United States House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi helped kick off the event at the opening reception, hosted by Walter Goetz, head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington DC. Pelosi told the crowd “We need to make democracy more democratic.” 

Pelosi described having women in politics is, amazingly, still somewhat of an innovation in many places.  She underlined the importance of having women in leadership on the global level. Throughout the night, participants heard several examples of how women are leading, strengthening, and benefiting from innovations in democracy. After Speaker Pelosi, the group heard remarks by Karen Melchior of the European Parliament, Neema Lugangira of the Parliament of Tanzania, Jovita Neliupšienė, the EU ambassador to the U.S. and Sanna Lepola, Director General of DG Parliamentary Democracy Partnerships of the European parliament.