

 

Senator Harris stressed the important role that women play in a democracy: "It's not a coincidence that the vast amount of countries that deny women's rights are not democracies. When citizens’ voices are silenced, women’s voices are silenced.” She relayed that it is critical that women’s voices are heard in government since the perspective they bring is both a unique and necessary one.  Senator Harris reminded the young women in the audience of an important lesson her mother had taught her, “You may be the first, but make sure you aren’t the last.” In her blog for NDI, Senator Harris shared the lessons she learned from tough, strong women in her family who opened future doors for her own political journey. In her closing, Senator Harris declared the importance of NDI’s international work:

We need NDI to keep training and organizing -- inspiring women leaders.

 

Following Senator Harris’ keynote address, Angeline Kaïgama-Kel, secretary general of WALT came up to the stage to accept the MKA grant on behalf the entire organization. In her acceptance speech, Ms. Kaïgama-Kel stated that this grant, “not only recognizes WALT for the work done on the ground, but also reminds us of the role we must play in promoting women’s leadership in and beyond our country’s borders.” WALT will use the grant to continue supporting inclusive governance and gender equality.

We believe in the Central African woman. We know her drive for action, her ability to mobilize in the face of a social problem. Her commitment and her attitude will determine the altitudes to which she will rise in the future within the decision-making institutions of the country...because the future cannot be achieved without her.

 

Each speaker -- from Secretary Albright, to Senator Mikulski and Senator Harris, and the women of WALT -- touched on the critical importance of not only inspiring, but being a resource for the next generation of women leaders. Inspiration begins at a young age and the road to change is long, but any road can be traveled if you’re not alone.