The International Museum of Women is honored to partner with United Nations development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in organizing an extraordinary international exhibition of women artist and artisans. The powerful, inspirational messages presented in Progress of the World's Women depict both the complex realities of women's lives and the shared aspirations for justice and equality. The exhibition's multicultural, transnational perspectives mirror the kinds of global dialogues which, today, are advancing the goal of full equality for women worldwide. This goal is mutually held objective of UNIFEM, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the International Museum of Women. The June 5th exhibition opening coincides with the start of a week- long Special Session of the UN General Assembly, "Women 2000; Gender Equality, Development, and Peace for the 21st Century." The Special Session aims to finalize a five- year review of progress made worldwide in implementing recommendations from the Fourth UN World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995. The web exhibition will bring to viewers around the world a rare collection of painting, sculpture, photography, multimedia works, and crafts that address the theme of women's global progress in achieving equality.
 

 The exhibition celebrates UNIFEM's release of a new biennial report from which it draws its title, Progress of the World's Women, an assessment of the global advances made toward gender equality. The Museum aims to empower and inspire girls and women; promote awareness of the importance of social and economic parity; and create a climate in which future generations of women have the confidence, courage and opportunity to attain their highest goals.

The International Museum of Women, a developing new educational and cultural facility scheduled to open in San Francisco in 2005, will be the first museum to bring to life the histories and experiences of women and girls around the world.

The International Museum of Women will be challenging, vibrant, exciting, provocative and entertaining educational and cultural facility. Leading technology will be combined with artifacts preserved from the past celebrate women's history, using the lessons learned from the past to understand the present and inspire the future.

The International Museum of Women's exhibition program will include permanent and temporary exhibitions which will chronicle the lives of women throughout the world and throughout time; present thought-provoking examination of current issues; record women's contributions in the workplace, home and community; provide a venue for performing and visual arts; and challenge the visitor to imagine a new and exciting future. The Museum will be located in San Francisco, a city whose residents have roots in every corner of the globe. The city was selected because San Francisco is one of the world's most popular destinations for leisure and business travel; an international center of business and culture; a leader in international human rights, the birthplace of the United Nations and the first city government to adopt the Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against women (CEDAW).

"The International Museum of Women will help us move toward a world of equality for all people by creating a climate in which future generations of women have the confidence, courage and opportunity to attain their highest goals." U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

"... the International Museum of Women will provide an exeptional source of inspiration for girls and women throughout the world, with long overdue recognition for our personal and professional achievements." U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer