The
World Association of Non-Governmental
Organizations (WANGO) joined together with the
International Herald Tribune
(the global edition of The New York Times) and
The New York Forum as
partners with the Cécelia Attias Foundation for
Women for the Foundation's program "Dialogue for
Action." 
its
kind to build a dynamic community of organizations that champion the cause of
women's dignity, equality, and well-being. NGO leaders gathered from every
continent and were provided with a platform for dialogue and sharing best
practices, while experts and influencers from the public and private sectors of
business, politics, media, and academia provided insight to identify solutions
to the most pressing issues facing women. 
and business leaders that are all committed to achieving
tangible
improvements in the lives of women worldwide. The Foundation provides a
strategic, financial, and media platform for established nongovernmental
organizations, associations, and charities who champion the cause of women’s
equality and well-being. The president and founder of the Foundation is the
former First Lady of France,
Cécelia Attias.
An annual event, Dialogue for Action was held in
conjunction with the inaugural New York Forum, which took place from June 22-23
in the same location. The New York Forum was organized by
Richard Attias,
the husband of Cecilia Attias, and gathered top CEOs (Fortune 1000 CEOs),
sovereign fund managers, financial experts, and governmental leaders from
around the world. Richard Attias produced the World Economic Forum for 13 years
and launched the Clinton Global Initiative. The New York Forum is the New Davos,
but one specifically focused on finding solutions for the economy, rather than
the broad issues (health, culture, sports, etc.) now part
of the over
300-session World Economic Forum.
Gathering for Dialogue for Action was truly a
blue-ribbon gathering. Mrs. Zanele
Mbeki, the former first lady of South
Africa and founder of the Women's Development Bank, addressed the event, as did
Sophie Delaunay, the executive director of Doctors Without Borders, and Mary
Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women's World Banking. Also presenting
were the presidents, CEOs, or executive directors of such NGOs as Muslim Women
Resource Center, Pro Mujer, Partnership for New York City, International Women's
Health Coalition, Congolese Women League for Election, Tostan, Her Rights
Initiative, UNIFEM, SAATHI, Women Without Borders, and Women for Women
International.
The media and business worlds were represented by facilitators Cindi Leive (Editor-in-Chief, Glamour Magazine) and Sade Baderinwa (Anchor/Reporter WABC-TV), and speakers such as Alison Smale (Executive Editor, International Herald Tribune), Pamela Gross (Editor at Large, The Hill), and Dina Powell (President of Goldman Sachs Foundation).
Among the governmental representatives were Ambassador Craig Stapleton, the former ambassador to France, and Fernando Villalonga, the Consul General of Spain. Participants such as Ms. Janet Robinson (President and CEO, The New York Times Company), Ms. Adriana Quinones (Manager, United Nations Trust Fund, UNIFEM), Ms. Ann Nicol (Executive Director, United Nations Association), and Ms. Christine Alfsen (Director, a.i., UNESCO) made for very rich discussions, as participants sought concrete steps to address issues of pressing import for women worldwide.
