http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi U.S. Department of State en U.S. Department of State 2010-12-22T21:51:27+00:002010-12-10T21:11:56+00:002010-12-02T19:55:37+00:002010-11-30T20:15:38+00:002010-11-29T13:40:43+00:002010-11-25T22:02:12+00:002010-11-19T16:47:26+00:002010-11-18T20:30:27+00:002010-11-03T20:48:18+00:002010-10-28T20:20:38+00:002010-10-26T17:47:35+00:002010-10-18T16:21:25+00:002010-10-07T21:00:48+00:002010-10-07T13:24:19+00:002010-10-06T22:20:55+00:002010-10-05T21:42:35+00:002010-10-04T20:29:26+00:002010-09-30T23:36:57+00:002010-09-30T18:00:41+00:002010-09-10T16:13:32+00:002010-09-09T14:58:10+00:002010-08-27T22:56:45+00:002010-08-26T22:27:49+00:002010-08-26T22:01:00+00:002010-08-16T20:04:42+00:002010-08-10T21:41:02+00:002010-08-05T15:19:16+00:002010-08-03T20:27:26+00:002010-08-02T19:26:29+00:002010-07-28T16:14:45+00:002010-07-23T15:20:38+00:002010-07-23T01:40:39+00:002010-06-30T18:35:46+00:002010-06-21T19:22:43+00:002010-06-15T16:03:47+00:002010-06-11T16:39:22+00:002010-06-10T16:24:28+00:002010-05-24T19:44:07+00:002010-05-14T04:04:37+00:002010-05-13T02:19:16+00:002010-05-11T00:42:10+00:002010-04-29T18:21:11+00:002010-04-29T00:54:49+00:002010-04-21T16:46:23+00:002010-04-01T18:06:21+00:002010-03-29T18:49:32+00:002010-03-26T13:27:04+00:002010-03-18T18:18:01+00:002010-03-17T19:15:34+00:002010-03-10T19:36:34+00:002010-03-10T01:48:19+00:002010-03-04T19:16:00+00:002010-03-02T22:08:08+00:002010-03-01T22:15:10+00:002010-02-22T14:57:58+00:002010-02-09T03:13:25+00:002010-01-25T19:23:04+00:002010-01-15T21:32:31+00:002010-01-08T21:27:52+00:002010-01-01T17:36:49+00:00 About the Author: Courtney Beale serves as Assistant Information Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

From the mega-metropolises of Karachi and Lahore to the countryside near Mardan and Multan, the U.S. Mission in Pakistan is working to improve the lives of Pakistani women and combat gender-based violence. For the recent international “16 Days of Activism” campaign, we organized a series of initiatives to highlight and energize our partnerships with Pakistan's government and civil society to support women's rights. Here are 16 ways we are working with Pakistani men and women committed to this cause:

1. Training Police. Four years ago, the United States began a program to train women police officers focused on crisis management, first aid, and ways to work with female victims of crime and domestic violence. On November 27, nine more women police officers completed the training program bringing the total number of program alumna to 150. You can learn more here.

2. Educating Future Leaders. Sharing expertise and building networks to work on common issues are key element of U.S. government professional exchange programs. In 2010, the U.S. government invited more than 25 Pakistani women and men to the United States to build partnerships with Americans to further efforts to empower women, eliminate violence against women and combat human trafficking.

3. Engaging Students. As part of the Embassy's regular outreach to schools and students on a wide variety of issues and topics, Dr. Marilyn Wyatt participated in a roundtable discussion with gender studies students on December 8, at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. “Violence against women negatively impacts all of society,” Dr. Wyatt said. You can watch her give her remarks here.

4. Promoting Women's Enterprise. Expanding education for women, setting up legal aid clinics, and advancing public education campaigns on women's issues -- what do they have in common? They are some of the projects being funded through the U.S. Embassy Gender Equity Program. This $40 million program provides grants to local organizations working on women's issues throughout the country.

5-8. Supporting Benazir Bhutto Centers. We are supporting four of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women's Crisis Centers in Pakistan. These centers provide health care services, legal assistance, counseling, and temporary shelter for victims of violence. Dr. Wyatt visited the Islamabad Center on December 2 to talk with women who have escaped domestic violence with help from the center. You can learn more about the visit on our Facebook page.

9. Promoting Women's Services. As Secretary Clinton said, “Investing in the potential of the world's women and girls is one of the surest ways to achieve global economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for women -- and men -- the world over.” The U.S. Embassy is empowering women through microfinance grants to help women become economically active and increase their incomes as well as vocational training programs to encourage women to learn “non-traditional” skills. Our efforts include programs to unite the millions of home-based women workers across Pakistan to enable them to share information, advocate for their economic interests, and push for fair treatment under the law.

10 &11. Sharing Expertise. Whether participating at seminars with think tanks, joining protests in the streets, or using art exhibits to highlight violence against women, U.S. government exchange alumni were out in force over the "16 Days" campaign. The Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network organized two panel discussions on women's issues for students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Experts from the legal field, academia, politics, and civil society came together to share perspectives and educate the next generation on how they can work together to empower women in Pakistan.

12. Training Health Workers. The U.S. Embassy has helped train 11,000 female health workers in group counseling, childhood illnesses, and maternal health. We are further improving maternal health by training 1,600 birth attendants and providing vitally-needed equipment to 1,000 community midwives.

13. Encouraging Women Activists. The "16 Days" campaign is an important opportunity to recognize the amazing work that activists and NGOs are doing in Pakistan to eliminate violence against women. Ambassador Munter and Dr. Marilyn Wyatt met women in Lahore and Islamabad who run NGOs that help shape legislation to protect women's rights.

14. Reducing Sexual Harassment. We are partnering with Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy to combat violence against women in flood-affected areas by raising awareness about newly passed anti-sexual harassment legislation and providing vocational skills training to women in these areas.

15. Improving Agriculture. Through agricultural programs, we are helping women farmers develop skills and techniques to improve their access to markets. In the rural Baluchistan border area we have mobilized 211 women's agricultural community organizations to enable women to have direct access to markets.

16. Using the Power of the Media to Raise Awareness. To mark the last day of the "16 Days" campaign on December 10th, as well as International Human Rights Day, Dr. Marilyn Wyatt discussed the U.S. commitment to improving the lives of women in Pakistan in a nationwide interview on Pakistan Television (PTV). You can watch her interview here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/u.s._support_for_women_in_pakistan/ 2010-12-22T21:51:27+00:00 About the Author: Jay Raman is Acting Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Guatemala City in Guatemala.

As in many countries, violence against women is a significant problem in Guatemala. In 2009, the Guatemalan Attorney General's office reported that it received nearly 32,000 complaints of violence against women for the year. Approximately 700 women were murdered -- almost two per day in a country of only 14 million. And those shocking figures don't take into account the number of unreported cases of violence or the collateral effects that domestic violence has on children and other family members.

Clearly violence against women is a very serious problem, with serious consequences, and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala is working very closely with governmental, non-governmental, and international partners to help raise awareness of the issue, to provide services to victims and their families, and to ensure that perpetrators of violence are punished in accordance with the law.

On November 25, the Embassy joined with many others around the world to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVAW) and to observe the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, which runs from November 25 through December 11. Fighting domestic violence is a priority every day, but these two events offer an opportunity to reflect on the problem and to redouble our efforts to promote a world free of domestic violence.

To "kickoff" our observance of these two important events, Ambassador Stephen McFarland joined with his counterpart from the British Embassy at a soccer match to promote a campaign entitled "Breaking the Cycle," which is designed to raise awareness of domestic violence. The two ambassadors took the field at halftime of the annual "Classic" match between the two top Guatemala City teams and tried to stop penalty kicks from fans selected from the crowd. Discretion prohibits me from commenting on the success of their efforts on the field, but I can say that the joint appearance generated a significant amount of media coverage, which brought attention to domestic violence in a new and meaningful way.

A couple of days later, Ambassador McFarland attended a public event to present a $100,000 donation to an amazing NGO, called the Survivors Foundation, which offers counseling and advocacy services to women who have been affected by violence. Survivors Foundation (Fundación Sobrevivientes in Spanish) was started by domestic violence survivor Norma Cruz, who was honored as an International Woman of Courage by Secretary Clinton in 2009. The name of the foundation alone speaks volumes. Most women who suffer domestic abuse are "survivors," not victims. And even in cases involving death -- which are all too common -- there are almost always survivors left behind who suffer the consequences.

The $100,000 donation, which was awarded through a competition sponsored by the State Department's Office of Global Women's Issues, will help the organization to provide additional services to victims to help them recover from the trauma of violence, and in some instances to pursue cases through Guatemala's justice system. The Ambassador was joined at the public event by Norma Cruz and by two extraordinarily brave women who have been helped by the Survivor's Foundation.

One of these women, Aura Suruy, suffered an unimaginable tragedy when her three daughters were kidnapped, tortured, and killed in 2008 while on their way to school. With the help of the Survivors Foundation, Suruy dedicated herself to bringing the criminals to justice, despite long odds and even death threats. Her hard work paid off earlier this year when, with Ambassador McFarland in the audience, the three defendants were each sentenced to 163 years in prison -- a landmark verdict for a shocking crime. At the donation ceremony at the Survivors Foundation Suruy acknowledged that the verdict won't bring her daughters back, but she was proud that her case would be a step forward for the cause of justice in Guatemala.

In addition to these two events, in early December the Public Affairs Section invited an expert from the United States to offer trainings on the subject of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) -- a serious problem that overlaps with violence against women. Guatemala was identified in the 2010 State Department report on TIP as a "source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically sexual servitude and forced labor." Guatemala was placed on the Department of State's Watch List for TIP and faces the possibility of losing most U.S. government aid if it does not improve in this area.

In September, a group of key Guatemalan government officials and anti-TIP activists traveled to the United States as part of an Embassy-sponsored program to introduce them to new ideas to combat TIP and to provide services to victims. During this multi-city visit the group met with Erie County, NY, deputy sheriff Elizabeth Fildes, who has been recognized for her efforts to combat human trafficking in her county. Building on the visit to New York, Deputy Fildes accepted an invitation from the Embassy to travel to Guatemala for a week-long series of presentations, lecture, and workshops to help build local capacity to fight TIP.

Deputy Fildes's visit included a visit to the state university to speak with law students, discussions with key government officials, and workshops for colleagues from law enforcement. The visit concluded with a training session for media representatives on how U.S. police work with the media to report effectively on TIP without causing additional harm to trafficking victims. Fildes's visit is a great example of the value of Department of State speaker programs, where U.S. experts have the opportunity to influence foreign counterparts on issues of vital importance.

Although the 2010 IDEVAW and the 16 Days of Activism are coming to a close, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala is as committed as ever to eliminating violence against women in Guatemala. We will continue to do our best to look for innovative ways address the issue of violence against women and to encourage the Guatemalan authorities to aggressively prevent these crimes, to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators, and to provide effective services to the survivors.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/16_days_gbv_guatemala/ 2010-12-10T21:11:56+00:00 About the Author: Paul S. Berg is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Editor's Note: In support of the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" campaign that follows from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we're bringing you stories from embassies and consulates on how they took up the challenge of countering violence against women.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) held its fourth annual walk against gender-based violence on November 25, led by Governor General Sir Paulias Matane (at 70 and an ardent hiker, he sets a brisk pace) and Minister for Community Development Dame Carol Kidu, the only female member of the National Parliament. The event was organized by one of the PNG organizations most dedicated to advancing the empowerment of women, Coalition for Change. The entire expatriate community participated, including many Americans, but what was most heartening was the number of Papua New Guinea men and women in the walk. No one was keeping track, but our impression is that this was the most PNG people to participate in the event in its entire four-year history; it is evolving into a true people's movement. Apparently over 1,000 people walked the walk.

American business also played a prominent role. ExxonMobil, developing a multibillion dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) project here, brought over 100 participants to the walk, led by their chair Peter Graham.

PNG is rapidly heightening its consciousness about gender violence issues. The Secretary took important steps to strengthen U.S. solidarity with PNG against gender violence during her November 3rd visit, when she and Prime Minister Somare announced important new bilateral women's empowerment programs, among them a 2011 policy dialogue co-hosted by the U.S. and PNG on effective means to improve maternal health, increase economic opportunities, and empower women economically in the Pacific region.

We're looking forward to related events on December 10, Human Rights Day, when we will again have an opportunity to support PNG men and women in advocating against gender-based violence and in favor of full empowerment for PNG's women. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/16_days_png/ 2010-12-02T19:55:37+00:00 About the Author: Masami Tanaka is a Vice Consul for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong.

Editor's Note: In support of the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" campaign that follows from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we're bringing you stories from embassies and consulates on how they took up the challenge of countering violence against women.

Consulate General Hong Kong commemorated the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women with a lunchtime session on "Situational Awareness and Self-Defense for Women" on November 23. This session also kicked off our post's new Women's Initiative. In my role as post's Federal Women's Program Coordinator, I began the session by explaining that violence against women includes not only physical and sexual abuse, but also psychological and economic abuse, and that it cuts across age, race, culture, wealth, and geography. The audience -- American and locally-employed male and female Consulate staff -- was surprised to hear that up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime.

ConGen Hong Kong's Assistant Regional Officer Tim Dalton spoke to the audience about the reality of violence committed against women in the United States, Hong Kong, and in Asia. Using real-life examples, he told women how they could reduce their chances of becoming a target of crime. Dalton told women to trust their instincts and be aware of their surroundings, and he reminded the audience that, when traveling, they should not assume their destination is as safe as Hong Kong. Post's U.S. Marine detachment members helped out in demonstrating to the audience how to break free from an attacker. Marine Sergeant Heather “Nicki” Kaufmann demonstrated three basic, but useful, self-defense/escape movements against an attacker who might be much larger than the target. Audience members asked many questions and expressed an interest in more hands-on sessions to practice the three movements. ConGen Hong Kong plans to schedule follow-up session in January. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/cg_hong_kong_womens_self-defense/ 2010-11-30T20:15:38+00:00 International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women and the accompanying 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, running November 25 through December 10, the Department of State hosted a panel of experts speaking on the critical role of men and boys in addressing this global endemic problem.

Panelists for the discussion on "Changing Attitudes: What Men and Boys Can Do to Address and Prevent Violence against Women" included: Ambassador Meera Shankar, Indian Ambassador to the U.S.; Nisha Biswal, Assistant Administrator for Asia, USAID; Anthony Porter, Co-Founder, A Call to Men; Nandini Azad, Chairperson of the Independent Commission for People's Rights and Development (ICPRD), and Carol Kurzig, President, Avon Foundation for Women. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer was the moderator for the discussion. The panel highlighted actions that governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations are taking to address gender-based violence. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/live_webcast_men_and_boys_vaw/ 2010-11-29T13:40:43+00:00 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" campaign. Speaking in support of day and the campaign, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer released a video message describing examples of innovative programs in India, Senegal, Brazil, and Afghanistan that address violence against women.

Ambassador Verveer said, "The United States is working bilaterally and multilaterally to define gender-based violence not as solely a woman's issue, but one of international human rights. We are taking action on the ground, training peacekeepers on gender-based violence awareness and prevention activities, working with NGOs to ensure men's engagement in preventing violence against women, and partnering with religious leaders of all faiths to incorporate these messages into their outreach. The economic empowerment of women is also integral to any sustainable approach to eradicating violence against women, as studies show that women who control their own resources are less vulnerable to being targeted because of their gender.

"These 16 Days offer an opportunity to renew the commitment to freeing women from violence, whether the abuse occurs in the home behind closed doors, or in the open fields of armed conflict. Countries cannot progress when half their populations are marginalized and mistreated, and subjected to discrimination. When women are accorded their rights and afforded equal opportunities in education, healthcare, employment, and political participation, they lift up their families, their communities, and their nations -- and act as agents of change. As Secretary Clinton recently noted, 'Investing in the potential of the world's women and girls is one of the surest ways to achieve global economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for women -- and men -- the world over.' Thank you for all you are doing in support of ending violence against women."

You can read the complete transcript of her remarks here. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/november_25_idevaw/ 2010-11-25T22:02:12+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

As a result of Secretary Clinton's recent travel to the East Asia and Pacific region, the United States is embarking on a new initiative -- in collaboration with the World Bank Group and the governments of Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea -- to strengthen women's empowerment in this part of the world. Our emphasis on boosting women's progress is not about treating women as a special interest, but rather it is linked to the broader aims of encouraging development and good governance in the Pacific Islands. This new collaboration will also afford an opportunity to deepen ties between the United States and the Pacific region.

During the Secretary's stop in Port Moresby, the women of Papua New Guinea welcomed her with open arms and expressed their appreciation for her solidarity and support. Their enthusiasm was emblematic of the aspirations women in so many parts of the developing world harbor but seldom are able to realize. In the Pacific Islands, women have terrible hurdles to overcome. For example, some studies indicate that rape and police brutality are endemic in Papua New Guinea, and just 53 percent of women there are literate.

This joint venture between our countries and the World Bank Group will bring attention and opportunity to women who have too often been neglected and marginalized. It will serve as a step toward leveling the playing field so that more women can participate in the social, economic, and political sectors of society and play meaningful roles in advancing progress in Pacific region. In partnership with our Australian, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea counterparts, we will be bringing together senior government officials, private sector leaders, entrepreneurs and civil society stakeholders from across the Pacific to expand opportunities for women and unleash the talent of an underutilized, yet vital resource.

To launch this endeavor, we will be holding a series of policy dialogues in all four partner countries to cover a range of issues -- from identifying best practices for mitigating gender-based violence, to expanding women's economic opportunity and supporting their political activism and leadership. We will also be stepping up efforts on health issues, such as improving maternal mortality and reducing HIV/AIDS. Our engagement with the Pacific region will produce action and government commitments, bringing about concrete results to ensure that women gain access to the tools and resources they need to compete and succeed, and are granted the opportunities to be agents of positive change in their own societies.

As Secretary Clinton has so often said, “Investing in the potential of the world's women and girls is one of the surest ways to achieve global economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for women -- and men -- the world over." Empowering women in this region to achieve, to innovate, to lead, and to work together to defend their rights will produce a new energy and a ripple effect that will benefit not only women, but also their families, and societies at large. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/pics_australia_womens_empowerment/ 2010-11-19T16:47:26+00:00 About the Author: Irene Marr serves in the Office of Global Women's Issues.

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer testified today before the Senate Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law on The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). In her testimony, Ambassador Verveer said:

"...This hearing could not come at a more critical time for the world's women. Gender inequality and oppression of women is rampant across the globe. The scale and savagery of human rights violations committed against women and girls is nothing short of a humanitarian tragedy. Today, violence against women is a global pandemic. In some parts of the world, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, and Sudan, women are attacked as part of a deliberate and coordinated strategy of armed conflict where rape is used as a tool of war. In others, like Afghanistan, girls are attacked with acid and disfigured simply because they dare attend school. Girl infanticide and neglect has contributed to the absence from school of an estimated 100 million girls worldwide. In places where girls are not as valued and there is a strong preference for sons, practices ranging from female genital mutilation, to child marriage, to so-called 'honor killings,' to the trafficking of women and girls into modern-day slavery highlight the low status of females around the globe.

"In far too many places, women's participation in parliaments, village councils and peace negotiations is circumscribed or prevented altogether. Policies instructing that 'women need not apply' continue to limit employment opportunities and pay. The majority of the world's illiterate are women and, according to the World Bank, girls constitute 55 percent of all out-of-school children. This has devastating consequences on the health and well-being of families and communities. And today, the HIV-AIDS pandemic has a woman's face, with the number of infections rising at alarming rates among adolescent girls in many places who face the threat of violence, including sexual violence, in their lives.

"Women's equality has rightly been called the moral imperative of the 21st century. Where women cannot participate fully and equally in their societies, democracy is a contradiction in terms, economic prosperity is hampered, and stability is at risk. Standing up against the appalling violations of women's human rights around the globe, and standing with the women of the world, is what ratifying the Women's Treaty is about."

In addressing why the United States should ratify CEDAW, Ambassador Verveer said, "The United States has long stood for the principles of equal justice, the rule of law, respect for women, and the defense of human dignity. We know that women around the world look to the United States as a moral leader on human rights. And yet when it comes to the Women's Treaty, which reflects the fundamental principle that women's rights are human rights, we stand with only a handful of countries that have not ratified, including Somalia, Iran, and Sudan -- countries with some of the worst human rights records in the world. We stand alone as the only industrialized democracy in the world that has not ratified the Women's Treaty. And we stand on the sidelines, unable to use the Women's Treaty to join with champions of human rights who seek to use it as a means to protect and defend women's basic human rights.

"U.S. ratification of the Women's Treaty matters because the moral leadership of our country on human rights matters. Some governments use the fact that the U.S. has not ratified the treaty as a pretext for not living up to their own obligations under it. Our failure to ratify also deprives us of a powerful tool to combat discrimination against women around the world, because as a non-party, it makes it more difficult for us to press other parties to live up to their commitments under the treaty.

"...Importantly, ratification will also advance U.S. foreign policy and national security interests. As the Obama Administration has made clear, women's equality is critical to our national security. President Obama's National Security Strategy recognizes that 'countries are more peaceful and prosperous when women are accorded full and equal rights and opportunity. When those rights and opportunities are denied, countries lag behind.' And as Secretary Clinton has stated, 'the subjugation of women is a threat to the national security of the United States. It is also a threat to the common security of our world, because the suffering and denial of the rights of women and the instability of nations go hand in hand.' Ratification of this treaty, which enshrines the rights of women in international law, is not only in the interest of oppressed women around the world -- it is in our interest as well."

A complete transcript is available here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/verveer_cedaw/ 2010-11-18T20:30:27+00:00 About the Author: Radhika Prabhu serves in the Office of Global Women's Issues.

The day after an evening reception with Secretary Clinton, 13 of the 213 distinguished Hubert Humphrey Fellows returned to the Department of State. Sitting down for a candid roundtable discussion moderated by Diane Kelly, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Global Women's Issues, they gained a perspective on how that office works with partners around the world to promote women's empowerment, increase women's access to health, and strengthen their rights.

Sharing the vision of the future of women's advancement with the room of distinguished mid-career leaders from government, the NGO community, business and professions hailing from 11 countries, Ms. Kelly highlighted how “out of the box” thinking in government is being used to advance women's issues. For instance, mobile phone technology can be used to combat violence against women and educate the public about it. Public-private partnerships can be leveraged in an environment when dollars are increasingly scarce. And business -- not only government and NGOs -- has a large place at the table in advancing women's rights.

Although more and more people around the world are recognizing that "women's rights are human rights and human rights are women's rights," it will take a multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary effort to ensure that women around the world are able to experience that as a norm rather than an aspiration. Dialogue that brings together diverse stakeholders -- whether a young man from India working to prevent trafficking of women or the CEO of an agribusiness firm in Kyrgyzstan -- to share ideas and create links among people in government and on the ground is a prerequisite to fostering the impetus force required to make sure it happens.

Secretary Clinton's remarks to the Humphrey Fellows are available here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/humphrey_fellows_womens_rights/ 2010-11-03T20:48:18+00:00 UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The piece appeared in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten and Denmark's Berlingske Tidende. Later this week, both the United States and Norway will participate in an international conference in Copenhagen focusing on women and global security issues. The editorial reads:

The Key to Sustainable Peace: Women
By Hillary Rodham Clinton and Jonas Gahr Støre

One of the most vexing problems of global security is the recurring nature of conflict: Old wars rarely die. More often, they peter out in ceasefires of exhaustion. Fragile truces bring an end to hostilities but do not address the underlying grievances that led to the wars in the first place.

And then they reignite.

Of the 39 conflicts that have erupted in the past 10 years, only eight are entirely new. Thirty-one are recurrences of conflicts that were never fully resolved.

It is no coincidence that most of these conflicts occur in societies where women have little power and are excluded from the process of negotiating and implementing the peace.

Peace agreements typically fall apart when they fail to resolve the issues that caused the conflict in the first place -- including ethnic tensions, inequality, and injustice. But women are the ones who face these problems every day, and so they're the ones who will bring the issues to the negotiating table and make sure they have practical solutions.

Ten years ago this week, the United Nations took a historic step in this direction by recognizing that women are not merely victims of war, they are also indispensible agents of peace. Yet progress in including women in the peacemaking process has lagged. On this anniversary of the unanimous passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that women are at last seated at the negotiating table -- and in meaningful roles.

It is indisputable that women and children suffer disproportionately from war, including as targets of rape. We must do more to protect them. But relegating them to the role of passive victims keeps them powerless. When the “victims” organize, they are potent advocates for change, as they were in Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Liberia.

Women can be effective peacemakers because they have a broad view of security. To them, it is more than the absence of armed fighters. It means their sons and daughters can go to school safely. It means they can get medical attention when they give birth, and have their children vaccinated. It means returning refugees can find land, water and jobs. Broadening our definition of security in this way helps prevent simmering grievances from recurring and escalating.

Of course, including women does not guarantee that peace talks will succeed. But recent history shows that agreements that exclude women and ignore their concerns usually fail.

In Northern Ireland, women were locked out of the political process during three decades of conflict and several attempts to develop peace agreements quickly collapsed. Then, in the mid-90s, women from both sides of the divide formed a political party, the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, and earned two seats at the negotiating table.

They insisted that the talks include the needs of victims, integrated education, a forum for civil society, women's participation, equality and human rights. Their involvement in the peace process made a crucial contribution to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. That peace still stands.

In country after country, we have seen women help push peace agreements to the finish line. Where women are excluded, too often the agreements that result are disconnected from ground-truth and less likely to be successful and enjoy popular support. Yet almost no women served in recent peace talks in Indonesia, Nepal, Somalia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Central African Republic.

And still, we hear the question: Why should women be a part of peace negotiations if they were neither combatants nor government officials?

But women are increasingly party to conflict. More and more, they are being recruited into regular armed forces and terrorist groups. In Sudan, for example, women and girls played an active role on the front lines of the two north-south civil wars -- as both combatants and peace activists. Yet they have been largely absent from formal peace negotiations.

Whether they are combatants or survivors, peace-builders or bystanders, women must play a role in the transition from war to peaceful development. And we must urge men and women to focus on changing the conditions that produced the violence in the first place.

In the coming weeks and months, our governments will be pressing to ramp up meaningful implementation of Resolution 1325. As just one part of that effort, our governments are among those participating in an important international conference in Copenhagen this week, where the focus will be on the role of women in a broad range of global security issues. If we want to make progress towards settling the world's most intractable conflicts, let's enlist women.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/1325_op-ed/ 2010-10-28T20:20:38+00:00
The Secretary said, "...here we are at the 10th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and we're here to reaffirm the goals set forth in this historic resolution, but more than that, to put forth specific actions, as my colleague, the foreign minister of Austria, just did in such a commendable set of proposals. The only way to achieve our goals -- to reduce the number of conflicts around the world, to eliminate rape as a weapon of war, to combat the culture of impunity for sexual violence, to build sustainable peace -- is to draw on the full contributions of both women and men in every aspect of peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peace building.

"Now, women's participation in these activities is not a 'nice thing to do.' It's not as though we are doing a favor for ourselves and them by including women in the work of peace. This is a necessary global security imperative. Including women in the work of peace advances our national security interests, promotes political stability, economic growth, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Just as in the economic sphere, we cannot exclude the talents of half the population, neither when it comes to matters of life and death can we afford to ignore, marginalize, and dismiss the very direct contributions that women can and have made.

"President Obama's National Security Strategy recognizes that 'countries are more peaceful and prosperous when women are accorded full and equal rights and opportunity. When those rights and opportunities are denied, countries lag behind.' Well, it is also true when it comes to issues of human security -- accountability for sexual violence, trafficking of women and girls, and all of the other characteristics of stable, thriving societies that provide maternal and child healthcare, education, and so much else.

"Now, in defense, diplomacy, and development, which we consider the three pillars of our foreign policy, we are putting women front and center, not merely as beneficiaries of our efforts but as agents of peace, reconciliation, economic growth, and stability.

"...Looking ahead, I am pleased to announce two important steps the U.S. is taking to advance the goals of Resolution 1325. First, the United States will commit nearly $44 million to a set of initiatives designed to empower women. The largest portion, about 17 million, will support civil society groups that focus on women in Afghanistan. The women in Afghanistan are rightly worried that in the very legitimate search for peace their rights will be sacrificed. And I have personally stated, and I state again here in the Security Council, none of us can permit that to happen. No peace that sacrifices women's rights is a peace we can afford to support.

"Fourteen million dollars will also go to nongovernmental organizations working to make clean water more available in conflict zones, because in these areas, when women and girls go looking for water they are at higher risk of being attacked. Similarly, I had the honor of announcing the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves last month -- another initiative that by our support can protect women who will not have to go out seeking firewood or other forms of fuel if we can revolutionize the way they're able to cook food for their families.

"Another 1.7 million will help fund UN activities, including Special Representative Wallstrom's office, and 11 million will help expand literacy, job training, and maternal health services for refugee women and girls.

"In addition to this new funding, our second step will be to develop our own National Action Plan to accelerate the implementation of Resolution 1325 across our government and with our partners in civil society. And to measure progress on our plan, we will adopt the indicators laid out in the Secretary General's report. We will measure whether women are effectively represented in the full range of peace-building and reconstruction efforts; whether they are protected against sexual violence; and whether they are the focus of conflict prevention, relief and reconciliation efforts. Measuring our progress will help ourselves be held accountable and identify those areas where we need to do more.

