About the Author: Melanne Verveer is the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.
As we look back on 2011, it is inspiring to know that women have been on the frontlines of so many transformative events that have changed our world. From participating in peaceful protests in Tahrir Square, to winning the Nobel Peace Prize, women have been an indisputable force for progress. As we move into 2012, however, we must step up efforts to ensure that women's progress continues to flourish and address the challenges that remain.
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,… more »
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… more »
One of the most exciting moments in my recent media tour of U.S. and UN food security projects in Honduras came in the middle of a lush vegetable field in the township of Las Pavas. Surrounded by lettuce, broccoli, carrots and radishes, Nora Diaz told me that thanks to their home garden, her family -- unlike many in Honduras -- was able to stay together.
As part of the USAID ACCESSO initiative that targets 18,000 poor rural households in Honduras, the Diaz family was given assistance in the form of training, fertilizer, seed, and irrigation that allowed them to grow better and more nutritious food for their family. It also allowed them to produce a surplus that can be sold to generate income. Thanks to this, Mr. Diaz did not need to leave his family in search of work in the city, or abroad.
Mario Corea Pineda has gone a step further. He is a small farmer… more »
About the Author: Hannah Johnson serves as DipNote's Assistant Editor.
Each week, we will be highlighting a U.S. government photograph from around the world as part of our "Photo of the Week" segment. This week's photograph comes to us from the Office of Art in Embassies. Taken by retired U.S. Army Lieutentant Colonel Richard A. Fisher, the photograph captures the descent of the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and U.S. Embassy Bern staff members from the Matterhorn in southern Switzerland. Lt. Colonel Fisher submitted the photograph for consideration in the "Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes" exhibition.
The "Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes" photography exhibition is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Defense and the… more »
When I joined the State Department three short months ago, I was so pleased to be joining an institution that has been at the forefront of digital diplomacy; reinforcing our diplomatic leadership by using digital networks and technologies in service of U.S. foreign policy goals. Secretary Clinton has called this "21st Century Statecraft" -- complementing traditional foreign policy tools with the networks and technologies of our interconnected world.
Underscoring our commitment to these efforts, January is the Department's 21st Century Statecraft month and we'll be taking advantage of the truly participatory nature of social media to bring people virtually into the State Department briefing room to ask their foreign policy questions. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland will… more »
DipNote is the official blog of the U.S. Department of State —a place to share stories, discuss experiences, and inspire new ideas on the important foreign policy issues of the day. more »
Across the eastern Horn of Africa, more than 11 million people -- a number greater than the populations of Houston and New York City combined -- are now in need of emergency assistance to survive. Learn more about the current crisis, including how you can help.
Dear Mr. Ford, Thank you for your support to the Syrian people. As you well know, the Asad regime is intent on using all means of violence, including…
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Spokesperson Nuland (Feb. 10): "We will have more of this declassified U.S. national available both on Robert's site in coming days but also on our new site www.stateondemand.com, where news organizations can find all of our content to pull down around the world. more »
Secretary Clinton (Feb. 9): "I want to underscore how confident we are in Italy, in Italy's future, in the extraordinary commitment that Prime Minister Monti and his government are bringing to the challenges confronting the Italian people..." more »
![Participants in an event hosted by UN Women on women and politics, including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, pose for a photograph during the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sept. 19, 2011. [State Department photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0920_women_politics_unga_m.jpg)
![Small commercial vegetable farm where, through the USAID ACCESSO program, women are establishing and managing home gardens to produce vegetables for family consumption and to generate additional household income in La Paz, Honduras. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0106_honduras_farm_m.jpg)
![U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and staff members descend the Matterhorn in Switzerland, August 2011. [Photo by Richard A. Fisher/ U.S. Army]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0107_potw_switzerland_m.jpg)
![Image of m.state.gov on mobile device, June 9, 2010. [State Depart. Image]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_0609_state_mobile_m.jpg)
