http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2012-02-11T15:54:03+00:00 State of the Union Address:

"The basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement...[is] the defining issue of our time...how to keep the promise alive... No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important...we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules."

President Obama's call for a change to the status quo is based on the fact that income inequality in the United States has risen in the past three decades and real median wages have stagnated. These issues are not unique to the American economy. In fact, the challenge that President Obama spoke of, is the same challenge facing other world leaders today. As Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said: "The most consequential question facing nation(s)...is whether leaders will let their people live up to their God-given potential and claim their place at the heart of the 21st century..."

In fact, the problem of economic inequality manifests itself in various forms around the globe. The unemployed, young graduates, the working poor, and men and women in the formal and informal sector are desperate for their voices to be heard -- in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. They are looking for their leaders to provide policies that address inequality and social inclusiveness, issues that if ignored, will only lead to further social unrest and political instability.

Indeed, even during discussion at the yearly gathering of world leaders from business, politics, media, and academia at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland in January, there was unanimous agreement by senior economic figures that "growing inequality should now be the priority for leaders after the economic crisis." The figures from the economic fall-out of the global crisis are staggering -- especially for youth unemployment. In the United States, the youth unemployment rate is 23 percent, in Spain it is close to 50 percent, and in some parts of the Arab world it is almost 90 percent. In fact, some business leaders at Davos warned of "a disaster and a ticking time bomb," as the demographics of countries such as Jordan, where 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30, come to the forefront. Others pointed to the possibility of a "lost generation," as government policies have failed to address these problems in a timely manner.

So what policy options are available to world leaders? Sharan Burrow, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the co-chair of the Secretary's Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society, spoke at Davos about labor, promoting five key principles: "Jobs -- it is workers in work who will drive the global economy out of crisis... Social Protection, sustainable demand and decent work -- measures to mitigate social inequality are crucial to building a fairer, more stable global economy... Financial regulation... Fair and Progressive Taxation... [and] Climate Action."

World leaders must listen to their citizens and allow them the opportunity to live in dignity through decent work. As the world struggles to emerge from the global recession and ongoing financial turmoil, we need to ensure that the global economy is bounded by rules that ensure that its prosperity is widely shared, and that it serves to empower, not exploit workers. The promotion and protection of core worker rights are fundamental to strong and durable democracies. The inclusion of women, young people, and of those who labor in the informal sector are essential to building a vibrant sustainable global economy.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/inequality_lost_generation/ 2012-02-09T23:20:17+00:00
It is estimated that 100 to 140 million women globally have undergone this procedure and three million girls are at risk every year. Cutting is often performed by untrained practitioners, employing no anesthesia and often using such instruments as broken glass, tin lids, scissors, or unsterilized razors. In addition to causing intense pain and psychological trauma, the procedure carries with it severe short and long-term health risks: including hemorrhaging; infection, including increased risk of HIV transmission; birth complications; and even death. Remarkably, some people still defend this practice as part of a cultural or religious tradition. But as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has stressed, violence toward women and girls isn't cultural -- it's criminal.

The United States has supported efforts to abandon this egregious practice since the early 1990s, and considers it not only a public health issue, but a violation of women's rights and dignity. Here are a few examples of our advocacy and funding:

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) addresses prevention of female genital mutilation and cutting in humanitarian settings and works to raise awareness of the need to reduce the practice of gender-based violence and FGM/C. PRM also supports some targeted activities to prevent female genital mutilation/cutting in Somali and Sudanese refugee populations. For example, in Kenya, we provide resources to NGO partners to promote awareness and prevention of female genital mutilation/cutting by supporting community based organizations including men's groups, youth groups, women's groups, and religious leaders. Other projects promote social and economic empowerment of women and girls to reduce the risk of exposure to gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation/cutting, while educating participants on the impact of harmful traditional practices.

In northern Ethiopia, PRM supports an awareness-raising program for women and girls living in Shimelba and My'Ayni refugee camps, including through discussions with girls, women, boys, and men on gender based violence-related topics -- including female genital mutilation/cutting -- and a Girls' Wellness Week, which promotes adolescent girls' health through a coming-of-age ceremony that does not include the procedure.

In Egypt, the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues provides support to an organization working to address and prevent violence against women, including female genital mutilation/cutting, in select Cairo communities. The project provides training and capacity building for survivor advocacy and mental health training for health care providers, community leaders and volunteers. The Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues and the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor are also funding an NGO working in northern Iraq to support a multidimensional program composed of integrated victim services and a successful educational campaign for village residents and political and religious leaders that has led to the first of its kind declaration of a village being "Female Genital Mutilation Free" in Iraq.

USAID has supported similar projects in many countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Djibouti, and Burkina Faso, among others. All projects addressing female genital mutilation/cutting supported by USAID are culturally sensitive and are integrated with health, economic, social, or democracy and governance programs. USAID programs are community-based, involving work with community and religious leaders as well as women's groups, men, and youth to advance the quality and effectiveness of our efforts and to improve conditions that will lead to abandonment of the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting.

Among the best-known programs are those carried out by the NGO Tostan, which made the case that the procedure was detrimental to the health of the future mothers of Senegal and was able to convince tribal and religious leaders to join its cause. Tostan understood that community based approaches involving men, boys, religious leaders, and all members of society are the only way to achieve lasting support against mutilation. In fact, community advocates have found that when men come to understand the physical and psychological trauma FGM/C causes, they often become the most effective activists for eradication, including fathers that unequivocally refuse to allow their daughters to be subjected to the procedure. Communities must act collectively to abandon the practice, so that girls or their families who opt out do not jeopardize marriage prospects or become social outcasts. We are encouraged to see that this approach has led some 6,000 communities across Africa to abandon the practice, usually through some form of public declaration. In the past, the Egyptian Ministry of Women and Children worked to organize renunciation ceremonies in which entire communities agreed not to continue the procedure in the interest of the good health of the women and girls in the community.

We hope that the support of governments and international donors -- along with the many men and women around the world who denounce this practice -- will overturn deeply entrenched social norms that are not only harmful to women and girls, but to our communities and societies.

Stay connected with the Office of Global Women's Issues on Facebook and Twitter, and the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration on Facebook.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/zero_tolerance_fgm_2012/ 2012-02-06T20:41:01+00:00 L'Aquila Joint Statement on Global Food Security, agreeing to "to act with the scale and urgency needed to achieve sustainable global food security."

This marked a turning point for international efforts to achieve food security worldwide. Leaders committed to a take a comprehensive approach to ensure food security, coordinate effectively, support country-owned processes and plans, engage multilateral institutions in advancing efforts to promote food security, and deliver on sustained and accountable commitments.

This year marks the final year of AFSI donor governments' pledge to mobilize over $22 billion toward global food security over three years, of which the United States pledged $3.5 billion. Food security is a critical priority as it is closely linked to economic growth, social progress, political stability, and peace.

In the United States, this pledge is embodied in Feed the Future, the U.S. government's global hunger and food security initiative. Taking a uniquely comprehensive approach to food security by investing in entire agricultural value chains, from seeds to markets to consumers, Feed the Future is the largest investment in agricultural development the United States has made in decades. Beyond improving farm and ranch production, Feed the Future also works with underserved agricultural workers, and prioritizes improvements in their nutrition as well as their income. Women producers are supported within FTF programs through several mechanisms including innovation funds to develop technology appropriate to them, and diversification programs that improve nutrition, specifically targeting the 1,000 day window from pregnancy through a child's second birthday. Adequate nutrition during this window is critical to a healthy pregnancy, and developing a child's lifetime cognitive and physical capacity.

AFSI participants convene twice annually to review progress toward meeting commitments, including financial pledges, and to discuss best practices and lessons learned. The first AFSI meeting of 2012 brings together over 50 food security officials from 30 countries, and international and regional organizations. Participants have heard from civil society and partner countries, and will discuss coordination efforts between partner and donor governments, investments in research to improve food security, tracking progress toward meeting the L'Aquila commitments, and using Managing for Development Results to enhance the impact of investments in food security.

AFSI members are making good progress in committing funds to fulfill their financial pledges, but we have much work ahead to achieve sustainable global food security.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/keeping_promises_food_security/ 2012-02-03T15:23:05+00:00
The launch of two groundbreaking initiatives -- the Business Leadership Council and the Social Media Syndicate -- will marshal the power of the private sector, converging business acumen, technology, and other assets to support country-led efforts to prevent new infant infections and save mothers' lives.

This exceptional commitment by the private sector stems from the Global Plan towards the Elimination of New Pediatric Infections and Keeping Mothers Alive, launched last year by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and UNAIDS. The Plan's central goal is to reduce the number of new pediatric infections by 90 percent by 2015 in the 22 countries carrying 90 percent of the global burden of vertical transmission. The science is clear -- achieving a generation born HIV-free is possible. It is a smart investment that will save lives and pay dividends in many of the world's emerging economies.

I am proud to note that in 2011 alone, PEPFAR tested nearly 10 million pregnant women. Of these, more than 660,000 pregnant women were found to be living with HIV, and antiretrovirals (ARVs) for these women allowed more than 200,000 infants to be born HIV-free. These are the highest results of any year in PEPFAR's eight-year history.

Everyone has a role to play. By working together with the private sector, we will enhance our collective impact. Leaders in business and the media have unique core competencies that only they can bring to this effort. I commend these business and media leaders for their commitment and partnership. I also encourage other companies to join this effort, and hope that other sectors will similarly pledge to do more, and do it smarter.

As we have learned from 30 years of struggle, extraordinary things happen when we work together. By uniting around our common humanity and our shared responsibility, we can change, not just the course of the epidemic, but the course of history for families and communities around the world.

Ambassador Eric Goosby serves as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator, leading all U.S. Government international HIV/AIDS efforts. In this role, Ambassador Goosby oversees implementation of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), as well as U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

For more information on PEPFAR, visit: www.pepfar.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PEPFAR and Twitter at www.twitter.com/PEPFAR.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/eliminate_pediatric_aids/ 2012-02-01T15:30:29+00:00
As we mark that moment, when Lincoln sent to the states a document ending slavery, we note also that the 13th Amendment wasn't merely a moment in our nation's history. It was a promise: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist." Not then. Not ever. Today, a century and a half later, the work to deliver on that promise continues.

Trafficking in persons, a modern-day form of slavery, victimizes as many as 27 million people whether through forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. It is a crime that affects every country in the world.

That's why the Obama Administration continues to make this struggle a priority. Next month, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will chair the annual meeting of the President's Interagency Task Force on Trafficking in Persons, bringing together leaders from across government to share accomplishments and strategic objectives in fulfilling our long-held promise.

Across the country, law enforcement and criminal justice organizations are strengthening their response to this crime by improving victim identification, providing more comprehensive services to survivors, and delivering traffickers the justice they deserve. Nearly every state has adopted a modern, comprehensive anti-trafficking law that approaches this crime with the victim-centered 3P Paradigm of prevention, protection, and prosecution (including Indiana, where just two days ago Governor Daniels signed a law toughening penalties for sex trafficking).

But just as modern slavery doesn't exist solely within our borders, the 13th Amendment doesn't stand alone as a promise to bring an end to this ancient crime. Look no further than Article 4 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights: "slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms." This isn't just a problem at home, and we aren't alone in this struggle.

That's why the President and Secretary Clinton have made the fight against modern slavery -- the legacy of National Freedom Day and the 13th Amendment -- an important component of our foreign policy. The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) engages governments around the world and assesses global efforts to combat this crime in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

Likewise, the TIP Office is at the forefront of diplomatic engagement. Last month, following Secretary Clinton's historic visit, I traveled to Burma to meet with government officials. We discussed positive steps forward in addressing modern slavery in that country as well as the potential for future progress.

That trip -- that sort of engagement -- is essential, because trafficking in persons is a threat to stability. It devastates communities, breeds corruption, and hinders our interests around the world.

But, just as important, we carry that promise of freedom around the world because it's part of who we are as a nation. Because Lincoln signed his name to the 13th Amendment -- because those men and women laid a wreath before the Liberty Bell 70 years ago -- our work today seeks not only to honor that solemn commitment for all those who once endured exploitation, but to deliver on that promise of freedom for all whose suffering we are determined to end.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/national_freedom_day_2012/ 2012-02-01T12:07:52+00:00 opinion piece that appears today on The Daily Beast website. In the piece, Ambassador Verveer and Ms. Azzarelli underscore why the global economy needs the "other 51 percent." The text of their article follows below.

"Businesses are starting to understand what development experts have long known: investing in women pays dividends. Women are more likely than men to put their income back into their communities, driving illiteracy and mortality rates down and GDP up.

"Now a corporate revolution is at hand, one that is moving beyond philanthropy, making women partners in business at all levels. This was an important theme at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, which hosted a plenary session entitled 'Women as the Way Forward' on the potential impact of women on the global economy. On February 1, some of the most powerful companies in the United States (Accenture, Coca-Cola, Ernst and Young, Goldman Sachs, and others) are signing on to a worldwide campaign to bring women into the economic mainstream. The Third Billion Campaign is being launched by La Pietra Coalition -- an alliance including corporations, governments, and nonprofits -- to enable one billion women to become members of the global economy by 2025. The campaign's title comes from the notion that over the next decade, the impact of women will be at least as significant as that of China's and India's respective one-billion-plus populations.

"Bringing women into businesses creates what Michael Porter and Mark Kramer of Harvard Business School call 'shared value' -- it helps companies while helping communities too. Consumer-product businesses have quickly understood the benefits: for instance, bypassing retail and hiring women to build person-to-person distribution channels for everything from cosmetics to beverages. More recently, companies have found it especially effective when the purchaser needs to be educated on the product being sold, be it a mobile sonogram machine, an energy lantern, or a cookstove. Women can also be the best innovators of the products they use and sell, sometimes transforming their communities with something as small as the knowledge of the optimal use of a household's single electric light.

"The rewards are clear. Avon, for example, gives more than six million women in more than 100 countries the opportunity to start their own businesses; these entrepreneurs serve as Avon's main sales force, resulting in more than $10 billion in revenue. Similarly Unilever has invested in 45,000 underprivileged Indian entrepreneurs, mostly women, in more than 100,000 villages through microfinance and training -- a strategy that accounts for five percent of the company's total revenue in India. Recently, Walmart has pledged to source more than $20 billion from women-owned companies in the United States alone, and Coca-Cola announced a program, 5 By 20, to support five million women entrepreneurs globally by 2020. The benefits of women in upper management have also been shown: a recent Catalyst survey found a strong correlation between gender diversity in the leadership ranks of a business and that business's economic performance.

''There is no doubt,' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said, 'that the increasing numbers of women in the economy ... has helped fuel significant growth everywhere. And economies that are making the shift more effectively and rapidly are dramatically outperforming those that have not'."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/verveer_oped_invest_in_women/ 2012-01-30T16:39:05+00:00 More: Questions Submitted on DipNote | Text Transcript

Suzan Johnson Cook, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, held a conversation with Dr. Chris Seiple, President of the Institute for Global Engagement, on the role of religion in foreign policy. The discussion was moderated by Cheryl Benton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs. Members of the general public were invited to participate by submitting questions on DipNote, some of which were selected for response during the broadcast.

This is the twenty-third installment in the Conversations With America video series coordinated by the Bureau of Public Affairs, in which the State Department's senior leadership hosts conversations online, with leaders of prominent non-governmental organizations. The discussions provide a candid view of civil society leaders engaging the Department on pressing foreign policy issues and global issues.

View other Conversations With America by following this link and by accessing the Conversations With America video podcasts on Apple iTunes.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/cwa_religion_foreign_policy/ 2012-01-25T14:54:55+00:00
The ICWBL will meet at least once a year and at such other times and places as are required to fulfill the objectives of the Council. Subcommittees and working groups will meet as appropriate for their assigned responsibilities. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is Chair; PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi and Cherie Blair Foundation for Women Founder Cherie Blair are Vice-Chairs.

ICWBL membership consists of representatives who are leaders of American and foreign public and private sector organizations and institutions having an interest in the role of women in international business, economic policy development and global economic growth.

The inaugural ICWBL meeting was streamed live on www.state.gov and DipNote. A text transcript of the Secretary's remarks during the meeting is available here.

You can learn more about the ICWBL here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_icwbl/ 2012-01-24T04:22:07+00:00
The "right to play" is a universal human right enumerated in Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right to play is the right to rest and leisure, and with it the right to engage in recreational activities. It is important to recognize that play environments often do not sufficiently take people with disabilities into consideration in their design. The onus is often on parents to push for inclusive play.

I was therefore pleased to speak at the OCAD University in Toronto, Canada, on January 19 as part of the Faculty of Design speaker series. My talk, "Changing Society: The Power of Inclusive Thinking" was presented in conjunction with the Faculty of Design's annual Design Competition, which brings together interdisciplinary teams of students who must present innovative solutions to real-world design challenges. My remarks focused on the importance of the designer in the progress toward social inclusion -- and equality.

Drawing from personal experience, I spoke about fighting for my own right to inclusion, both as a child and an adult. It's not just about ensuring that design takes into account the needs of children. The right to rest and leisure is important to people throughout their lifetime. It is equally important to those who acquire disabilities later in life as to people with disabilities who are aging. Facilitating enjoyment of the right to rest and leisure by persons with disabilities should be seen less as a reasonable accommodation and more as an aspect of universal design.

It's not just about accessibility to physical play spaces. It is also important that play spaces people access through technology, like video games or computer-based word games, be accessible to all. As the world moves toward knowledge-based economies and technological skills put people at an advantage for employment, the development of inclusive technologies for play, learning, and work is essential. Technology also empowers communities. If large swaths of the disability community -- who are often poor and less educated -- do not have access to technology, they have less capacity to advocate for themselves and to contribute as members of civil society.

As countries move forward to address inclusion, it is essential to look at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in turn to adopt uniform policies that have strong standards applied widely. There should be a holistic approach to avoiding and removing barriers to the enjoyment of this right and others.

Just as I encouraged participants to consult with people with disabilities to understand their needs, I encourage government leaders, architects, and members of civil society to do the same. As we continue to work toward more inclusive societies, we must pay attention to what societies need to ensure equal enjoyment of the right to play by children, youths, and adults with disabilities, especially in the area of technology. People with disabilities should always be consulted as the end users of such designs. Remember, "Nothing about Us without Us."

For more updates on international disability rights, visit my Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/SAHeumann.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/changing_society_the_power_of_inclusive_thinking/ 2012-01-20T22:35:38+00:00
If the fundamentals are right, innovation proceeds, economies grow and solutions to tough problems, including energy and food security, improved health and protected environments, are all the likelier to be identified. One of the fundamentals that we need to get right is to inspire young people toward careers in science and technology then to support their creative initiatives in science and technology through all means possible.

Yesterday, I heard Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland echo these very sentiments as part of her acceptance speech of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council on Science for the Environment. As the most recognized champion for the concept of "sustainable development," Dr. Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway and Director-General of the World Health Organization, articulated the critical need for youth engagement in science and technology as we work toward a sustainable future. She called on all of us to support what she called the “Innovation Generation,” those talented individuals who, if inspired and supported with adequate funds, will create the solutions we need to protect the planet while still growing economies.

Two programs supported by the Department of State, USAID, and private sector partners demonstrate our support for novel approaches on innovation. The LAUNCH program is an open competition which invites entrepreneurs to propose new products or solutions for pressing problems, including on global health and new energy sources. Those with the best ideas are mentored through on-line and other means toward product development and patenting.

The Global Innovation in Science and Technology (GIST) program, funded by the Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, focuses on building young scientist entrepreneurship capacity in 43 countries of significant Muslim population. Training and mentorship are the core of GIST activities. At the second Global Entrepreneurship Summit held December 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey, 25 teams of entrepreneurs were connected with Silicon Valley mentors before pitching their ideas to a panel judges. These young entrepreneurs were selected as part of the GIST Technology Idea competition which asked the public through YouTube to vote on submitted video pitches. $60,000 in prizes and trips to the United States to meet with investors and business leaders were awarded to the top finishers.

Dr. Brundtland's excitement for the"“Innovation Generation" is a clarion call for all of us working to use science for diplomacy. The Innovation Generation concept is a powerful conversation starter with nations worldwide on how a collective effort could be imagined to spark youth involvement in science and solutions for the future. It reminds us that our programs are an important element of support for the Innovation Generation, but that we can still do so much more. I look forward to continuing the conversation to determine ways that we can do more across the globe to support the "Innovation Generation."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/innovation_generation/ 2012-01-20T16:51:47+00:00 Recommendation of the Council on Principles for Internet Policy Making.

The Recommendation was born at a U.S.-initiated high-level meeting earlier this year. It was developed through the OECD's multilateral consensus-based process and is a successful follow-on to the June 28-29 High Level Meeting on the Internet Economy. A Communique' was agreed to by the member countries, Egypt, businesses, and Internet technical advisory groups, setting the principles to guide Internet-related policy making.

This is an important deliverable on the U.S. open Internet agenda. In May, President Obama issued the U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace, an agenda for safeguarding the single Internet. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has developed a groundbreaking Internet freedom agenda, a principled approach to preserving the freedom to connect -- the freedoms of expression, association and assembly online -- and to ensuring that the Internet can be a platform for commerce, debate, learning and innovation in the 21st century.

The stakes are high. According to McKinsey and Associates, over the past five years, the Internet has been responsible for 21 percent of the growth in mature economies and has created 2.6 jobs for every job it has displaced. Its power to generate innovation is rivaled only by its potential to help people realize their rights and democratic aspirations, as the Arab Spring demonstrated. According to McKinsey, this platform produced more growth in its first 15 years than the Industrial Revolution did in its first 50. The United States plans to work with others to continue building consensus for global norms that promote a free future for the Internet.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/oecd_internet_policy_making_principles/ 2012-01-14T16:55:51+00:00 World Health Organization estimates a shortage of at least one million frontline health workers worldwide, with Africa the region in greatest need. PEPFAR, in collaboration with partner countries, is pursuing a number of initiatives to respond.

Our efforts are being reinforced by many actors around the globe. A growing number of health organizations, recognizing the life-saving impact frontline health workers offer, are committed to employing innovative strategies to address the crisis. Tomorrow, 37 of these organizations from the public and private sector are coming together in Washington to launch the Frontline Healthcare Workers Coalition. The coalition will seek to stimulate high-impact investments in frontline health workers in the developing world, in order to save more lives and foster healthier communities.

Through PEPFAR, the United States has been a leader in making such investments. As we have moved from an emergency response toward a more sustainable, country-owned approach, we have been strengthening health systems as the foundation to achieving long-term health objectives -- such as the goal Secretary Clinton announced in November of an AIDS-free generation. PEPFAR and its implementing partners -- many of which are represented in the new coalition -- are working with partner countries to implement game-changing programs.

Two programs that exemplify our efforts to build lasting solutions are the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and the Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI). Through these, PEPFAR seeks to alleviate Africa's critical shortage of trained healthcare professionals and paraprofessionals, while developing sustainable local capacity to produce skilled doctors, nurses, and midwives for generations to come.

For medical education, over the five years of MEPI, PEPFAR, and the National Institutes of Health are providing $130 million directly to medical schools in a dozen African countries. The schools are using these funds to improve medical education, invest in innovative technologies, and strengthen educational resources. Funds are also used to support the research capacity of MEPI institutions, enabling African researchers and scholars to make invaluable contributions to the larger body of HIV knowledge.

In a similar fashion, PEPFAR is providing training and technical support to nursing and midwifery programs through NEPI. We recently launched NEPI in three countries -- Zambia, Lesotho, and Malawi -- that face extreme challenges in meeting the need for trained nurses and midwives, and will soon expand to additional countries. Partnering with Ministries of Health will be key to NEPI's success, and Ministries have embraced the opportunities to collaborate to develop a strong nursing workforce.

These programs are building on Africa's greatest resource of all -- its people. To make a truly lasting difference in our health and development programs, we will continue to support this kind of work. On this and our other efforts to support human resources for health, we look forward to collaborating with the members of the Frontline Health Workforce Alliance. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/frontline_healthcare_coalition/ 2012-01-10T22:39:18+00:00
AFSI signatories' endorsement of the L'Aquila Joint Statement on Global Food Security at the 2009 G-8 Summit marked a turning point for international efforts to achieve sustainable global food security. Under the Joint Statement, the United States and other donors agreed to be accountable for delivering a comprehensive approach to improving food security, which entails effective coordination, support for country-owned processes and plans, and engagement of multilateral institutions to promote food security worldwide. President Obama's L'Aquila pledge of $3.5 billion became Feed the Future (FTF), the U.S. government's global hunger and food security initiative. These reversed decades of underinvestment in food security, especially agricultural development and preventative nutrition.

This year FTF continued to build bridges between short- and long-term food security, and demonstrated early signs of success in improving nutrition in early life. Conceived as a new approach to agricultural development, FTF promotes development along the entire agricultural value chain -- from farms to markets to consumers -- and market growth. FTF encompasses all U.S. government agricultural investments and changes the structure and focus of such investments to avoid a myopic focus on increased food production alone. We also incorporate high-leverage interventions, such as those related to improved nutrition and women's empowerment. Through this comprehensive approach, FTF is on track to achieve greater success in the short and long term than has been seen from agriculture investments in previous decades.

The scale and scope of the drought and subsequent famine in the Horn of Africa brought the need for these investments into sharp focus for the world. As Secretary Clinton pointed out in her August 2011 speech at the International Food Policy Research Institute, although droughts are natural occurrences, famines are man-made. The famine in the Horn of Africa is still the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world today, and its effects are far reaching. Yet, glimmers of hope can be found. Although still unacceptably high, the number of people affected in Ethiopia and Kenya is less than half that affected in previous droughts. Both countries have also demonstrated commendable leadership and investment in their own agriculture sectors. And although the United States has dedicated more than $870 million in emergency relief funds to the most severely affected areas, we will continue to invest in long-term solutions in the region and worldwide through FTF to try to prevent droughts from becoming famines ever again.

The 1,000 Days partnership also grew substantially this year and continues to promote improved nutrition during the 1,000 days from pregnancy through age two, when adequate nutrition has the greatest impact on a child's cognitive and physical development. Thousanddays.org was re-launched as a portal for the international nutrition community, and the 1,000 Days Hub was created to better coordinate and mobilize public and private nutrition partners. Secretary Clinton continued her strong support for early life nutrition at the U.N. General Assembly in 2011 by speaking at the Secretary General's nutrition event to promote and support the partnership, and by promoting nutrition investments as cost-effective economic growth strategies. Her tireless efforts have resulted in unprecedented international attention to nutrition during the 1,000 day window of opportunity with diverse NGO and private sector organizations creating 1,000 days messaging and programs. Several governments are independently increasing nutrition investments as well.

These efforts leave us well situated in 2012 to lead the AFSI group, which aims to strengthen mutual accountability among participating governments in meeting food security commitments. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that food security remains a high-level global priority through the U.S. presidency of the G-8 and beyond. We have laid the foundation for progress in achieving lasting food security. Now, we need to stay the course!]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/ensuring_food_security/ 2012-01-10T17:36:38+00:00 resolutions for 2011: to continue promoting U.S. job creation; to seek and build overseas economic alliances; and to protect U.S. businesses and their interests. Beyond these three, I also resolved to exploit every opportunity to foster prosperity at home and abroad. It is clear to me that my bureau's hard work and resilient efforts paid off during 2011. In the wake of the Arab Awakening, we took quick steps to foster economic recovery in the region, including through promotion of entrepreneurship and U.S.-Middle East business relationships. This fall, we seized long-standing opportunities for expanding economic growth by finalizing trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama. With Secretary Clinton's unequivocal endorsement of economic policy as a pillar of foreign policy, 2012 is poised to provide even greater chances for my bureau to deliver on its mission. I would like to preview with you how my bureau plans to do that in the coming 12 months.

1. By continuing to promote growth at home.

In 2010, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative -- a government-wide effort to double U.S exports by the end of 2014 in support of millions of U.S. jobs. My bureau and I focused our efforts during the past year on trade advocacy and export promotion, access to credit, removal of trade barriers, enforcement of trade rules, and promotion of strong, sustainable and balanced growth. Our efforts worked: between July and September 2011 exports grew at a rate of 15.8 percent compared to the same timeframe in 2010, exceeding the 14.9 percent target rate needed to meet NEI goals. We helped U.S. companies compete for more than $27.8 billion in international contracts, with a total U.S. export value of over $18.6 billion. In the year ahead, we will charge full steam ahead, adding a new emphasis on foreign investment in the U.S. domestic market and on export opportunities in infrastructure.

A major success this year was the passage of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. These agreements open key markets for U.S. firms and create thousands of jobs. In 2012, we will continue to work on expanding market access by ensuring existing FTAs are implemented, advancing our talks on the Trans Pacific Partnership, and working to remove non-trade barriers.

On the aviation front, by the end of 2011, we had concluded Open Skies aviation agreements with over 105 global partners, allowing air carriers to provide more affordable, convenient and efficient air service. In the year ahead, we look to add more agreements with new partners connecting even more people to our friendly skies.

2. By re-focusing our development agenda.

We at State worked over the past year to re-frame our approach to development as a partnership, rather than as a donor-recipient relationship. President Obama's Partnership for Growth (PFG) initiative is a perfect example of this new way of thinking. Piloted in four countries -- El Salvador, Ghana, the Philippines and Tanzania -- PFG works with governments to identify the major obstacles to their economic growth and then jointly designs action plans to tackle them. I was honored to lead the negotiation of and then sign the first action plan with El Salvador in November, and look forward to our continued partnership with the country.

3. By promoting growth abroad.

2011 was a big year for entrepreneurship, which is a key priority for our bureau. The Arab Awakening provided an unprecedented opportunity for the people of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and other countries to take ownership of their fates, including their economic futures. Recognizing this, we launched a number of entrepreneurship partnerships to promote economic growth in the region. In October, a delegation of U.S. entrepreneurs and investors traveled to North Africa to conduct workshops on building businesses. Young entrepreneurs pitched ideas to the delegation, and winners received a three-month training at Tech Town, one of the United States' premier business incubators. I look forward to traveling to the region in 2012 to continue promoting entrepreneurship, expanding opportunities for U.S. companies, and furthering our mutual economic goals.

Next week, I will lead the U.S. delegation to the second annual North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity (NAPEO) Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference in Marrakech. This conference will bring together over 400 entrepreneurs from the Maghreb and beyond to exchange ideas and learn from global leaders.

But entrepreneurship and economic growth cannot flourish when a country's public revenues are wasted or when corruption runs rampant. Through our Domestic Finance for Development (DF4D) initiative, we seek to partner with countries to address these very issues. We have already identified five pilot DF4D countries (El Salvador, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia, and Zambia). In support of the democratic transitions in the Middle East and North Africa, DF4D is partnering with the Government of Tunisia and the International Tax Dialogue to sponsor an international Open Governance Conference in April. We are also working with international partners to develop a corps of international Volunteer Tax Experts to advise DF4D partner countries on tax administration.

4. By ensuring safe and fair access for all.

In 2011 we imposed tough new sanctions on Iran, Syria and -- for a time -- Libya. These policies advanced U.S. national interests and supported people's desire to freely determine their future. We have already rolled back the Libya sanctions in a way that supports the National Transitional Council and the rebuilding of the country. We will also continue to work with our international partners on a coordinated approach to Iran in order to hold the Iranian regime responsible for its refusal to comply with its international obligations.

It is not just in the goods market that we are striving to maintain openness. We are working to keep the Internet a space where economic, political, and social exchanges flourish. Together with a growing cross-regional group of like-minded countries, we will provide a platform for governments to engage creatively and energetically with the private sector, civil society, and other governments.

2012 will no doubt have its share of global economic challenges, but these can also present opportunities for advancing U.S. policy. I look forward to embracing these opportunities and strengthening the American economy.

Happy New Year to all!]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/advancing_us_policy_2012/ 2012-01-09T21:52:11+00:00 Update: Watch the video here.

Suzan Johnson Cook, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, will hold a conversation with Dr. Chris Seiple, President of the Institute for Global Engagement, on the role of religion in foreign policy. The discussion will be moderated by Cheryl Benton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, and will be available to view here on DipNote, the Department of State's official blog on January 25. Members of the general public are invited to participate by submitting questions in the comments section of this DipNote entry, some of which will be selected for response during the broadcast.