"Now, the National Action Plan and the new funding I've announced are two important steps, and we will pursue them with total commitment. But as several have already said: Action plans and funding are only steps toward a larger goal.

"The Presidential statement that we hope will be adopted calls for another stock-taking in five years. But we better have more to report and we better have accomplished more between now and then, otherwise, there will be those who will lose faith in our international capacity to respond to such an overwhelming need -- because, ultimately, we measure our progress by the improvements in the daily lives of people around the world. That must be our cause and empowering women to contribute all their talents to this cause is our calling."

You can read the Secretary's full remarks here. A fact sheet about UNSCR 1325 is available here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/clinton_unscr1325/ 2010-10-26T17:47:35+00:00 About the Author: Irene Marr serves in the Office of Global Women's Issues.

At last week's launch of the GSMA mWomen Program, a project initiated by the GSMA Development Fund, Secretary Clinton announced U.S. support for building public-private partnerships to advance mobile technology for women in the developing world and to close the global gender gap that prevents hundreds of millions of women from gaining access to this technology. The event was enlightening, inspiring, and energizing. The GSMA mWomen Program aims to halve, in three years, the number of women who have been left on the sidelines of the “mobile revolution.” The Secretary put a needed and welcome spotlight on the potential of mobile technology as a powerful tool for lifting women out of poverty, unleashing their talent, and creating networks of empowerment. As she said, “...We're called to close the mobile gender gap because of our commitment to fairness and because of our commitment to progress…. Investing in women's progress is the most direct and effective way to invest in progress economically and socially globally.”

The State Department and USAID have already begun to integrate mobile initiatives into development assistance. A cell phone, observed the Secretary, is “not just a device, it is a door to greater education and information.” From programs that teach English and literacy via cell phones, to a mobile and financial inclusion conference in Kenya, to the early stages of establishing a mobile justice project in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a means to address the crisis of sexual violence against women in that country, innovation is the name of the game.

Joining the Secretary at the mWomen launch were former British First Lady Cherie Blair, Rob Conway, CEO of GSMA, and Reema Nanavaty and Kapilaben Vankar from the Self-Employed Women Association (SEWA) in India. Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, introduced Secretary Clinton and also moderated a panel of experts that included Mary McDowell, CEO of Nokia; Molly Melching, the Executive Director of Tostan in Senegal; Karim Khoja, CEO of the Afghan mobile operator Roshan, and Alec Ross, the Secretary's Senior Advisor for Innovation.

The one who stole the show, however, was Ms. Kapilaben Vankar, with her compelling personal story about the transformative impact of going mobile. A lily farmer from a village in Gujarat, Ms. Vankar said she had never even seen a cell phone until a few years ago. Once she was faced with the sole responsibility of supporting her family after the death of her husband, however, she took a chance on investing in a mobile phone and it transformed her life. Whereas she had previously operated in isolation and had to work ten times harder because of it -- picking the flowers, finding markets to sell them, getting prices, and taking orders -- once she had the mobile phone, she was connected with a network of new markets, contacts, and information. It enabled her to streamline her workload and it was the ticket to increasing her productivity and competitiveness. With a simple phone, she unleashed her entrepreneurial talents. Ms. Vankar used the time and income she saved to diversify and start a new business -- this time, using the mobile phone to source food grains from other small farmers and sell to her “sisters” in the village. She is emblematic of so many others who are seizing the opportunities opened by mobile technology.

Throughout the mWomen event, it became clear that ignoring the mobile gender gap represents a lost opportunity. The benefits of increasing women's access to mobile technology cut across all sectors, including health, education, entrepreneurship, and finance. Cherie Blair said her foundation was drawn to the effort to close the mobile technology gender gap though the “shared instinct that too many women were missing out on opportunities that mobile phones provided.” Through her foundation, she has committed to implementing a program for 100,000 women entrepreneurs over four years with integrated business development support, including access to mobile technology and value-added services to enhance women's micro and small businesses.

As GSMA CEO Rob Conway noted, mobile is “the great leveler of access and enabler of opportunities.” It can be a tool to support women's political activism and civic participation by enabling women to organize, build networks, and advocate for change. In addition to providing a platform for information to improve maternal and women's health, it is a source of security for women and can help stop or prevent violence. The technology is also empowering women in the areas of food security, climate change, and disaster response. It helps female farmers access “just-in-time information” to find out about shifts in crop and weather patterns caused by climate change and natural disaster. By offering more women the “freedom to connect” through mobile technology, the benefits and opportunities made possible through innovation will grow exponentially.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/mwomen_freedom_to_connect/ 2010-10-18T16:21:25+00:00 About the Author: Maria Otero serves as Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs.

On October 7, I had the opportunity to attend a lunch honoring six women conservationists who have dedicated their lives to saving the planet and improving women's rights. As these six heroes exemplify, environmental conservation begins at home and requires creativity, innovation, and courage.

Around the world, women are at the forefront of providing solutions to global environmental challenges, but they are also the ones who often feel the negative impact of environmental destruction most acutely. These heroes understand that fact, and through their work have improved both the environment and the lives of women.

Dr. Wangari Maathai of Kenya founded the Green Belt Movement, a non-governmental organization focused on planting trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. In 2004, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work. Habiba Sarabi, Afghanistan's only woman governor, was instrumental in establishing the country's first national park. In Trinidad, Suzan Baptiste founded Nature Seekers to protect endangered leatherback turtles, and in Thailand, Sangduen "Lek" Chailert created an Elephant Nature Park. Another hero, Mary Mavanza, manages the TACARE program of the Jane Goodall Institute in Tanzania, helping to improve the lives of the people in the communities where the Institute operates. And in South America, Lucy Aquino is the director for the World Wildlife Fund for Paraguay, where she promotes environmental conservation. These inspiring women challenge us all to do more.

Women around the world have taken up that challenge and are becoming conservation leaders in their communities. In the Congo Basin alone, the United States has trained about 10,000 women in conservation and supports efforts to increase access to more fuel-efficient cookstoves, which can help reduce deforestation in addition to promoting health, livelihood and other environmental benefits. Last month, Secretary Clinton announced the Global Alliance for Cookstoves, which will elevate these efforts by leveraging new, innovative partnerships.

I hope others will take inspiration from these incredible women as we work together to protect our global environment. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/conservation_heroes/ 2010-10-07T21:00:48+00:00
Secretary Clinton said, "Now, we know that it goes without saying, it is so obvious, that mobile technology has reshaped the way that people work, learn, and communicate. And here at the State Department, it has also changed how we pursue our twin missions of diplomacy and development. We are using cell phones and mobile applications to help us coordinate disaster relief, track the results of our global health programs, engage directly with people whose contact with us would otherwise be only second- or third-hand, and advance our work around the world in dozens of other ways. And we know we are just scratching the surface.

"But as excited as we are by how mobile technology can help us improve our work, we're even more excited about how it can help you and millions of others around the world improve what you do and empower more people to become full participants in their own societies. Mobile technology can accelerate economic development. With a cell phone, a farmer in Sub-Saharan Africa can learn how to protect her crops from pests that would otherwise destroy a harvest. An entrepreneur in Latin America can more easily obtain a business license or communicate with a mentor or a customer. A woman in Asia can use her mobile banking to control her family finances or budget for school fees or save for a new house.

"And we also know that mobile technology can improve governance and strengthen democratic institutions. For example, in the recent voting on a constitution in Kenya, where previous elections had led to violence, peace was maintained, thanks in part to technology that tallied ballots in real-time. Mobile technology fosters health and education, especially in places where systems do not yet exist. With cell phones, expectant mothers who live nowhere near a clinic can still receive prenatal health tips. Students whose teachers rarely show up at school can still move ahead with their lessons.

"...And we are developing an innovative program that addresses the particular needs of women. For example, we are in the early stages of developing an idea we are calling Mobile Justice to help women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where sexual violence against women occurs at a horrific rate. In many parts of that country the police and court systems have disintegrated, so women who are attacked have no way to get justice. They can't even realistically travel to the urban centers where courts have been reestablished. But these cell phones give women the ability to collect evidence and record and transmit their testimony, so women in rural areas may be able to bring justice to them.

"Or to give another example, we recently held a contest called Apps 4 Africa to reward local mobile developers in four African countries whose apps are helping to advance prosperity and stability in ingenious ways. One of the winners is a program called Mamakiba, a budgeting app that helps low-income pregnant women save and prepay for prenatal care and the costs of delivery. By helping women manage the cost of this care, we can increase the chance that they will receive care and protect both their health and the health of newborns.

"...So I want to applaud the mWomen initiative for recognizing the importance of this cross-cutting issue and to convey the strong support of the State Department and USAID as you pursue your goal of reducing by 50 percent the gender gap in the next three years. Several mobile networks in developing countries, including Vodaphone, Telefonica, Roshan, and Mobitel, have pledged significant support for increasing women's access, for example, by developing apps designed for women and training programs as well. We cannot do this without private sector leadership, and we applaud all of the companies that have already stepped forward and ask others to join us in this effort. We're working with governments and international organizations. My friend, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf from Liberia and a global champion for mWomen, has sent her minister of Gender Equality and Development, Minister Gayflor, to join us here today to discuss how Liberia and the United States can work together. USAID has committed to partner with GSMA and the Gates Foundation through existing mobile initiatives on health, education, and agriculture. And additionally, the United States will continue to support civil society organizations that advocate for women's rights to undo constrictions on their ability to use technology freely. We really are believers in the freedom to connect. So today's launch of the mWomen Initiative is another big step on the road to gender equality, the freedom to connect, and all the opportunities that flow from it."

You can read the full transcript here. For more information about the initiative, click here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/live_gsma/ 2010-10-07T13:24:19+00:00 remarks at the 12th Annual Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit on October 6 in Washington, DC. Secretary Clinton spoke about the power of mentoring, and supporting women and girls.

The Secretary said, "I am a firm believer in the power of mentoring. There are women and girls in our country and around the world who have the talent, the intellect, the drive to succeed, but who lack the support. I have become convinced that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. And you never know when what you do or say can open that door to opportunity for someone who is ready to walk through it, but could not get under, around, or over it without your help. And still in too many places, support for women is in short supply. But through mentoring, we can help meet that need. And it's low-cost, high-impact, and deeply rewarding."

"[I]t might seem that an executive in the United States and an entrepreneur from a village in Bangladesh or a crowded slum in Kenya do not have enough in common to connect meaningfully through mentoring. But in fact, we do. We are connected by shared experiences and aspirations no matter the circumstances of our lives. And through global mentoring programs, we can replicate one of those shared experiences, one that happens every day in countless places around the world, women coming together to support each other and to see how we can together make progress."

Secretary Clinton continued, "Last year in Mumbai, I visited a shop owned and operated by women selling crafts and textiles, most of whom come from the very lowest socioeconomic stratum, all of whom are organized through one of the most effective women's organizations in the world, the Self-Employed Women's Association known as SEWA. I've worked with SEWA for many years. I have literally seen the transformation in lives that banding together has catalyzed in individual women's lives."

"I also, last summer, went to -- went back to Cape Town, and for the third time, I visited a group of women who, on their own, transformed their position as squatters into homeowners and then community leaders. I'd already been to one of the housing developments that these women through their own sweat equity had created, and this time I went to the second housing development that they are starting. The women that I have come to know don't have much education, but they are among the most powerful and effective women I have ever met. And they have created now two thriving communities where before there was apathy if not despair."

She continued, "Now, we are just beginning a new initiative called TechWomen that I announced in April during the President's Entrepreneurship Summit here in Washington. Through TechWomen, we will match women in Muslim-majority countries with women working in tech companies here in the U.S. And we will send American mentors to their proteges' countries to engage on a wider scale with the people there. We obviously want to harness one of America's great strengths -- our excellence in technology and innovation -- and use it to build effective and lasting partnerships with rising women leaders in Muslim countries. And I invite you to participate in that."

"We're also partnering with companies to support women, and indeed, working with the private sector is such a critical element that I want to mention just one of our public-private partnerships. You'll be hearing from Andrea Jung later today, and earlier this year, the Avon Foundation made a grant of $500,000 to the Secretary's Fund for Global Women's Leadership to accelerate the fight against the global epidemic of violence against women. And I want to thank Andrea and Avon for that. We are using this money to identify and support local programs that are addressing this epidemic."

You can read the full transcript here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/secretary_fortune_women_summit/ 2010-10-06T22:20:55+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

The Women's Entrepreneurship Summit (WES), which took place last Friday, represents the first-ever Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) high-level policy and public-private partnership to recognize the important role women play in driving economic growth. The Summit was jointly hosted by the Japanese and U.S. governments -- the APEC Chairs for 2010 and 2011, respectively. In attendance was a talented group of women from across 21 APEC economies, including a venture capitalist from Japan, a second-hand clothing entrepreneur and women's rights activist from Papua New Guinea, and a beauty queen turned media mogul from Malaysia.

The Asia Pacific region's economy is among the world's most dynamic. The 21 economies of the region make up nearly 60 percent of total global economic output. The APEC region is already greatly benefiting from women's economic participation, because the gender gap is narrower here than in other regions. Yet, even here, women's economic potential is still largely untapped. And that is why we have gathered in this unprecedented APEC WES Summit. Women's lack of economic participation is due to a variety of obstacles -- obstacles that a UN agency has calculated cost the Asia-Pacific region between USD 42-46 billion a year in lost GDP.

We all recognize that if the APEC region is to expand and spread the benefits of globalization and inclusive growth more broadly, women must be an important part of the new growth paradigm. In recent years, studies confirm that investing in women is "smart economics," and that gender equality yields higher growth outcomes and lower poverty. The World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report, as well as reports by Goldman Sachs, the World Bank, and Ernst & Young all illustrate how women's economic participation promotes enterprise development at the micro and small and medium enterprise (SME) levels, as well as better business management and returns on investment.

Women's progress is critical to a country's progress, and women's economic participation is critical to economic prosperity. Moreover, women provide a multiplier effect in their economic participation because they invest upwards of 90 percent of their incomes back into their families and communities.

Women still face considerable hurdles when trying to start a new business or expand an existing one beyond a certain revenue mark. Among the biggest are lack of access to training, markets, mentors and networks, as well as the presence of discriminatory laws and regulations such as those that needlessly complicate business entry.

One of the biggest challenges is access to financing. Even where some of the legal and policy barriers are not prominent, lack of access to credit is common in every economy.

Closing the gender gap in economic participation is the best prescription for economic growth. With this Summit, we hope to have established the foundation for post-recession growth, but we cannot tackle that challenge -- and we will not be as successful as we could be -- without unleashing women's economic potential. I am confident that this historic Summit will spark a new commitment to addressing these issues, will open new avenues for collaboration and progress, and will launch structural reforms to increase women's access to education, training, and finance.

