Queen Rania: We Need More Educated Girls

By: Alex Sundby
Topics: Katie Couric

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan and Katie Couric Saturday at the Women in the World summit, sponsored by The Daily Beast, in New York, March 13, 2010.

(Credit: The Daily Beast)

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan told Katie Couric Saturday that 2010 is a pivotal year for educating millions of girls in developing countries, emphasizing her cause's importance by saying "education really can mean life or death."

The women were featured guests of The Daily Beast's "Women in the World" summit in New York City. Couric's interview of the queen, a UNICEF advocate, was a highlight of the weekend-long summit's second day. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke at the summit.

"I really do think this is a do-or-die year, and I don't mean that metaphorically; education really can mean life or death," Queen Rania told Couric, according to The Daily Beast.

Katie Couric speaks Saturday at the Women in the World summit, sponsored by The Daily Beast, in New York, March 13, 2010.

(Credit: The Daily Beast)

Without a major initiative to educate the 600 million girls in the developing world, they are condemned to lives of poverty and disease, Queen Rania told Couric.

"Educating a girl is probably the highest returning investment that a country can make," the queen said.

Katie Couric listens during a panel discussion Saturday at the Women in the World summit, sponsored by The Daily Beast, in New York, March 13, 2010.

(Credit: The Daily Beast)

After the interview, Couric participated in a panel discussion with advocates of women and girls.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Queen Rania joined Tina Brown (left) at the Women in the World summit, sponsored by The Daily Beast, in New York, March 13, 2010.

(Credit: The Daily Beast)

Alex Sundby
Alex Sundby is an associate news editor for CBSNews.com

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by MyBetaTwitta March 15, 2010 7:54 PM EDT: These two world class leaders will make a world of difference for children.
It may in the future be called the Katie Couric & Queen Rania effect.; Reply to this comment

by maven farshadat March 15, 2010 11:26 AM EDT

Beautiful, brilliant, compassionate things are running in my mind. UNICEF itself being a beautiful, brilliant and compassionate organization caring for children. Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan being a beautiful, brilliant and compassionate person caring for children, and then of course I thought about you, Katie, and concluded that since you are (as all truly intelligent people agree) the most beautiful, brilliant, and compassionate woman-ever in the history of the world-then you would also be a great UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United States. Hmmm.

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by peregrine3 March 15, 2010 3:30 PM EDT: Is Katie Couric still beautiful, of course. Is she intelligent; it would seem so, but my god after that I've got to find some pepto. The queen, her extremely intelligent and articulate husband and his father, a closet radio ham, are seemingly the only people holding up the pillars. They are courageous people that aren't afaid to speak their mind. I'm always happy to see them on stage and am reminded of the sane side of muslimism. Not that christianity has any corner on saneness.


by PattyHs March 15, 2010 5:25 PM EDT: Yes Katie Couric is beautiful and smart. The Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan is too. Maybe together with their leadership abilities they will gather enough worldwide support to make a difference. Hope so.