This is the twenty-third in the Conversations with America video series coordinated by the Bureau of Public Affairs, in which the State Department's senior leadership hosts conversations online, with leaders of prominent non-governmental organizations. Discussion topics include foreign policy and global issues and provide a candid view of how leaders from civil society engage the Department on pressing foreign policy issues.
]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/join_a_discussion_on_religion_and_foreign_policy/ 2012-01-09T20:14:34+00:00
As information networks become more ubiquitous and powerful, new movements and power structures are forming, others are being disrupted, and the speed of communications is making all of this take place at a blistering fast pace. Connection technologies are changing the ecology of politics and government.

In a speech last February, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reaffirmed the United States' commitment to Internet Freedom, the necessary backbone for people to be able to exercise their universal rights in an increasingly networked world. In her speech to a global audience, Secretary Clinton said:

"I urge countries everywhere instead to join us in the bet we have made, a bet that an open internet will lead to stronger, more prosperous countries. At its core, it's an extension of the bet that the United States has been making for more than 200 years, that open societies give rise to the most lasting progress, that the rule of law is the firmest foundation for justice and peace, and that innovation thrives where ideas of all kinds are aired and explored. This is not a bet on computers or mobile phones. It's a bet on people."

2011 also marked another major year advancing one of Secretary Clinton's signature initiatives, Civil Society 2.0. Civil Society 2.0 recognizes the important role civil society organizations play in empowering individuals to create change in their communities. Through this work, the State Department seeks to increase the effectiveness of civil society organizations working on a variety of issues by providing them with training in the latest technology tools to help facilitate those changes.

Participants learn how to use technology and integrate digital tools into their work. With new knowledge comes new capabilities -- and these groups are now better able to participate in the political process, visualize data to educate the public, communicate safely in restricted environments, and use mobile phones to create information networks among their members and the communities they serve.

We hosted five TechCamps in 2011. In June, Secretary Clinton participated in TechCamp Vilnius, which convened participants from 22 countries. One of the personal highlights of 2011 for me was introducing her to those seventy-five activists in Vilnius. The Secretary's excitement and engagement were obvious to everyone that was there.

To date, through TechCamps, we have trained more than 350 civil society organizations from more than 40 countries. Currently, we are planning several TechCamps aimed at helping to build capacity for civil society organizations working in education, women's empowerment, and open government.

As we begin 2012, we continue to celebrate the advances we have made in 21st Century Statecraft by hosting several different special events throughout January. Each week, we are inviting people from around the world to submit questions through Twitter using the hashtag #AskState. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland will respond to those questions during our Twitter Briefing each Friday in January.

I will be participating in a variety of activities myself. This week, I'll address the diplomatic corps at the Blair House and participate in a Live at State video chat with bloggers and journalists from around the world. On January 19, I'll hold a Twitter Q&A, and look forward to receiving your questions.

As we look ahead, 2012 will doubtless bring forward more innovations and advances in technology that we cannot yet foresee. Citizens around the world will continue to develop new and creative ways to engage one another and their governments. Here at the U.S. Department of State, we will continue to do our best to adapt our the practice of statecraft to account for these changes as we advance our diplomatic and development goals.

Happy New Year!

Editor's Note: You can watch Alec Ross's Live at State streamed on video.state.gov at 9:45 a.m. EST on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/2011_year_in_review_21st_century_statecraft/ 2012-01-09T15:26:55+00:00
We made a major push in 2011 to coalesce U.S. government and international commitment in support of women as peacemakers and peace-builders. This effort culminated in the release of the U.S. National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security. The NAP represents many months of close collaboration -- coordinated by the White House -- between U.S. government agencies, particularly the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It also involved significant outreach to foreign governments, the United Nations, the NGO community, and private sector leaders. We hope that women's participation as peace builders will be integrated across programs and policies to ensure more effective outcomes in ending conflicts and promoting peace, stability, and economic progress. As Secretary Clinton said during the NAP launch at Georgetown University a few weeks ago, "Women are not victims of war, but agents of peace."

Expanding women's economic opportunities and progress, and breaking down barriers to women-run small and medium enterprises, were a focus of our work in 2011 and will remain a priority in the year ahead. In collaboration with the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and USAID we launched the first "Invest for the Future: Women Driving Economic Growth" conferences in Istanbul, Turkey and Zagreb, Croatia, which provided training, mentoring and business networking for nearly 300 women entrepreneurs in the Caucasus and Southeastern Europe. Working with our regional partners and embassies overseas, we carried out similar signature programs elsewhere. In tandem with the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, we organized the Central Asia and Afghanistan Women's Economic Symposium, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in July. The African Women's Entrepreneurship Program and the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas Women Entrepreneurs Mentoring Network continued to grow and expand their reach, enabling more women to tackle traditional obstacles to trade, create successful business incubators, and catalyze enterprises that employ networks of other women.

With the United States as the 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) host, in September we organized with the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs the high level APEC Women and the Economy Summit in San Francisco, where Secretary Clinton laid out a strong, evidence-based case for how women are driving economic growth. By the end of the summit, all 21 APEC countries signed onto the San Francisco Declaration, committing each economy to develop programs and policies to reduce barriers to and improve women's economic opportunities and entrepreneurship. Later, at the APEC Ministerial in Honolulu, leaders called for the implementation of steps to expand women's business opportunities throughout the region.

Efforts to strengthen women's political participation and leadership included an emphasis on the role of women in the Arab Spring and political transitions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. In May, we convened the Women's Empowerment Working Group in Tunisia with civil society leaders from across the Arab world.

In Afghanistan, we built upon previous efforts to ensure that women are fully represented and participating in country-wide political decision-making processes. U.S. leadership in advocating for the important role women play in the future of Afghanistan helped to ensure that they were at the table during the Bonn conference in December.

We incorporated women into more of our strategic dialogues, including the first-ever bilateral U.S.-China Women Leaders Exchange and Dialogue (Women-LEAD), aimed at increasing exchanges and learning among women leaders across all sectors from China and the United States.

It was also a year to boost women in the fields of science and technology. Through the U.S.-Brazil Memorandum of Understanding on the Advancement of Women, we initiated a series of exchanges for U.S. and Brazilian women scientists, not only to benefit the participants, but also to help lay a foundation to inspire a new generation of young women to enter these vital fields. Under the leadership of Secretary Clinton, the Department launched TechWomen, an innovative initiative that harnesses the power of technology and mentoring to engage women from Silicon Valley with emerging women leaders in the technology field from the Middle East and North Africa. We also expanded efforts to harness mobile technology as a means of empowering women. The GSMA mWomen Programme, launched in 2010 to help provide women in the developing world greater access to mobile technology has broadened in reach. A new three-year mWomen partnership between USAID, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the GSMA and Visa Inc., will enable more women to use mobile phones to access life-enhancing information, networks and services -- such as banking, education and healthcare.