For more resources about women in business and about the Summit, please visit their website.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/apec_smart_economics/ 2010-10-05T21:42:35+00:00 About the Author: Ann Stock serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of State launched TechWomen, a ground-breaking program that will link women from the Middle East and North Africa working in technology with their counterparts in Silicon Valley.

This program will identify 38 women who are emerging leaders in technical fields from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the West Bank and Gaza, and bring them to the United States for a five-week, project-based mentoring program at leading technology companies.

Secretary Clinton first announced the creation of TechWomen at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in April. Championing two distinct but equally key themes of President Obama's June 2009 Cairo speech, TechWomen both supports development in the field of technology and empowers women. By facilitating the sharing of experience and knowledge as well as creating peer networks, TechWomen fosters professional development for women and creates sustainable relationships between U.S. and foreign participants.

TechWomen is a public-private partnership, with several leading U.S. technology companies committed to participating in the program, including Google, Facebook, Cisco, Microsoft, IBM, Yahoo!, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Catapult Design, and BASIC (Bay Area Science and Innovation Consortium), a consortium of more than 20 institutions including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, SRI International, Agilent Technologies, Symantec, and Sandia National Laboratories. We encourage additional technology companies to join in sharing their experience and knowledge with these emerging leaders.

We look forward to welcoming the first cadre of TechWomen this spring. This program is the most recent example of how 21st century tools and the private sector can amplify exchanges that advance President Obama and Secretary Clinton's priorities.

If you are interested in learning more about this effort, please visit www.techwomen.org.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/techwomen/ 2010-10-04T20:29:26+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

Violence against women and girls cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, and education level. It knows no international borders. It can affect women and girls at any point in their lives, from sex-selective feticide and infanticide, to the inadequate healthcare and nutrition given to girls, to female genital mutilation, child marriage, trafficking, domestic violence, so-called “honor” killings, dowry-related murder, the neglect and ostracism of widows, and more. As Secretary Clinton has said, this violence isn't “cultural;” it's criminal. Gender-based violence isn't a “women's issue;” it's the world's issue. The challenge cannot be confronted by women alone. Men and boys are our crucial allies in the campaign to end violence against women. And in India, some boys and men are taking this message to heart.

Last November when I was in India, I launched the Garima (“dignity” in Hindi) program, a USAID- funded project that aims to enhance the ability of women to advocate for their rights in the Indian parliament and state legislatures; deter gender-based violence, female feticide and child marriage; and increase the participation of Muslim women in mainstream social, economic and political processes.

Garima helps raise awareness about these issues among the local community, including key stakeholders, such as young men, boys, and religious leaders, and it works to change attitudes about the acceptability of violence. Garima has strengthened the implementation of key pieces of legislation in India, including the Domestic Violence Act, the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, and the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technical Act. In Rajasthan and New Delhi, the program trains healthcare providers, who are often the first point of contact for women facing violence, in how to counsel women and report the violence through the justice system. The program also trains prosecutors and community-based groups, creating a network of legal and healthcare support to take care of survivors' needs.

When I returned to India earlier this month, I had the opportunity to meet with the men and women who are partners on this program. Some of the religious leaders involved in this project have encouraged communities to celebrate girls' births. As a result, over 53,000 people in one community in Rajasthan have pledged their opposition to prenatal sex selection.

I checked in with another Garima project that works with Muslim women to help them understand their rights within Islam, including their right to choose their own husbands, seek their mahr (marital gift) upon divorce, and live lives free of violence. The program is currently working with imams to help raise their awareness of women's rights, and is now providing legal aid, counseling, and microfinance opportunities to Muslim women who have been abused.

I also visited the Independent Commission for People's Rights and Development (ICPRD), a Garima project that mobilizes hundreds of men and boys from low-income and rural communities in Rajasthan and Karnataka to create street plays and performances that address the problem of violence against women.

During last year's visit, I watched Rajasthani men perform a street play that portrayed the negative effects of child sex selection, domestic violence, child marriage, and sexual harassment in their community. The message of the performance resonated throughout the community, from women and girls, to men and boys, to the young and old, and to individuals who were unable to read or understand in more formal ways. The performances had the ability to change the norms and perceptions that perpetuate violence against women; they spread awareness in the community and turned boys and men into champions for the cause.

In Chennai, I watched a similar performance. When I asked the young men why they participated in the program, I was touched by their heartfelt responses. One boy told me about his older sister, who was being forced to marry a man more than twice her age. Another young man told me the pain he experienced watching his younger sister teased and jeered at whenever she walked through the street. These young men believed the violence and coercion their sisters and mothers faced was not a women's problem or a man's problem, but was everyone's problem to address.

I was struck by the confidence, self-esteem, and pride the performances instilled in the young men. They acknowledged that while they were promoting the rights of women and girls, they were in essence empowering themselves. It was their voices that were changing mindsets; they were helping to realign values, and, in standing up for women's rights, they were protecting their families and their community at large.

On September 18th, I was delighted to present the screening of a documentary created by ICPRD entitled “Youth Forums Against Gender Based Violence,” which depicts the remarkable efforts these men and boys have undertaken. I hope this film will take the story of these young men even more widely than their live performances do.

Addressing, preventing, and raising awareness about gender-based violence is a particular focus of my office, and we are working to ensure that men and boys are an integral part of our strategy. We hope to see initiatives such as Garima blossom and flourish within India, and beyond. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/communities_address_gender-based_violence/ 2010-09-30T23:36:57+00:00 About the Author: Wenchi Yu serves in the Office of Global Women's Issues.

In a time of ongoing economic uncertainty, one thing is sure: entrepreneurs and small businesses represent critical sources of economic growth and innovation, and women have the opportunity to lead the way.

This week, around 250 policymakers and businesswomen from across 21 economies in the Asia Pacific region are gathering in Gifu, Japan to unleash the power of women entrepreneurs. Under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and on the margins of the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministerial Meeting, the United States and Japan will co-host the APEC Women's Entrepreneurship Summit on October 1, 2010.

The day will include keynote sessions on topics such as "Engendering Entrepreneurship in the Asia Pacific Region" and "Public-Private Partnerships to Close the Gender Gap for Economic Growth." But the emphasis of the Summit is not on speeches and panels but on practical skill-building and the sharing of best practices for policymakers and women entrepreneurs from Australia to Vietnam. Break-out sessions that focus on increasing women's access to economic opportunities will include how to leverage technology to lower costs, how to reach new markets, and how to access capital.

A recently published UN report notes that Asia-Pacific economies are losing an estimated USD 42-46 billion annually due to the lack of women in the workforce. A 2005 Goldman Sachs report found that Japan could lift its trend growth GDP from 1.2 percent to 1.5 percent by bringing more women into the workforce. This APEC Women's Entrepreneurship Summit is an opportunity to develop the untapped potential of women to contribute to civic and economic life.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/apec_womens_entrepreneurship_summit/ 2010-09-30T18:00:41+00:00 About the Author: Suzanne Lawrence, a Foreign Service Officer, is the Director of the Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs in the Bureau of Consular Affairs and Board member of Executive Women at State (EW@S).

The 2012 Project, a national, non-partisan campaign to increase the number of women in legislative office, is counting the days until November 6, 2012. Election Day 2012 presents an opportunity for women to increase their numbers in office: following the 2010 census, every congressional and state legislative district in the country will be redrawn, and new and open seats will be created.

Former OECD Ambassador and Congresswoman Connie Morella, a member of the 2012 Project, spoke to an audience on September 8th at the Department of State and urged women to consider running for public office. The theme of her presentation meshed perfectly with the event sponsored by Executive Women at State (EW@S) and the Office of Civil Rights (S/OCR) celebrating Women's Equality Day and commemorating the passage of the 19th Amendment granting Women the Right to Vote. Morella drew parallels between running for office and working at the Department of State, noting that to be successful in both fields it was essential to "listen, learn, respect and then lead.”

Morella's co-presenter, Deborah Walsh, the Director of the Center for American Women and Politics, emphasized the need for continued education across the political spectrum to draw attention to the importance of women serving in public office. John M. Robinson, the State Department's Director of the Office of Civil Rights, summed up the successful event and thanked the Executive Women at State for organizing this forum as well as many other events, making them one of the “most prolific affinity groups” at the Department of State.

You can read the Presidential Proclamation for Women's Equality Day 2010 here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/celebrating_equality_aiming_representation/ 2010-09-10T16:13:32+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

In just a few weeks, the leaders of the world will gather at the UN to assess the progress that has been made on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and to chart the way forward. In advance of that meeting, I spoke to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. on Tuesday to discuss how women and girls are at the center of our foreign policy and international development agenda, and how gender equality is the key to progress and sustainable development.

The United States fully embraces the MDGs. As President Obama has said, “the Millennium Development Goals are America's goals.” We are firmly committed to working with our many partners in this common cause towards meeting the Goals by 2015, and helping to ensure that the gains are sustained long into the future.

The ten-year anniversary of the adoption of the MDGs coincides with the 15 years since the Fourth UN Conference on Women took place in Beijing. Not so coincidentally, the two sets of goals intersect: MDG 3 -- the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women -- is the prerequisite for achieving all the other MDGs. If we are to realize the MDGs, women and girls must be at the core of our development strategies. For that reason, we are pursuing a number of initiatives and programs that focus on women and girls and that will help the world reach its MDG targets.

The first is the Global Health Initiative, a $63 billion program to improve health and strengthen health systems worldwide. We are scaling up our work in maternal and child health, family planning and nutrition. We are committed to promoting sustainability, by focusing on strengthening existing health systems and by building on them to help countries develop their own capacity to improve the health of their people. We are also developing innovative strategies to improve health through mobile technology to deliver health information -- for example -- to pregnant women and new mothers. Further, we are linking our health programs with successful efforts to remove the economic, cultural, social, and legal barriers that create obstacles to obtaining care for women and girls, including gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices -- such as early marriage and female genital mutilation -- a lack of education, and a lack of economic opportunity.

Another commitment to women and girls is the President's Feed the Future Initiative, which was developed under Secretary Clinton's leadership. It is a $3.5 billion promise to strengthen the world's food supply, focusing on sustainably reducing hunger through greater agriculture productivity. It also recognizes that most of the world's food is grown, harvested, stored, and prepared by women, and that women farmers have specific needs for training, access to financial services, markets and decision-making if they are to become more agriculturally productive. In some regions, women produce 70 percent of the food, earn 10 percent of the income, and own only 1 percent of the land. The reform of land tenure and property rights, as well as inheritance laws, can help advance women in farming and help to secure the world's food supply.

A third area for action is women's role in addressing climate change. As the majority of the world's farmers, women in developing nations are the hardest hit by ecological fluctuation and disaster, whether by tsunamis or droughts. They are also key problem-solvers who can play a significant role in safeguarding their families and communities from environmental hazards and promoting sustainable solutions to climate change. To this end, Secretary Clinton will soon announce a major new initiative: a public-private partnership that will, among other things, promote women's role in safeguarding the environment.

Fourth, to alleviate poverty, economic growth is essential. Today there is an abundance of research that demonstrates that investments in women and girls correlate positively with poverty alleviation and a country's general prosperity. Small and medium-size businesses run by women are proven drivers of GDP. Women are a reliable investment because the money they borrow is not only likely to be repaid; women also have a multiplier effect because their resources are used to benefit their families and communities.

In conjunction with the recent AGOA Ministerial (African Growth and Opportunity Act), we created the African Women's Entrepreneurship Program to provide women with the tools and skills they need to more successfully access AGOA and its benefits for building businesses and markets.

We are working with APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) countries to put a first-ever focus on women as drivers of economic growth. Half the APEC countries have developing economies. It is calculated that the Asia-Pacific region is shortchanged in excess of $40 billion a year in GDP because of the untapped potential of women.

Fifth, another key indicator for MDG 3 -- gender equality -- is women's political participation. Women are still significantly outnumbered in the parliaments, provincial councils and peace processes of the world, even though we know that they are far more likely to invest in the public good than their male counterparts and that higher rates of female participation in government are associated with lower levels of corruption. Women's influence on the village and city councils in India -- the panchayats -- is a well-documented example of the difference they're making in investing in safe drinking water, education and other community needs.

Where women are oppressed and marginalized, societies are more dangerous and extremism is more likely to take hold. As Secretary Clinton has stressed, the subjugation of women is a threat to our national security and the common security of the world because the suffering and denial of the rights of women and the instability of nations go hand in hand. The United States has been working within our own government, bilaterally and multilaterally to accelerate implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions that link women to peace and security.

The only way we can hope to meet the fundamental challenges of our time is to incorporate the needs, and draw upon the talents and potential, of women and girls around the world. It is with this message and in this spirit, that we join hands with our partners to accelerate progress towards meeting the MDGs, and to create a better world for us all.

A video of Ambassador Verveer's remarks to the Center for Strategic and International Studies is available here, and you can read the transcript here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/mdg_summit_women_and_girls/ 2010-09-09T14:58:10+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

Secretary Clinton is a forceful and effective champion for women's rights. In the case of Afghanistan, the Secretary is dedicated to ensuring that women's rights will not be negotiated away in the name of peace. As she said in Kabul in July, “If women are silenced or marginalized, prospects for peace and justice will be subverted.”

Working with Afghans in the halls of government and in towns and villages, the Obama Administration is committed to safeguarding women's rights and to ensuring that Afghan women will be represented during the ongoing reintegration and reconciliation process. I know first-hand that the inclusion of women is essential to promoting and sustaining peace and security. This is true everywhere around the world, and no less so in Afghanistan.

On August 8-12, I traveled to Afghanistan. Throughout all my meetings with President Karzai, Presidential Advisor Stanekzai, female ministers, members of civil society, Parliament, civil service, and businesswomen, I reiterated the message that Secretary Clinton delivered during her participation in the July Kabul Conference, that women are integral to peace and security. The main goals of my trip were to focus public attention on women's political inclusion as Afghanistan embarks on its new reintegration process, and to bring awareness to women's security needs and their participation in the upcoming September parliamentary elections. The upcoming elections hold a great deal of promise for Afghanistan's future. Female candidates need security; sufficient numbers of women need to be trained to monitor the polling stations, and adequate numbers of female security staff are needed at the polling stations if women are to be able to participate. The 419 women who have signed up to run for parliament need our support.

Supporting women's equality goes beyond the September elections, however. It also means ensuring the rights of women and girls to attend school, to participate fully in their government and political processes, to establish businesses, to have access to justice, and to live free from violence in their homes, workplaces, and communities.

