Amal Clooney joins Cartier Voices as its inaugural contributor just as the Clooney Foundation for Justice announces its own fellowship program for women lawyers in Africa.
French luxury label Cartier has announced the launch of Cartier Voices, a community of individuals that reflects the brand’s philanthropic and humanitarian efforts. The Maison has chosen the world-renowned human rights lawyer, activist, and philanthropist, Amal Clooney as the inaugural contributor of Cartier Voices.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming Amal as the first contributor of Cartier Voices,” Cartier CEO, Cyrille Vigneron, said in a statement. “Her values and philanthropic efforts reflect Cartier’s longstanding commitment to driving change that impacts vulnerable communities on a global scale.”
The Cartier Voices community will bring together individuals who use their platforms to make a positive impact in areas such as cultural, philanthropic, environmental, and social initiatives. Cartier’s long history of charitable initiatives and the company’s commitment to social responsibility have been reflected in the creation of this new program.
Born in Lebanon and raised in the U.K., Clooney has garnered recognition for her advocacy work across social justice causes, including co-founding the Clooney Foundation for Justice with her husband, actor and humanitarian George Clooney.
“I am honored to be the first contributor to the global community of Cartier Voices,” Clooney said. “I look forward to building an enduring partnership founded on the values shared between myself and the Maison.”
The Cartier Voices program represents a continuation of the brand’s longstanding commitment to social responsibility, and the partnership with Clooney aims to strengthen its efforts to create a positive impact in communities worldwide.
The announcement comes on the heels of the Cartier Women’s Initiative announcing its 33 fellows for 2023. This year’s cohort features the highest-ever number of fellows from regions across the globe including Saudi Arabia, India, and across Africa — a move that reaffirms Cartier’s commitment to female impact entrepreneurs around the world.
This year features two new regional awards, the Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania awards, and a new thematic award, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, which is its first open to all genders.
This year’s Initiatives see new regional and thematic awards. First-place awardees will be awarded $100,000, second and third-place awardees will receive $60,000, and $30,000. All 33 fellows will receive tailored mentoring and coaching, media visibility, networking opportunities, and education courses from leading business school, INSEAD.
Cartier’s humanitarian efforts build on its far-reaching responsibility initiatives, including the launch of the Watch and Jewelry Initiative 2030, which it co-founded along with luxury group Kering in 2021. The Initiative is open to the luxury jewelry industry and supports the UN’s 2017 Sustainable Development Goals, including efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change in poverty-stricken regions most at risk.
Last month, the Clooney Foundation for Justice launched a legal fellowship for ten early-career women lawyers in Africa through its Waging Justice for Women initiative, which kicks off this summer.
The fellowship offers an annual salary and a one-year placement in organizations across Africa. Each fellow will support at least one strategic litigation case during that time.
According to CFJ, women and girls around the world continue to face injustice, inequality, and violations of their rights. The new fellowship program’s aim is to provide next-generation female lawyers with tools and resources to help women and girls in their communities.
“I’ve been proud to fight for justice for women and girls worldwide, from human rights defenders in Southeast Asia to victims of sexual violence in the Middle East and vulnerable women working on tea plantations in Malawi,” Clooney said in a statement.
“I have only been able to do this work thanks to the lawyers who paved the way for young women to enter a male-dominated legal profession and then provided them with mentorship and support.”
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