We forged ahead with our work on improving women's health and launched a variety of public-private partnerships including the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action aimed at empowering new mothers. We also inaugurated the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon Partnership to combat cervical and breast cancer in Africa and Latin America.

The year 2011 also marked progress for the role of women in combating climate change, including greater inclusion in key climate negotiations, enhancing agricultural productivity and through investments in initiatives like the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

With a new year beginning, we look forward to building on the progress made and momentum gained. We continue to take our inspiration from so many women around the globe who -- often at great personal risk -- are on the frontlines of advancing economic, political and social progress, protecting human rights and promoting economic growth, democracy and peace.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/women_progress_2011/ 2012-01-07T23:57:57+00:00 More: January 2012 Designated "21st Century Statecraft Month"

Today, State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland held a Twitter briefing, answering questions selected from the U.S. Department of State's 10 official Twitter feeds. Spokesperson Nuland will answer questions submitted via Twitter each Friday during the month of January. Questions can be submitted using the hashtag, #AskState.

Throughout the month of January, U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. and at U.S. Missions abroad will host digital engagements across multiple social media platforms on a wide array of issues to directly connect with the public on foreign policy issues that matter to them. You can find additional information about next week's engagements here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/askstate_nuland_twitter_briefing/ 2012-01-07T02:30:28+00:00 keynote remarks at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in early November, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paused to reflect on the last 12 months: "What a year 2011 has been for freedom in the Middle East and North Africa."

For people in that region and around the world, this past year brought exceptional progress and challenges. Some dictators fell, while others tyrants teetered, and in Syria, yet another clung to power by inflicting terrible suffering on his own people. Demands for free and fair elections and for governance that can provide both human rights and fundamental economic needs spread from country to country and across the globe. TIME Magazine named "The Protester" as its Person of the Year. Whenever I traveled -- from Sudan to Russia to Burma to Bahrain -- I met with people who simply wanted to exercise their right to free expression, to have a say in how they would be governed, to practice their religion without fear, and to earn a decent wage.

For these reasons, last year was quite extraordinary for the men and women here at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). They each worked in close partnership with offices and embassies throughout the State Department on these issues, three of which I'd like to highlight here:

Middle East transitions: We worked in close coordination with State Department colleagues on the many challenges and opportunities that have arisen this year. In her NDI speech, Secretary Clinton addressed American commitments to promote reform and support transitions in the Middle East and North Africa. In May, I testified on Capitol Hill about the state of these political transitions. In July, I did the same regarding human rights abuses in Syria; and, more recently, in December, I briefed key lawmakers on my trip to Bahrain and the government's response to the landmark Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report.

Internet Freedom: Protecting the rights of individuals to exercise their fundamental freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association and religion on and offline is a signature issue for Secretary Clinton, our bureau and the Department as a whole. Last year, Secretary Clinton delivered two major policy addresses on the topic -- most recently at the Freedom Online Conference in the Netherlands, which launched a coalition of 15 countries committed to joint action in support of a free and open Internet. I also had the privilege of talking about Internet freedom at the New America Foundation "Future Tense" Conference and at the Silicon Valley Human Rights Conference, where I emphasized the challenges and responsibilities the private sector has in this space. Since 2008, we have committed $70 million in programming to this cause. You can learn more about our continued efforts here.

LGBT: Integrating the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into American foreign policy has been a core priority for this Administration. In early December, Secretary Clinton delivered a historic speech in Geneva entitled "Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights," in which she addressed "one of the remaining human rights challenges of our time" and pledged to continue combating efforts to criminalize homosexuality. This speech followed on the heels of a June UN Human Rights Council session which passed the first-ever UN resolution on the human rights of LGBT people. Deputy Assistant Secretary Dan Baer later outlined the underlying American values and foreign policy rationales for the promotion of LGBT rights in this op-ed. A fact sheet about the Department and my bureau's collective work can be read here.

The year 2012 marks the 35th anniversary of the creation of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. As we embark on this new year, we rededicate ourselves to the American values and universal principles that guide our bureau, this government and this country. I look forward to working with you in 2012.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/year_in_review_2011_drl/ 2012-01-05T20:22:20+00:00 Bureau of Counterterrorism.

1. We build foreign counterterrorism capacity. We build international partner counterterrorism capacity in the civilian sector and contribute to efforts in the military and defense sectors. We develop and support implementation of antiterrorism assistance in the law enforcement, rule-of-law and counterterrorism finance sectors, on topics ranging from cyber-security to money laundering prevention to crisis response to prison de-radicalization.

2. We stood up and co-chair a new multilateral counterterrorism body. In 2011, we established the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). With 30 founding members (29 countries and the EU), the GCTF is a major initiative within the Obama Administration's broader effort to build an international architecture for dealing with 21st century terrorist threats. Two major deliverables announced at the September launch demonstrate the GCTF's action-oriented nature. The first was approximately $100 million, contributed by several members, to develop rule of law institutions. The United Arab Emirates announced the second: its intention to host the first ever international center of excellence on countering violent extremism, slated to open in Abu Dhabi in the fall of 2012. The forum is co-chaired by Turkey and the United States.

3. We counter violent extremism. To defeat terrorists, we must undermine their ability to recruit. We work to delegitimize the violent extremist narrative, to develop positive alternatives for populations vulnerable to recruitment, and to build partner government and civil society capacity to counter violent extremism themselves.

4. We engage with foreign governments. We hold regular bilateral, regional, and multilateral dialogues on shared counterterrorism issues and consult with foreign governments on urgent and emerging threats. Through bilateral and multilateral engagement we work with our more capable partners to enhance the abilities of countries around the world to counter terrorism and to cooperate more effectively together. We exchange intelligence, information, and best practices and procedures to ensure that we all are in the best possible position to thwart terrorist plots and take and keep terrorists off the streets. We help draft foreign counterterrorism laws. We routinely advise foreign governments on best practices for counterterrorism crisis management, and maintain cooperative research and development agreements with partner nations.

5. We respond to crises. We lead an interagency crisis response team, known as the Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST). Established in 1985, the FEST is ready to travel at four hours notice to the scene of an overseas emergency and provide round the clock advice and assistance to Ambassadors and foreign governments facing crises. The FEST's interagency team has responded to real-world bombings, kidnappings, and other crises around the globe, and also supports and participates in training exercises for such incidents. FEST training and response activities have occurred in Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. We have deployed a FEST 31 times since 1989.

6. We strategize. We work closely with the National Security Staff and other agencies to develop, refine and implement U.S. counterterrorism strategy and operations to disrupt and defeat the networks that support terrorism.