In my meetings with mid- and high-level businesswomen and financial experts, I realized that we have a lot of work ahead of us if women are to be active participants in growing the Afghan economy. They need access to credit and markets. During my trip, we also announced a new public-private partnership with the Kate Spade Foundation and the NGO Women for Women International. These organizations will extend their existing partnership to Afghanistan, combining traditional Afghan handicrafts with Kate Spade's aesthetic to develop new products that will be sold in Kate Spade stores around the world. The initiative aims to create sustainable employment for 1,000-1,500 Afghan women. With innovative programs like these, we are empowering the women of Afghanistan to take control of their own future.

We are working to build Afghan communities' capacity to address the health and education problems I hear about every day. At the Kabul Conference, the Secretary announced a USD 37 million program focused on maternal and children's health, which will nearly double the number of midwives in the next four years and increase the number of female community health nurses throughout the country. The program will support health advocacy campaigns in which religious and community leaders play a major role. During my trip, I joined Acting Health Minister Dalil for the launch of the U.S.-Egypt-Afghan midwife training program. Thirty midwives will travel to the Suzanne Mubarak Center for Women's Health and Development in Alexandria, Egypt, for enhanced training.

When I visited the Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, a mosque that has religious and educational programs for women, the imam stressed that violations of women's rights in the name of Islam contradict the essence of Islam. Promoting education about, and awareness of, women's rights within Islam, and emphasizing that there is no place for violence against women within the religion will help reduce violence against women. We are looking at ways to engage other Muslim countries to develop curricula and work with more imams who understand that Islam and women's rights are compatible.

In my visits to Afghanistan, women have told me about the struggles they face and the work they have undertaken to build a better future. The stories are heartrending. Women in Afghanistan are making extraordinary contributions to their country, whether as activists, civil society leaders, members of parliament, or other members of government. The words of one young Afghan activist still ring in my ears. She said, “Don't look at us as victims, but as the leaders we are."

I believe that the Government of Afghanistan and the country as a whole will benefit immensely if there is strengthened investment in Afghan women. No country can progress if its women are left behind, and no country can achieve peace and security if women do not play a key role in the process. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/womens_rights_afghanistan/ 2010-08-27T22:56:45+00:00
"I just want to take this opportunity to reiterate from the U.S. point of view our strongest possible condemnation of the rapes and attacks that occurred against scores of innocent civilians. We are horrified, and we are outraged, and that led us, in conjunction with the French, to request this detailed briefing this morning.

"It was a disturbing briefing, both for what we learned and what we don't know still. We are pleased that the Council swiftly and without any difficulty issued the statement that you've heard Ambassador Churkin deliver.

"But the fact is that many questions were posed, some very poignant questions, including by me and others. The Secretariat was clear in acknowledging that things did not occur as they should have, but we await answers from Assistant Secretary-General Khare and Margaret Wallstrom as to what was the actual sequence of events, where there may have been shortcomings in processes and procedures, and what steps can be taken going forward to ensure more effective, real time, advanced communication of threats to the civilian population.

"I traveled with the Council last year to eastern Congo. We met with victims of rape in Goma, we went out to villages in North Kivu, and camps where, then MONUC, now MONUSCO, had in place processes and procedures, which we were told were designed to provide early warning and rapid response. We learned today that in many instances those procedures have worked; in this instance clearly they did not, and we need to know why and what mechanisms might be put in place to ensure that this type of horror is not repeated again and again."

Read the full transcript of Ambassador Rice's remarks here.

Related Entry: Secretary Clinton's Statement on Reports of Mass Rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/rice_unsc_stakeout_rapes_congo/ 2010-08-26T22:27:49+00:00 About the Author: Kathryn Speckart serves as Collections Manager for the U.S. Diplomacy Center.

What did the U.S. Secretary of State have to do with U.S. women winning the right to vote in 1920?

The Secretary of State is concerned with foreign affairs, not U.S. domestic duties, right? Actually, the Department of State, and therefore the Secretary of State, used to handle many domestic duties, including the ratification of Constitutional amendments. Back in 1920, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby presided over the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting women the right to vote. By 1950, many of the domestic duties performed by the Department of State were transferred to other federal agencies, though some domestic duties were retained, such as the custody and operation of the Great Seal.

August 26, 2010 is "Equality Day" -- the 90th anniversary of U.S. women gaining the right to vote.

The Department of State supports free and fair elections and suffrage rights worldwide. U.S. diplomats often observe local elections in their host countries and report their observations to the State Department in Washington, DC. U.S. diplomats are especially interested in advancing universal suffrage -- including women's right to vote and to run for office. The Office of Global Women's Issues, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and offices within the U.S. Agency for International Development, among many others, are active in the promotion of women's role in the political realm, in the achievement of good governance, and in civil society.

This is exactly what the U.S. suffragettes were fighting for in the 19th and early 20th centuries -- the “pivotal right” to vote and participate more fully in public life.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/90th_anniversary_womens_vote/ 2010-08-26T22:01:00+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

The July 20, 2010, Kabul Conference, hosted by the Government of Afghanistan and co-chaired by the United Nations, brought more than 70 officials from governments and international organizations around the world together in Kabul for the first time in thirty years. Together, they launched the “Kabul Process,” which reflects the Afghan Government's commitment to the people of Afghanistan, and to the international community, toward ensuring good governance, security for its people, and greater accountability, including clear benchmarks and milestones for an Afghan-led strategy to improve development.

Secretary Clinton and Lady Ashton, European Union Foreign Minister, met with Afghan women leaders to listen to their concerns. Secretary Clinton recognized the heroic work the women are doing to strengthen their communities and country, and reiterated the United States Government's commitment to ensuring that women are directly involved in all aspects of Afghanistan's development.

At the end of the meeting, Secretary Clinton also expressed U.S. intentions to work with the Danish government to improve women's access to justice in Helmand province. The joint initiative will target two priority areas: women's right to justice, and strengthening rule of law and civil society at the provincial level. Following her meeting, the Secretary emphasized the importance of President Karzai's statement that the rights of women, Afghan ethnic groups, and civil society “will not be sacrificed” in the course of reintegration. She reiterated that “building a strong, prosperous, and peaceful Afghanistan cannot be done without the full participation of women and girls.”

The U.S. Government supports the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA), which calls for the promotion of women's economic participation, increases in women's employment opportunities, and a greater role for non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, including religious leaders, in carrying out public awareness campaigns on health and women's rights. At the conference, Secretary Clinton expressed continued support for these measures, and announced several new programs that the United States will fund to support Afghan women and families. These include a $37 million program focused on maternal and child health, which will nearly double the number of midwives in the next four years and increase the number of female community health nurses. The program will support health advocacy campaigns featuring leadership roles for religious and community leaders: in the coming months, the campaign will provide outreach and training to more than 700 religious leaders throughout Afghanistan who will in turn reach over 600,000 individuals in their local communities. The Ambassador's Small Grants Program, which I announced with Ambassador Eikenberry in July 2009, will also be expanded to include all 34 provinces in the country. This program gives small grants to local Afghan-led organizations working to improve the lives of women and girls, not only in the field of health but also education, economic opportunity, equal access to justice, and political advocacy.

Secretary Clinton ended her remarks at the conference by noting that protecting women's rights during the peace and reconciliation process is a concern for Afghan women, the international community and the United States. “If women's groups are fully empowered to help build a just and lasting peace, they will help do so,” she said. “But if they are silenced and pushed to the margins of Afghan society, the prospects for peace and justice will be subverted.”]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/kabul_conference_womens_rights/ 2010-08-16T20:04:42+00:00 About the Author: Ralph Falzone serves as Director of the Middle East Partnership Initiative Regional Office in Abu Dhabi.

The Kuwait Economic Society (KES), a civil society organization focused on economic development and reform of the country, kicked off its MEPI-funded local grant project, “Women's Leadership and Entrepreneurship,” in June 2010. The goal of this women's empowerment initiative is to create a more enabling trade, investment, and business environment for Kuwaiti women. The project also aims to increase private sector capacity by promoting and supporting women entrepreneurs by catalyzing the Women's Entrepreneurship Development Project, an already established KES program. The initiative will also support Kuwaiti women engaged in small and medium-sized and home-based businesses by providing opportunities for business growth, networking, training, and experience sharing.

U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait Deborah K. Jones stated at the inauguration of the Women's Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program: “Since its inception in 2002, the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) has invested more than half of its funding in projects with a focus on advancing women's participation in the political process, providing access to educational opportunities, and increasing the role and profile of women in the private sector and public office. We believe the sustained development and prosperity of the Middle East is dependent on the empowerment of women to participate fully in the economic, social and political sectors of society -- and this is an area where Kuwait leads the region.”

On behalf of KES, Dr. Rola Dashti stated that, “85% of Kuwaiti women are unemployed though they have good qualifications…encouraging women to start their own businesses is part of the solution to this problem, and civil society should contribute to creating an enabling environment for women's entrepreneurship.” MEPI is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs in the country and the region, and will continue to seek out opportunities to increase women's capacity and knowledge.
]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/kuwait_mepi_women_entrepreneurs/ 2010-08-10T21:41:02+00:00 About the Author: Jillian DeLuna is a Program Analyst in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs.

I recently sat down with three participants of the African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP). These women traveled to Washington, D.C. and Kansas City to meet with policymakers, African ministers, companies, and non-profits to enhance their business network and skills. We discussed their African businesses, trade under AGOA, and what they plan to do when they return to Africa.

Can you tell me a little bit about the business in your home country?

Ms. Matsimane from Lesotho: I am project development officer for Abelanang Basotho which is a company I founded myself, based on the needs I saw of women artisans in my community. I work in business development, and I share my knowledge with the ladies, and they share their knowledge on how to use their hands and create products. They have expanded from making only traditional items, and now make fashion and decor items.

Ms. Umurerwa from Burundi: I started a communication agency three years ago, and I provide services regarding media and communications planning or public relation. I also organize events for different private sector organizations and international organizations.

Do you find exporting under AGOA challenging?

Ms. Matsimane from Lesotho: It is not easy, as there are many forms and often you have to go from the villages to the city -- there is a whole lot that is required. I find that there are a lot of cultural issues that prevent women from doing more business as well. So it is challenging, but these are things that we can overcome; they are not obstacles, they are just minor blocks and something we can work on. AGOA has helped my business a lot, and it has given us hope that if AGOA continues we will be able to do more.

Ms. Hoy from Swaziland: To be honest, in the beginning, when we didn't know what to do, it was quite difficult but that was just for the first export. After that, once we knew what we needed to do, it's much easier. I wouldn't say it is quick; it does take time, but we haven't really found any problems. USAID has helped with our technical knowledge and we are trying to help more of the small growers in Swaziland expand their businesses.

How will you be able to use the information gathered from the AWEP program when you return to Africa?

Ms. Umurerwa from Burundi: I am really excited to be able to go back home to provide lots of information and work hard to implement the lessons I've learned from AWEP. I am going to try my best and will specifically focus on working with the U.S. Embassy locally for organizing an afternoon of presentations for what the embassy and the State Department can do for women entrepreneurs in our country. I hope to use my skills in communication to provide this to a wider audience in Burundi.

Ms. Hoy from Swaziland: I would like to go into the more rural areas and try to speak to groups of women, and speak to them about what they can do. There are many women who make handicrafts, and they're very good, and I think they could export. Especially if they all got together, and did it together as a group, so they could meet the demand. I'd like to help make that happen.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_entrepreneurship_in_africa/ 2010-08-05T15:19:16+00:00 About the Author: Carrie LaCrosse is a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Bureau of Economics, Energy, and Business Affairs.

For the past week, I have had the pleasure to accompany the African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) during their meetings in Washington, DC. These dynamic women have incredible stories. One of the participants, Ms. Candide Leguede from Togo was inspired to share her thoughts on the AWEP Program and the future of African businesswomen. Here is her story, in her own words:

"I am very impressed and grateful to the U.S. Government to have initiated the African Women Entrepreneurship Program in connection with the AGOA Forum. This shows how important women in business are in the eyes of the world. They are the foundation stone on which lies the economic growth of our countries.

"Meeting counterparts from different other countries in Africa, women and men of the U.S. Congress, and top professionals who work in business is a great privilege and is a key to enlarge my vision and enhance my capacity. It has boosted my knowledge base to encourage, support and assist in what I am already doing on my own.

"I now realize the full power of networking as a means to share experiences, enlighten our vision, and generate thinking. This opportunity has connected me to people I did not know and has resulted in a valid connection. What I mean by a valid connection is that these people will help me make a concrete difference in my life.

"There is a sharp growth of women entrepreneurship in every country worldwide. There are an increasing number of SMEs and women entrepreneurs who are launching new business opportunities every day. This significant economic and social development is generating great interest from economic operators, government officials, and international organizations. All of these people are becoming more conscious of the economic and social role that women play in the sustainable development of nations.

"However, women are often subject to constraints that men do not encounter when they desire to establish an enterprise. They work hard, probably more than others and their efforts are generally invisible and their voices are silent due to social inequalities. Yet, Africa requires the potential business dynamism and wealth generated by women to enhance its development.

"The impact of this global phenomenon and most especially the sensitization campaigns and advocacy by women associations have compelled African policy makers and the different stakeholders to recognize the fact that the continent cannot effectively develop without the involvement, input, and empowerment of women who account for more than half of the continent's population. This active participation cannot be achieved without strengthening the economic capacity of women and improving their access to factors of production, labor markets, commodities and services markets, technology, and financing.

"In order to ensure the overall economic development of the society, there is vital need to put in place enabling conditions for a more effective integration of women in economic and social activities. Much is being done but the journey is long, and some governments still lag behind. Until they awake, we women will continue our fight for economic empowerment and continue to be the vital voices for change, thanks to those who believe in us."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/economic_empowerment/ 2010-08-03T20:27:26+00:00 About the Author: Robert D. Hormats serves as Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs.

I'm sure many people are familiar with the Chinese proverb, “women hold up half the sky.” But, after meeting some of the dynamic and accomplished women from the African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) last week, I'm convinced that, in Africa, they probably hold up 60 or even 75 percent of the sky!

AWEP, a program sponsored by the Department of State, has brought 34 African women business leaders to the United States this week in conjunction with the 9th Annual African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) Forum. Secretary Clinton, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer, and I have met with them.

Our goal is to connect these remarkable and accomplished women with their peers in other countries and with U.S. policymakers and business people. We want to help them develop contacts, exchange ideas that can further build their businesses, and seize new opportunities in the global economy. These women are voices of change in their countries. For far too long, women have been left on the outskirts of opportunity. And whether it's discrimination in business or any other denial of a woman's right to realize her potential, this phenomenon will always have a harmful effect on a country's economy. No nation can power its economic growth without empowering its women. It is like trying to succeed in an increasingly competitive world with one arm tied behind your back.

There are few better ways to empower women -- particularly in Africa -- than investing in their education. Countries that promote girls' education, and especially secondary education and skills training, tend to have higher rates of employment, higher wages, and lower maternal and child mortality. Better health, better jobs, and better businesses are all easier goals to reach if we make a priority of getting girls in schools and giving them a good education in Africa -- and around the world.

