50 million women

“More than 100 countries prohibit women from working in specific industries, which means 2.7 billion women are legally restricted from having the same choice of jobs as men,” Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump writes in The Wall Street Journal this week. In 18 countries, husbands can even legally prevent their wives from working and earning their own income, she adds.

Expanding economic opportunity for women isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s in America’s national interest, as well. It has the potential to boost global economic output by $12 trillion by 2025. Unleashing widespread prosperity throughout the developing world can lead to a more stable, peaceful global order.

This afternoon, President Donald J. Trump signed a memorandum to launch the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, or “W-GDP.” Spearheaded by Ivanka Trump, this first-of-its-kind, whole-of-government approach to women’s economic empowerment will aim to touch 50 million lives in developing countries.

That potential $12 trillion payoff “represents far more than an economic boom—it represents millions of lives full of promise: mothers who could provide for their children, daughters who could be the first to graduate from high school, and young women who could start businesses and create jobs,” Ms. Trump writes.

W-GDP stands on a three-pillar premise:

Increase women’s global labor force participation and advancement in the workplace by providing them with quality education, training, and support
Improve the access that female entrepreneurs and business owners have to financing and market opportunities that help grow their businesses
Eliminate the legal, regulatory, and cultural barriers that prevent women from participating in their local economies

“By investing in women around the world, we’re investing in families, we’re investing in prosperity, and we’re investing in peace,” President Trump said.

How W-GDP aims to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025

Watch: Ivanka Trump previews the promise of W-GDP

Video of the day: SOTU in 62 seconds

President Trump laid out a bold vision for American greatness in his second State of the Union address on Tuesday night. In case you missed the speech—or just want to relive a few of the highlights—we’ve compiled some of the best lines of the night.

Photo of the Day

Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, members of his Cabinet, and guests, signs a memorandum to launch the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative | February 7, 2019