7. We designate. We prepare designations that carry legal sanctions of State Sponsors of Terrorism, foreign terrorist organizations, entities and individuals, and countries not fully cooperating with U.S. counterterrorism efforts for consideration by the Secretary of State.

8. We support research and development. We co-chair (with the Department of Defense) the interagency Technical Support Working Group (TSWG). TSWG conducts the National Interagency Combating Terrorism Research and Development Program whose purpose is to enhance the counterterrorism technology and equipment capabilities of U.S. government agencies involved in counterterrorism activities.

9. We support the safe recovery of hostages. The Hostage Policy Subgroup refines and implements official U.S. government policy toward Americans taken captive abroad. We work closely with interagency partners to shape and guide implementation of hostage policy in a way that accomplishes the safe recovery of hostages, bringing of hostage-takers to justice, and the prevention of future incidents.

10. We strengthen homeland security. We work in partnership with DHS, as well as other agencies and bureaus, to strengthen international cooperation on a wide range of homeland security issues, including transportation security, the interdiction of terrorist travel, and critical infrastructure protection.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/bureau_of_counterterrorism/ 2012-01-04T20:34:12+00:00 Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) assists persecuted and uprooted people through our support to international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and by advocating for their protection through humanitarian diplomacy. From the Arab Awakening to the crisis in the Horn of Africa, global political upheaval and conflict have presented many humanitarian challenges, and as 2012 begins, I'd like to take a moment to share a few examples of the work we did last year.

Refugee Admissions: The United States welcomed more than 56,000 refugees to re-start their lives thanks to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. English as a Second Language pilot programs provided basic language training to hundreds of U.S.-bound refugees in Kenya, Thailand, and Nepal. Our overseas partners reported a significant increase in basic skills and confidence. We anticipate increased enthusiasm for studying English after arrival in the United States -- a key skill for newly arrived refugees when seeking employment to become self-sufficient in their new communities.

Africa: In Africa, we supported international organization and NGO efforts to assist some 170,000 Ivoirian refugees in Liberia as well as hundreds of thousands of Ivoirians who were internally displaced as a result of conflict in that region. This spring, turmoil in Libya forced over one million persons to cross into Tunisia and Egypt. In response, PRM supported the emergency evacuation and repatriation of stranded third-country migrants, assistance and protection efforts for refugees and internally displaced persons, and emergency medical care and protection programs for conflict victims and detainees. Our partnership in this effort with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was a model of multilateral humanitarian action at its best. In the Horn of Africa, conflict and famine in southern Somalia forced another 300,000 Somalis to flee in 2011, bringing the overall Somali refugee population in the region to nearly one million. PRM funding to international organization partners and NGOs provided shelter, food, and other assistance to Somalis in need, and we sponsored a series of colloquia in the region to bring affected governments -- especially those who have played an important role in hosting large numbers of Somali refugees -- and service providers together to begin developing a unified strategic plan to address the crisis.

Middle East: Supporting Iraqi refugees in the Middle East continued to be one of our top priorities. Inside Iraq, PRM assistance programs help support voluntary returns and reintegration, for example, though home reconstruction, rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems, employment services and protection assistance. In neighboring countries, our funding supports a range of services for Iraqi refugees, including education, health care, and food assistance. In Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza, PRM's continued contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) supported vital programs in education, health, and social services to five million Palestinian refugees. UNRWA's commitment to peace and tolerance is a force for stability in the region and is an indispensible counterweight to extremism.

South and Central Asia: PRM supported UNHCR as it built its two hundred thousandth shelter for Afghan refugees returning to Afghanistan. We continued to advocate and provide assistance for the 2.7 million Afghan refugees outside Afghanistan as well as for Pakistanis displaced by conflict and flood. In Nepal, PRM supported UNHCR protection and assistance to Tibetan refugees transiting to India. We continued to support UNHCR assistance to 55,000 Bhutanese refugees, many of whom are in the process of resettlement to the United States. With PRM funding, UNHCR and the Turkmenistan government conducted a country-wide registration campaign, identifying approximately 8,000 stateless persons. More than 3,000 verified stateless people were granted Turkmen citizenship, with more expected in the coming months. Turkmenistan also acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.

Western Hemisphere: PRM humanitarian diplomacy saw progress when the Panamanian government passed a law granting approximately 900 indigenous and Afro-Colombian refugees the ability to request residency and work permits. We promoted solutions to statelessness in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, PRM focused on addressing the protection needs of earthquake-displaced Haitians and building government capacity to address gender-based violence and trafficking in persons, with an emphasis on assistance for vulnerable women and children.

Europe: Our diplomatic efforts and assistance programs in the Balkans worked towards a lasting solution for those displaced since the mid 1990s war. In November, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia signed a joint declaration aimed at providing durable housing solutions to the 74,000 most vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons remaining in the four countries -- a landmark achievement.

Migration: PRM migration programs supported direct assistance to vulnerable migrants, government capacity building, and regional coordination and dialogues on migration issues. The United States played a leadership role in several regional and international governmental forums, chairing the Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees, the largest global forum for dialogue on migration and development issues.

Population: Last year, the global population reached 7 billion, providing multiple opportunities to highlight U.S. leadership in investing in women and girls as essential to solving the world's most challenging problems. Women and girls are the world's engines of change. When their rights are protected and promoted, when they are healthy and educated, and when they can participate fully in society, they trigger progress in families, communities, and nations. Promoting sexual and reproductive health, reproductive rights, and access to safe and effective voluntary methods of family planning are at the top of President Obama's global health agenda. PRM supported these goals by representing the U.S. government at meetings of the UN Population Funds' (UNFPA) Executive Board and at the annual session of the UN Commission on Population and Development.

Statelessness: Under the Secretary's leadership, the Department launched an initiative to promote women's equal right to nationality. At UNHCR's ministerial event in December commemorating the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1954 and 1961 Conventions on Statelessness, Secretary Clinton spoke about discrimination against women as a major cause of statelessness around the world. PRM also targeted statelessness of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic, addressing the issue in several public forums and supporting UNHCR and others as they seek solutions to this enduring problem.

What's in store for 2012? At the UNHCR ministerial, the United States renewed its commitment to displaced people by pledging to take concrete steps to address statelessness, women's nationality issues, protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) refugees and asylum seekers, and to improve detention and asylum practices. Our continued support to our international organization and NGO partners and our diplomacy in 2012 will help improve the lives of millions of persecuted people who have suffered through upheaval and tragedy.

Stay connected with PRM on Facebook: www.facebook.com/state.prm.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/refugees_prm_year_2011/ 2012-01-02T17:36:28+00:00