Those working in development have long known that investments in the education of women don't just benefit the women themselves, but their families and their communities as well. Studies consistently show that women allocate more resources to nutrition and children's health and education than do men. We also know that educated mothers are more likely to educate their own children -- and that can have carry-on effects for generations.

Educating women isn't just a moral imperative; it makes good business sense. The more education a woman has, the more likely she is to be more productive in her work -- and, one hopes, to start her own business. A good education increases the chances that women entrepreneurs will make the transition from start-ups to established businesses. Having lived in East Africa and having travelled throughout the continent, I have seen the hard work women in Africa do on their farms and in the market. Education enables women to better fulfill their aspirations in whatever they do. And, after educating them, we need to provide them with opportunities for skills enhancement and networking so they continue to advance to higher positions.

When the women attending AWEP head back home, having networked with one another and with American business representatives and government officials, we hope they will return with new ideas and contacts. We further hope that this experience will enable them to be even more motivated in serving as force-multipliers, laying the groundwork for greater prosperity in their own countries now and for new generations of women entrepreneurs, to enable them to sustain economic growth and upward mobility for years to come.

Related Entry: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Africa]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/girls_education_africa/ 2010-08-02T19:26:29+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak to a group of 34 women entrepreneurs nominated by their embassies for the African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP). These women are proven leaders, policymakers, and representatives of business and non-profit organizations in their communities, and have traveled to the United States to meet with policymakers, African ministers, companies, and non-profits to enhance their business network and skills. The program aims to foster greater integration into the national and global network for women entrepreneurs and will inform them about the trade opportunities afforded through the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA). Throughout the next two weeks in Washington, D.C. and Kansas City, MO, these women will visit with Members of Congress and other government officials to better understand the goals of trade and economic policies like AGOA, and they will also meet with business associations and NGOs to learn innovative ways to expand market capacities.

AWEP is taking place in conjunction with the AGOA Forum, which builds on the law signed by President Clinton in 2000 to open U.S. markets to greater trade with Africa. Through AGOA, women-led businesses have received greater access to training in product design and development and have also had opportunities for networking with international buyers. This year ExxonMobil has committed to contributing $200,000 to support business training programs in Africa.

I found it particularly inspiring to be speaking at this occasion because of the immense contribution women make in our global economy. Estimates show that women contribute to over one-third of African countries' GDP, and the Goldman Sachs' 2008 Global Economic Report found that narrowing the gender gap in employment could push income per capita up by as much as 14 percent for 2020 global baseline projections. Gender inequality acts as a resource constraint in Africa and we are working to support efforts that accelerate and diversify growth by including women in the entrepreneurial process. We have a long way to go, but these women showcase the progress that is already taking place in many African countries. It was clear to me yesterday that the 34 women participating in the program are not only leaders in their communities, but also voices of change for the future.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_entrepreneurs_africa/ 2010-07-28T16:14:45+00:00 About the Author: Megan Larson-Kone is the Regional Refugee Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Uganda.

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. In Uganda, young women are often hindered from pursuing a secondary education by a lack of basic supplies. This is particularly true for refugee girls and women. Of the 140,000 refugees hosted by Uganda -- primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Sudan -- approximately half are women and girls. When menstruating, the vast majority do not have access to the sanitary materials necessary to easily continue their education or other daily tasks. For girls hoping to pursue secondary education, this is a particular problem, and they often miss one week of school each month because they lack the materials to cope with their periods with dignity.

Enter Makapads -- a microenterprise established by Makerere University Professor of Engineering Moses Kizza Musaazi in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Makapads stands for Menstruation -- Administration -- Knowledge -- Affordability. It produces sanitary napkins using paper made from recycled office paper and papyrus fibers. The process uses manual labor with solar-powered heat sealers, and an ultraviolet sterilization unit. Makapads can produce about 3,000 sanitary napkins per day, but could do more if they had access to more recycled paper. Embassy Kampala's Greening Diplomacy Taskforce teamed with UNHCR to help provide this raw material that allows Makapads to run. Each month, shredded, unclassified office paper is delivered to the Makapads factory in Kyaka II refugee settlement in western Uganda via UNHCR. The Makapads staff mixes this paper with pounded papyrus fibers to create absorbent material that is assembled into sanitary napkins.

The benefits of this collaboration go far beyond environmental friendliness: this program helps ensure a better life for refugee women and girls, with fewer constraints on their ability to continue their daily activities. UNHCR purchases the Makapads to distribute in sanitary kits every quarter. To date, they provide half the female population with Makapads products (the remainder receives the traditional cloth strips as part of their sanitary kit). As soon as Makapads can make more, they will cover the remaining half. Refugee families often have little-to-no ability to earn income, so they are unable to purchase these items for themselves. Makapads has the potential to expand across the region, benefitting countless other girls and women, because Makapads cost half the price of imported sanitary napkins.

Additionally, Makapads is run by, and employs, refugee staff: out of 35 employees, 30 are refugee women -- mostly single or female heads of household. These staffers earn the equivalent of $30-$60 per month -- an income level they would not have dreamed of before working with Makapads. This income helps them to support their families and send their own daughters to school.

The Embassy's involvement with the project started when its Greening Diplomacy Taskforce was looking for a way to recycle the Mission's waste office paper and reduce their carbon footprint, but it ended up having a far greater impact. A small effort by the Mission helps create far deeper social, educational, and economic rewards for the refugee community living in Uganda.

Related entry: A Simple, Practical Program That's Changing Lives]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/paper_girls_education/ 2010-07-23T15:20:38+00:00 About the Author: Irene Marr serves as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues.

I remember first seeing the striking, heartrending images of young Afghan child brides -- girls living in poverty who were forced to marry men old enough to be their fathers or grandfathers -- when the photos appeared in a 2006 Sunday New York Times Magazine essay on the topic of forced early marriage. One of these iconic photos was on display in the U.S. Congress at a briefing on child marriage held by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on July 15. Such pictures serve as a sobering reminder that the practice of early marriage is still far too common in many parts of the world -- particularly in developing countries where opportunity is lacking and in societies where women and girls are not valued. The briefing put a spotlight on the extent of the problem and its consequences, and underscored the need for an integrated, strategic, and sustained approach to bring an end to this harmful practice.

A panel of experts on women's and children's issues, including Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, and representatives from the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), CARE International, and UNICEF, provided various perspectives on the phenomenon of child marriage and called for scaling up successful holistic and community-based approaches that have produced positive results. To address the scourge of early marriage, the United States has focused efforts on girls' education, health, and economic empowerment, and has implemented community-based, grassroots programs to encourage families to abandon the practice and keep their girls in school. As Ambassador Verveer noted, "The involvement of fathers, mothers, and religious leaders, as well as building girls' agency through formal education and livelihood training, is crucial to these efforts.”

Some of the most successful programs have enlisted traditional and religious leaders -- trusted members of society whose role is to protect the well-being of children. They are often best positioned to raise awareness, influence parents, and pave the way for change. USAID's extensive basic education program provides one of the surest ways of delaying child marriage by keeping girls in school. In FY 2009, for example, more than 23 million girls benefited from USAID programs in primary and secondary education. With an education, a girl's income potential increases and she is better prepared to contribute to the social, political, and economic life of her community. The panelists agreed that the programs with proven results need to be replicated and expanded in areas where the practice is most prevalent in order to accelerate sustainable change.

Every day, approximately 25,000 girls become child brides. It is estimated that one in seven girls in the developing world is married before she turns 15. Being forced to marry too young, increases a girl's chance that she will become pregnant before she is physically and psychologically ready. Problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of death for girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide. Girls forced into marriage inevitably must leave school -- their childhoods robbed, their education shortchanged, and their dreams for a future shattered. Beyond the obvious human rights concerns and health consequences of early marriage -- exposing girls to marital rape, domestic violence, high risk pregnancies, HIV/AIDS infection, and the risk of maternal mortality or obstetric fistula, the practice also poses serious implications for development. It is an issue that is inextricably linked to the cycle of poverty. Child marriage is the manifestation of the low status of women and girls in many societies, where the parents see no reason to educate or invest in their daughters, and where females are treated like commodities or chattel.

The briefing ended on a hopeful note, with the personal story of Kakenya Ntaiya, whose courage and inspiration is helping other girls and families choose education and girls' empowerment over early marriage. Growing up in the Masai Village in Kenya, her victory over child marriage is proof positive the social norms that enable the practice to flourish can and must be broken, and that education is key to making this change. Engaged at the age of five to be married upon reaching puberty, she spent her childhood being reminded that her husband “was waiting” for her. With the help of her mother, who wanted a better life for her daughter, Kakenya persevered, negotiated with her father to stay in school, and convinced her community elders that she should go to college. She not only became the first girl from her village to attend college, she is now, at the age of 32, working on her Ph.D., and has opened a school for girls in her home village. “I knew I would overcome,” she said. Indeed, with the Kakenya's School for Excellence, she is living her own dream of building a better future and is helping other girls “become what they dream to become.” ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/forced_early_marriage/ 2010-07-23T01:40:39+00:00 About the Author: Lizzie O'Rourke (on the far left of the above photo) is a Foreign Service Officer who recently completed a short assignment with the Office of Global Women's Issues.

I didn't plan to get involved with the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) -- I was just lucky. As a new Foreign Service Officer, I was assigned to a period of training following my swearing-in. For many new FSOs there are some extra days between the completion of initial training and departure for post. When that happens, our Career Development Office assigns us to offices at the State Department for on-the-job training (OJT) -- short-term stints that let us learn about the domestic workings of the Department before heading overseas. I received my OJT assignment prior to wrapping up my initial training, and started at S/GWI right after my training finished.

At first, I didn't know much about S/GWI's mission, and my lack of previous involvement with women's studies or gender issues made me wonder if I would be at a disadvantage. I soon realized, however, that this was not the case: the fast-moving pace of this office carried me with it, and I was quickly immersed in variety of projects. Part of that was due to the timing of my assignment, which could not have been better: I was assigned to the office in March, which is Women's History Month. March 8th is International Women's Day, a holiday our office celebrates with the International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards.

Preparations for the IWOC Awards program required some unexpected tasks -- most memorably, the chance to meet briefly with the First Lady -- and long hours. Yet nothing prepared me for the moment when the ten awardees shared their stories at a S/GWI-sponsored public forum, where they spoke frankly of their past struggles, which for some included imprisonment and torture. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend some time with them throughout the events; any language barriers were quickly broken by smiles, and eventually, hugs.

After the IWOC awards, two delegations of women leaders from Iraq and Afghanistan came to Washington on training programs coordinated in part by our office. The second delegation was composed of ten female diplomats in Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry. I learned at a lunch organized by S/GWI and Executive Women at State that these young Afghan women face many of the same challenges that women here at State do. After we discussed her passion for cricket, one new diplomat asked a 27-year veteran of the Foreign Service how American women handle their nomadic careers while simultaneously maintaining relationships and families. This is a question that is evidently very familiar to women in both diplomatic services.

It is easier to become conversant with women's issues when the evidence supporting this cause is so clear. When aid is distributed to women, their children, families, and neighbors benefit. I have learned that it is not enough to have a gender angle or bullet point when formulating foreign and assistance policy; incorporating women at every level is a strategic necessity. This seems obvious to me now; it didn't before this OJT assignment.

S/GWI's work is fundamental in nature: women's issues are human rights issues; and, as Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Verveer have said before, no nation can get ahead if half its population is left behind. It has been an incredible privilege to spend some time here, and I look forward to carrying the momentum of S/GWI's mission to my first post, in Accra, Ghana.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/seven_weeks_sgwi/ 2010-06-30T18:35:46+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

The second meeting of the “U.S.-India Women's Empowerment Dialogue” took place in Washington in early June. It provided an opportunity for both our governments to explore new ways of collaboration to further the social, political and economic empowerment of women in our countries. The dialogue also served to highlight how women are integral to all our key common issues, including security, the economy, education, health, and climate change.

During travels to India last November for the first U.S.-India Women's Empowerment Dialogue, I was particularly impressed by the cutting-edge work being done by NGOs and businesses. I spent some time with groups such as the Nanhi Kali project, an innovative girls' education public-private partnership project that targets certain underprivileged areas of the states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Nanhi Kali provides additional educational support for girls through tutoring and supplying books, materials and uniforms. This partnership serves as a unique example of the potential for fruitful collaboration among the government, the private sector, and NGOs. I was impressed, too, by a USAID-supported NGO project that uses the powerful medium of street performances to work with men to address violence against women. I saw a skit performed by men from the Rajasthan community that highlighted the negative impact of child sex selection, domestic violence and child marriage.

I also saw evidence of the Indian government's commitment to women's political empowerment, and particularly to their participation in local governance -- the panchayat level. The large numbers of women on village and municipal councils has brought considerable gains to a wide variety of public services and improvements to their communities. This program of women's inclusion has aptly been called the “silent revolution” in democratic decentralization. In addition, the enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence women have experienced as a result of their participation in local politics has led them to take on challenges in local public services -- from building wells to roads -- as well as to seek funds for education. Thus, the benefits to local women leaders have translated into benefits for entire communities and villages.

India's support for the advancement of women's economic opportunity is particularly innovative. The spread of self-help groups and microcredit have had a transformative impact on millions of people in India and have also been an example to the rest of the world. One of the key outcomes of this year's dialogue was an agreement to bring together a cross-section of Indian self-help groups with counterparts in the United States to share best practices in financial inclusion, economic development, and trade.

While in Washington, the Indian delegation visited several U.S. organizations running projects in key areas of interest to them. In learning ways to address domestic violence, they visited an intake center at the D.C. Superior Court that provided an example of how the police, civil society and judicial system are working together for the benefit of survivors. The delegation also visited a multilingual early childhood education center and a nonprofit retirement community that offered a continuum of care for the elderly.

We also agreed with our Indian counterparts to develop a joint venture to train Afghan women in the area of economic opportunity and build on the work already being done in Afghanistan by our two countries. Further, we discussed the need to explore more successful ways to address the global scourge of violence, to expand public-private partnerships, and other areas of mutual interest.

The momentum gained during the second dialogue will continue to focus on women's progress in both our countries. Together we will also work in partnership to advance women's development throughout the region. There is much we can learn from each other for the betterment of our societies and the world. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_u.s.-india_strategic_dialogue/ 2010-06-21T19:22:43+00:00 About the Author: Lauren Seyfried serves with the Population Team in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

Here I am three weeks into a summer internship, and I already attended a global conference with speakers and panelists of the international caliber and celebrity of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Melinda Gates, Ashley Judd and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. You are probably wondering -- how did I get here? That's the question I constantly asked myself over the course of the three-day Women Deliver Conference in Washington, DC. Basically, I lucked out with a great summer opportunity through my internship at the State Department.

The conference, officially titled "Delivering Solutions for Girls and Women," focused on international reproductive health and family planning issues. The sessions were jam-packed with international powerhouses of the women's reproductive health and development world -- ranging from international NGOs, such as CARE, to global leaders like Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). All of these organizations and individuals came together in Washington to debate, discuss, critique, and celebrate the progress and pitfalls of global efforts to improve maternal and child health and increase access to family planning and reproductive health services for women everywhere.

Special note should be given to the male attendees of the event who have brought useful and enlightening perspectives on critical issues pertaining to men's roles in successful family planning and the future of gender equality. These men have also remained good sports -- Yvonne Chaka Chaka, South Africa's famous pop singer and gender advocate, began the first day by claiming: "All of us in this room are men, but some of us are well organized men. We are women." She then ended the opening panel with an inspiring song about the strength of the world's women, providing an upbeat energy to the conference.

Participants of the conference were well aware of the sobering magnitude of the work yet to be done in this field, and one of the main themes that resonated throughout the conference is the need for committed political leadership on these critical issues. The message cannot be ignored; political will is essential to accessing the resources necessary to meet the Millennium Development Goals -- particularly MDG #5, which is focused on the improvement of maternal health.

The conference also reminded participants of the U.S. commitment to making women's health a priority. Through the Obama Administration's Global Health Initiative (GHI) the United States will invest $63 billion over six years to help partner countries improve health outcomes through strengthened health systems -- with a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns and children through programs including infectious disease, nutrition, maternal and child health, and safe water.

In spite of the obstacles, a positive, concurrent theme also has emerged from the conference: the acknowledgement of successes, whether these be small, like helping a mother of six gain access to family planning services, or large, such as the Gates Foundation's commitment of $1.5 billion to maternal and child health. These victories must be told here and continue to be told to the international community in order to exemplify and celebrate the improvements being made for the lives of the world's women by the international actors, advocates and leaders present at this conference.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_deliver_conference/ 2010-06-15T16:03:47+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

Working for women's economic, political, and social equality includes, periodically, taking stock of our global progress. I had the opportunity on June 9 to discuss that progress with a bipartisan group of U.S. congressmen and congresswomen, when I testified on “Women as Agents of Change,” before the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight.

The undeniable trend we see today in women's political participation is toward greater inclusion. Women are entering the field of government -- and rising to leadership positions -- in increasing numbers. However, this progress is not evenly spread around the globe, and the gains that still need to be made for parity to be achieved are still vast: at more than 50 percent of the planet's population, women hold less than 20 percent of the positions in the world's governments. Their voices are missing from global decision-making, and all of us are missing the benefit of their talents, perspectives, and experiences.

Changing this dynamic by investing in women is a central pillar of U.S. foreign policy. Women need leadership training programs to be effective candidates, whether at the local or national level, and -- through programs such as those of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs -- we are providing that. Women need exposure to professional networks for mentoring and entrepreneurial training, and -- through programs such as those of the Middle East Partnership Initiative -- we are providing that. Women need the know-how of strong local NGOs, and -- through programs such as my office's recently-launched small grants initiatives, I'm very happy to say that we are on the way to providing that.

It is the women themselves who are doing the hardest work: getting an education despite threats and poverty; voting no matter how long a walk to the poll; and earning places in government no matter how deeply entrenched cultural attitudes are against them. All over the world, they are changing minds and making a difference. Our task is to support them and to encourage this pace of change and movement toward parity to accelerate: the scope of the challenges we face today means that we owe it to future generations to cultivate innovative solutions and democratic leadership everywhere around the world, among women and girls no less than men and boys.

Read Ambassador Verveer's Congressional testimony here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_agents_change/ 2010-06-11T16:39:22+00:00 About the Author: Kim D'Auria-Vazira serves on the Population Team in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration

If you screen it, will they come?

Women living in conflict-affected settings face dire consequences every day when they don't have access to critical reproductive health care and services. If policy makers and relief organizations better understood this essential need, would they do more about it?

This was our hope last week. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) Eric Schwartz hosted a screening of the film, Grace Under Fire, which followed Dr. Grace Kodindo, an obstetrician from Chad, as she visited North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to document the urgent sexual and reproductive health needs of conflict-affected populations. Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero delivered opening remarks. Following the film screening, Susan Reichle, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for USAID's Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Office, shared information about the need to better integrate reproductive health in crisis planning "so that it's not an afterthought." Finally, the highlight of the event was a panel discussion chaired by Assistant Secretary Schwartz with Dr. Kodindo and other subject matter experts to examine the factors that complicate the provision of these essential services.

In his remarks, Assistant Secretary Schwartz said that the United States is communicating within our own government and with our international partners that sexual and reproductive health care are frontline priorities in complex emergency settings, to be included along with other life-saving interventions in emergencies, such water and sanitation, shelter and nutrition. He opened the discussion by asking the panelists and the audience both "Are we doing enough?” and “What more should be done, and can be done to address the consequences of the lack of access to reproductive health services in conflict- affected areas?” Dr. Kodindo spoke compellingly about the realities of motherhood, reproductive health and family well-being in war-torn settings -- her compassion as she travelled around the Congo and interviewed survivors of rape and war was deeply moving and humbling. The film brought to life how sexual violence and the use of rape as a tool of conflict are terribly effective at demoralizing and debilitating individuals, families, and communities.

Two local representatives from international NGO-supported projects joined the panel. Dr. Boubacar Toure from the DRC and Clarence Massequoi from Liberia shared insights into which humanitarian responses work best (community based interventions with strong local involvement) and which do not (those that don't incorporate international service standards).

The Chief of the UN Population Fund's (UNFPA) Washington Office, Sarah Craven, gave her perspective as a representative of an international organization that works with donors and policy makers, and knows too well the obstacles and gaps created by bureaucracies and the logistical challenges of meeting reproductive health needs in conflict-affected settings.

The auditorium was full of colleagues from the State Department, USAID, NGOs, universities and the private sector, and the event left a strong impression on everyone in the audience. Seeing Grace Under Fire and meeting Dr. Kodindo encouraged us all to renew our commitment to raising awareness about the lack of reproductive health in crisis settings -- and to work together to implement more effective strategies to address the gaps in our efforts to provide reproductive health care in conflict-affected and humanitarian settings once and for all. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/reproductive_health_care/ 2010-06-10T16:24:28+00:00 About the Author: Ralph Falzone serves as the Director of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Regional Office Abu Dhabi.

With funding provided by the U.S. State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the University of Michigan-Dearborn's College of Engineering and Computer Science and its partner, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), held a training workshop for women working in the science and engineering fields. The workshop, "Association Building and International Research Collaboration for MENA Women in Science and Engineering,” held in Abu Dhabi May 3-4, 2010, “was designed to help women from the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region expand their collaborative efforts with their regional colleagues as well as foster partnerships with counterparts in the United States.” Read more about the workshop here.

Representing MEPI, I had the opportunity to speak on two of the panels at the event. We discussed the many challenges MENA women must overcome in order to create organizations that enable them to achieve their maximum potential as scientists and engineers. These challenges include the lack of not-for-profit legal frameworks in many MENA countries, the difficulties in obtaining funding, and like the United States, the need for better promotion of critical thinking and science literacy in primary and secondary schools. The creation of more effective women's organizations will foster a better support system to help women be successful in a traditionally male-dominated field, as well as facilitate the collaboration necessary to match pressing research issues with the proper resources.

The proportion of women who are entering the fields of science and engineering is sharply increasing in the Middle East, and in many areas, exceeds that of the United States. Soon, 40 percent of the science and engineering jobs in the UAE will be filled by women, and in many ministries across the region, 70 percent or more of the scientists are women. This workshop reinforced the need for women, not only in the Middle East region, but throughout the world, to have the necessary tools to succeed in the fields of science and technology that will help solve the problems of today and tomorrow. Workshops, such as this most recent one in Abu Dhabi, are critical in fostering the partnerships that will ensure both continued scientific progress and progress for women in the workplace.

This workshop built on the success of the groundbreaking 2007 International Conference of Science, Technology and Engineering in Kuwait that brought together 270 women scientists from 18 Arab countries and Turkey, and a 31-member U.S. delegation of women leaders. The conference galvanized a large number of regional activities, including this one.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/partnerships_women_science_middle_east/ 2010-05-24T19:44:07+00:00
"I am delighted to be meeting with these women because the Afghan Government has made very important contributions and commitments to the dialogue between our two countries. And at every step along the way, the roles and rights of women has been remembered and included. We know that women are central to long-term stability and our strategy to promote security, good governance, and economic and social development inside Afghanistan.

"The United States will continue to target assistance to women in areas ranging from girls' education, to better health services, particularly maternal health, to protecting women from violence, to enhancing their roles in agriculture and the economy.

"I appreciate the fact that many women in Afghanistan are concerned about what reintegration and reconciliation will mean for them. It is essential -- I have said this in London, I have said this in the United States, I will say this again at the Kabul conference -- it is essential that women's rights and women's opportunities are not sacrificed or trampled on in the reconciliation process. I pledged to President Karzai that we would not abandon Afghanistan in its quest for peace and long-term stability, and we will not.

"And I make the same pledge to the women of Afghanistan. We will not abandon you. We will stand with you always. I am so impressed and admiring of the contributions that women have made in all of Afghanistan's history, but particularly in recent history and especially in the last years. And I will be their partner and their supporter as they continue to make improvements in their lives and the lives of their children and families. Thank you very much."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_stability_afghanistan/ 2010-05-14T04:04:37+00:00 About the Author: Eric Goosby serves as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator.

Last week, I had the privilege of announcing the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief's (PEPFAR) additional $30 million commitment to scale-up efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV) in the countries we support, with a particular focus on Mozambique, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I had the opportunity to share the news of this increase at a Consultation on Scaling up the Response to Gender-based Violence in PEPFAR. This two-day conference brought together a wide range of international experts and representatives from partner governments, civil society, and the PEPFAR teams from the three countries to discuss the state of the art of GBV programs and interventions, including the most recent research, practical implications for scale-up, programming challenges and monitoring and evaluation. This platform provides a strong information base and starting point for country teams as they focus on GBV.

Gender inequalities fuel the spread of HIV/AIDS. Gender-based violence, in particular, directly promotes the spread of HIV/AIDS by limiting women's ability to negotiate sexual practices, disclose HIV status, and access medical services and counseling due to fear of GBV.

As a key component of President Obama's Global Health Initiative (GHI), which explicitly embraces a woman- and girl-centered approach to health issues, PEPFAR is working to reaffirm and expand its focus on women and girls in the context of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care. This $30 million initiative is one way that we are doing so.

PEPFAR's increased GBV response will build upon the existing PEPFAR platforms in these three countries, working to increase the reach, coordination, and efficacy of GBV programs. Our hope is that this initiative will move us closer to our goal of sustainable GBV responses by moving small, pilot projects to tailored, coordinated and integrated national responses.

To ensure this, we will strengthen our current partnerships with governments, non-governmental organizations and civil society in Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as other countries in which we work. We will also support comprehensive GBV response packages for victims of violence at health facilities, increase GBV prevention programs to address the underlying causes of violence, and improve linkages with other sectors and addressing policy and address structural barriers. PEPFAR will partner with countries and build synergies both across U.S. Government agencies and other partners that focus on GBV-related development issues, such as education, reproductive health, democracy and governance, and economic growth. As we move to expand the reach of programs to fight gender-based violence, we will strengthen our monitoring and evaluation efforts to ensure that interventions implemented are effective and contribute to the broader global effort

Based on my observations in the field, we tackle GBV if we are to win the battle against HIV/AIDS. PEPFAR is committed to targeted and comprehensive responses to gender-based violence, and we will work with our partner countries to meet this goal.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/gbv_aids/ 2010-05-13T02:19:16+00:00 About the Author: Ruth Bennett serves as the Public Affairs Advisor for the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI).

How do you spread a message about ending violence and discrimination against women in a society in which approximately half the people can't read or write? If you're Digital Democracy, you do it by supplying women with cameras -- and, more importantly, by supplying them with training and education about the power of images.

As Digital Democracy co-director Emily Jacobi explained at the May 10 #HaitiTech Meet Up at the State Department, building on Haiti's rich oral storytelling traditions makes sense on a number of levels: not only do the women produce compelling documentation of the problems they face as they struggle to rebuild their lives -- documentation that can help the international donor community better understand how to direct their efforts -- but the simple act of achieving mastery in a new skill can bolster the women's self-confidence and help them find their voice in other areas.

Women in Haiti are bearing a double burden from the January earthquake: not only did they lose their homes and their loved ones, but they also face sexual violence in temporary shelter camps and men's demands to exchange sex for food and other necessities for themselves and their families. Disruptions in policing and governance leave them particularly vulnerable among a traumatized population.

Building Haiti "back better" means including Haitian women as full and equal contributors at every point in the process. Some much-needed programs operate on a large-scale level -- for example, Coca-Cola launched the Haiti Hope line of mango juice in March, after the Office of Global Women's Issues connected them with Danielle Sant Lot, a former minister of commerce in Haiti. The initiative will give employment to 50,000 farmers -- many of them women -- over the next five years. Other programs, such as those of Digital Democracy, focus on strengthening the individual, and giving them back a sense of control and the ability to be heard. With the help of both types of initiatives, operating in tandem, Haitian women have a greater opportunity to participate in the decisions that affect their country's future.

See Related Entries: #HaitiTech MeetUp @StateDept: Using Technology to Build a Better Haiti and Lessons Learned from the Haiti Text Campaign]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/haiti_tech_women/ 2010-05-11T00:42:10+00:00 About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues.

No matter where in the world that I travel, I'm always impressed by two things: one, that so many people recognize that a nation's progress can be measured by the rights and freedoms that its women enjoy, and, two, that so many people want to help improve the lives of women and girls.

We at the Office of Global Women's Issues are administering two exciting new initiatives that will make it possible for people all over the world to make a real and concrete difference in the lives of women and girls.

These initiatives recognize that good ideas come from everywhere: from people of all ages, from everywhere in the world, from small communities and urban centers. The hard part has always been to make sure that these good ideas connect with the resources necessary to make them a reality. This is exactly what the Secretary's Innovation Award for the Empowerment of Women and Girls to do. We all know the challenges, hardships, and inequalities women and girls face, no matter where they live. What the Innovation Award does is pose the question: what's your solution? Send us a concept paper telling us how it works. Thanks to the generosity of the Rockefeller Foundation, the innovators with the best two proposals (recommended by an esteemed jury) will receive up to $500,000 each with which to take their projects to scale.

Of course, there are a number of non-governmental organizations around the world that are already hard at work on removing obstacles to women's equality. They bring a level of local knowledge and expertise to tackling these problems that's invaluable, and our partnerships with them are crucial. To help support the work they do, we've instituted the Secretary's International Fund for Women Girls. The Women's Fund focuses on six topics: political and economic empowerment, access to health care and education, combating violence against women, and ensuring that women are equal partners in the fight against climate change. Donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations will enable the organizations that have been successful in these areas to continue -- and to expand -- their good work.

Working towards women's equality is one of the most effective and efficient means of improving international development, stability, and security. Innovative ideas and much-needed support to NGOs that are making a difference will lift families and entire communities out of poverty, rescue women and girls from violence, and let individuals contribute their full talents and potential to their societies. Women's progress is human progress. We hope you participate in these new initiatives and encourage others to do so as well.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/womens_initiatives/ 2010-04-29T18:21:11+00:00 Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship. Secretary Clinton said:

"[W]omen are doers and achievers and thinkers and innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers. And we need each and every one of you to lend your entrepreneurial skill and energy to meeting the global challenges of this new century.

"As I said yesterday, President Obama is committed to promoting entrepreneurship to help seed conditions for broader and deeper economic progress. And this week's summit has focused on our efforts in Muslim majority countries. I know and you know that women are essential to this effort. There isn't any way we can increase peace, prosperity, stability, and security throughout the world unless women are full partners -- full partners in the home and the family, full partners in the community and the country and the world."

Read the Secretary's full remarks here.

"I believe so strongly that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. And what we're doing is trying to pry open those doors of opportunity for more people to walk through -- more people in Muslim majority countries and more women, specifically. Because the fact is that women still have a harder time accessing loans and equity capital investments. Women are still saddled with unfair and untrue assumptions that they are less capable of starting and running businesses. And these obstacles exist in the United States and they exist in every country in the world.

"But we are determined to change that. Making women a focus of our foreign policy agenda here at the State Department comes naturally to me, but it's not only the right thing to do; it is also the smart thing as well. Because as Melanne said, we believe that the evidence is overwhelming. We cannot expect countries to increase their economic standing in a sustainable way. We cannot expect there to be greater foundations built for security, democracy, opportunity, unless women are at the table."

Read the Secretary's full remarks here.

Related Entry: Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks at Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_entrepreneurs/ 2010-04-29T00:54:49+00:00 About the Author: Lida Noory is a program analyst for the Iraqi Women's Democracy Initiative in the Office of Global Women's Issues.

Recently, the world watched as Iraq held national elections, and now it eagerly awaits the formation of a government. Female political leaders in Iraq persevere, often at the risk of their lives, in ensuring they have an active role in decision-making at the national and provincial levels. For two weeks, I had the extraordinary opportunity to closely interact with 15 of these remarkable people.

Through the Office of Global Women's Issues, a delegation of Provincial Council leaders visited Washington, DC for a capacity-building training program. They met with several senior State Department officials, Members of Congress, state legislators, think tanks and NGOs.

Together, the delegation represented eight provinces and governorates, including Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, Maysan, Najaf, Salah ad-Din, Kirkuk and Dhi-Qar. All the visitors were influential women leaders in their communities and either members or chairs of provincial committees on Human Rights, Health and Environment, Public Relations, Woman and Children, Public Services, Disabilities, Economic and Essential Services, and Transportation and Communications.

For nearly all of the delegates, this was their first visit to the United States and the first time they had met one another. As they began talking, it was immediately clear to me that they came from different backgrounds and held very different opinions and political views and favored different approaches. It was also very evident, however, as they shared their experiences not only as politicians but also as mothers, sisters, and daughters that each had endured tremendous adversity and suffered through unimaginable experiences. Out of their diversity, one common element gradually emerged over the course of the two weeks: they were all determined, dedicated, strong and resilient leaders, who had traveled far from their familiar surroundings in order to tell Americans about the capabilities of Iraqi women, to learn from their meetings in the United States, and to learn from each other.

And that they most certainly did. In meeting after meeting, they crossed cultural barriers and honed in on the commonalities women face of overcoming critics and meeting challenges. For those of us who accompanied them, this was as much of a learning experience for us as it was for them. They inspired everyone they met.

On the final day, as each reflected upon the journey spent in the United States, they agreed this was not the end, rather the beginning -- the beginning of new ideas, understandings, and relationships. One woman who'd become the unofficial spokesperson for the group put it simply, "We all came here leaving our home in Iraq, but are returning with 14 new homes."

For four of the delegates, the new networks of support, both at home and abroad, could not have come at a better time: during their visit, the news came in that they would return to their communities as newly-elected parliamentarians.

Related Entry: The Unwavering Spirit of Iraqi Women]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/iraqi_women_leaders/ 2010-04-21T16:46:23+00:00 About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as Editorial Assistant to DipNote.

On Tuesday, March 23, I had the opportunity to attend an extraordinary program, “The Role of Iraqi Women in the Art of Diplomacy.” The program highlighted the strength of Iraqi women and showed the common bonds that transcend culture barriers to unite all women. A crowd of around 75 individuals, composed of State Department employees, non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives, and others, witnessed a panel of four proud Iraqi women tell their remarkable stories of determination and courage.

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer provided the opening remarks and set the tone for the U.S. Diplomacy Center and Office of Global Women's Issues-sponsored event. Ambassador Verveer reminded us that “no country can prosper if half its citizens are left behind.” She then introduced the Iraqi Ambassador to the United States, Samir Sumaidaie.

Prior to becoming ambassador, Sumaidaie served as the Minister of the Interior and as the First Permanent Representative of the New Iraq to the United Nations. The Ambassador emphasized the unstoppable spirit of Iraqi women. He also spoke of the need to increase women's participation in Iraqi politics. He said, “We cannot fight or flourish without women.”

Following the Ambassador's remarks, Aaron Snipe, a Foreign Service Officer in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the moderator of the event, introduced the visiting panelists. As a member of a Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in Iraq, Snipe had the opportunity to work with female artists in Muthanna in 2008. Snipe's PRT team, in conjunction with a local non-governmental organization, sponsored an art program art program for the women artists of Muthanna. The program, which captured local and national media attention in Iraq, provided an often-neglected part of Iraqi society the opportunity to freely display their talents for the first time. Snipe said, “The paintings represent courage, freedom of expression, hope, dreams, and a desire to be heard.”

The stories of the panelists vividly demonstrated all of those qualities. The panelists are part of the delegation of 15 Iraqi female Provincial Council members visiting Washington from March 13-27. They hail from eight provinces and represent a wide variety of issues: human rights, health and environment, public relations, women and children, public services, the handicapped, economic and essential services, and transportation and communications.

Regardless of the apparent differences and interests among the panelists, it is clear that each Iraqi woman strives to advance women's rights. Despite the difficulties and challenges they confront, their spirit is unwavering and their work will continue to improve the lives of all Iraqis.

Related Entries: Through Their Paintings, Everyone Will Know Their Stories and The Colors of Warka Debuts in Washington]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/spirit_of_iraqi_women/ 2010-04-01T18:06:21+00:00 About the Author: Priscilla Linn is the Curator for the U.S. Diplomacy Center.

When Zimbabwean Jestina Mukoko could no longer tolerate the abuse of human rights in her country, she founded Zimbabwe Peace Project to speak out against politically motivated abuses of human rights. Because of this, she spent months in prison. For her tireless work on behalf of human rights in Zimbabwe, this year Jestina earned one of 10 International Women of Courage Awards. During the awards ceremony held at the State Department, Jestina spoke on behalf of all the recipients. Read the remarks here.

But why the photo of Jestina standing by an exhibit case in the State Department's Exhibit Hall? The answer begins when the U.S. Diplomacy Center commemorated Women's History Month by displaying the scarf pictured here. This was not just any scarf; it is an emblem of courage, formerly belonging to Jestina's Zimbabwean friend and colleague in the battle for justice, Jenni Williams.

Jenni was among the first recipients of the IWOC award in 2007. She founded WOZA, "Women of Zimbabwe Arise,” basing her strategy on the non-violent teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Like Jestina, Jenni spent days in the degrading conditions of prison for speaking out, having been arrested more than 50 times, but nevertheless continuing to protest peacefully. Today, more than 75,000 women belong to WOZA.

When Jestina stood by the scarf that represents WOZA, she explained that the two sit on the same UN human rights board. Today, we preserve the scarf for posterity in our collections, knowing it is a perpetual reminder of the extraordinary work real individuals can accomplish. Good fortune has brought us two stories connected to the scarf -- Jenni's and Jestina's. And what powerful stories they are -- summoned to life by a strip of black and white cloth.

Read more about the meaning of the scarf and the courageous work of Jenni Williams and see more photos of WOZA in action at USDC's website.

Related Entry: International Women of Courage Awards]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_human_rights/ 2010-03-29T18:49:32+00:00 About the Author: Robert D. Hormats serves as Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs.

Yesterday, I joined Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer of the Global Women's Issues, Assistant Secretary Jose Fernandez of the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, and Special Representative Lorraine Harriton of the Office of Commercial and Business Affairs (CBA) at the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Award Luncheon. We presented awards to leading American corporations supporting women-owned enterprises. These 21 companies have made a priority of bringing in thousands of women-owned business into their supply chains.

Empowering women in commerce isn't just the right thing to do, it's also good business. These efforts help to promote the innovation, creativity, entrepreneurism, and expand opportunities that strengthen our economy.

The attendees were very receptive to the President's National Export Initiative, which will make it easier for businesses like theirs to thrive. Many of them will look to us in the CBA, and other agencies like the Small Business Administration (SBA) to find more certified women-owned enterprises overseas.

Through our work with the WBENC and WEConnect International, we can help sustain opportunities for women-owned businesses to grow at home and abroad.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/commerce_empowering_women/ 2010-03-26T13:27:04+00:00 About the Author: Nicole Peacock serves as the Public Outreach Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs.

On March 9, 2010, Rebecca Lolosoli received the Vital Voices 2010 Global Leadership Award for her efforts to end violence against women in her Kenyan community. Lolosoli, a Vital Voices Global Partnership Alumna, met with representatives from the Bureau of African Affairs to discuss her work on behalf of Kenyan women.

Lolosoli's empathy for widows and children compelled her to speak out on behalf of victims of rape, forced marriage, female genital cutting, and homelessness. In the 1990s, she too became homeless. Determined to improve the lives of others facing similar situations, Lolosoli and 15 other women created the Umoja Uaso Women's Organization in the Samburu District of Kenya.

Since the program's establishment, Umoja Uaso has become a refuge for women who refused to tolerate the cattle raids, gender-based and sexual violence, lack of property rights, and more recently the impact of small arms. The program has become both a sanctuary and a training center for those seeking to promote human rights and economic empowerment, and it promotes the preservation of indigenous art and crafts.

Lolosoli's efforts to empower the women of Umoja have resulted in their ability to provide for their children and themselves through the sale of their beaded jewelry and crafts. Under Lolosoli's leadership, the Umoja Organization has inspired change in surrounding communities. Lolosoli continues to inspire change as she works to promote women's rights and create opportunities to empower women.

To find out more about Rebecca Lolosoli and other Vital Voices 2010 Global Leadership Awards recipients, click here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/kenyan_woman_efforts/ 2010-03-18T18:18:01+00:00 About the Author: Aaron Snipe is a Foreign Service Officer who worked with the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Muthanna Province, Iraq.

For many of my Foreign Service colleagues who volunteered to serve in Iraq, our service was a transformational experience. Long hours, meaningful work, and friendships forged in the crucible of war make Iraq a most unique diplomatic assignment. Many of us who served on Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) developed friendships with local Iraqi officials, tribal leaders, religious leaders, university students, and every-day citizens. For some, these connections will always endure as cherished memories. Yet for others, finding ways to keep in touch with Iraqis still in Iraq remains an important part of our experience.

Frequent DipNote readers may recall my blogs last year about an art exhibit I worked on when I was serving on a PRT in Muthanna Province. Our PRT, in conjunction with a local non-governmental organization, sponsored an art program for the women artists of Muthanna. The event was a great local success and received national media coverage in Iraq. In this small art exhibit in rural Iraq, we'd achieved our objectives: State Department-led civilian engagement with the citizens of one of Iraq's most conservative provinces; support of Iraqi civil society; preservation of Iraqi culture; and the amplification of the voices of an important demographic in Iraqi society -- women. Though, at the time, I wondered: Was there more we could do to strengthen the voices of these artists? The citizens of Muthanna enjoyed the paintings, but could the stories of these women reach beyond Iraq's borders -- through more than a few blogs on DipNote?

On March 8, in celebration of International Women's Day, I had an opportunity to answer these questions by helping carry the stories of these brave women artists beyond Muthanna's borders all the way to State Department headquarters in Washington. The U.S. Diplomacy Center in cooperation with PRT Muthanna and the Department's Office of Global Women's Issues, brought The Colors of Warka art exhibit to Washington for Women's History Month. I knew the paintings and the artists well, and their stories are those I've told over and over again in blogs, in memos, in meetings, in briefings, to friends and family, and to anyone who would listen. Their stories of courage, of struggle, of success and of hope inspired me, and to see their art gracing the walls of a diplomatic reception hall in Washington made those of us who were there at the creation so very proud. When we came up with the idea for this program, we thought it would begin and end in Muthanna. Yet, here in Washington more than a year later, the stories of these women continue to resonate with audiences.

A few days ago, the world watched the citizens of Iraq raise their ink-dipped, purple fingers in triumph in a national election where Iraqis exercised not only the right to vote, but the right to express themselves. So, too, had the women of Muthanna raised their paint-dipped brushes to express themselves. At the exhibition's first opening in Muthanna, more than a year ago, one of the artists whispered to a friend, “Through our paintings, everyone will know our stories. They will know who we are.”

How right she was.

Related Entry: The Colors of Warka Debuts in Washington]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/warka_women_stories/ 2010-03-17T19:15:34+00:00 International Women's Day, the annual award recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights and women's advancement.

Secretary Clinton announced the 10 winners of this year's International Women of Courage (IWOC) award: Shukria Asil (Afghanistan), Col. Shafiqa Quraishi (Afghanistan), Androula Henriques (Cyprus), Sonia Pierre (Dominican Republic), Shadi Sadr (Iran), Ann Njogu (Kenya), Dr. Lee Ae-ran (Republic of Korea), Jansila Majeed (Sri Lanka), Sister Marie Claude Naddaf (Syria), and Jestina Mukoko (Zimbabwe). Read more about the honorees here.

Secretary Clinton said, "Now today once again, we are honoring women from around the world who have endured isolation and intimidation, violence and imprisonment. Many have even risked their lives to advance justice, freedom, and equal rights for everyone. Their stories remind us of how much work there is left to do before the rights and dignity of all people -- no matter who you are or where you live -- are respected and protected by the world's governments. But these women prove that change is possible. They are brave and they are making a difference, and they are up against powerful interests determined to bring them down. By honoring them today, the United States and the Obama Administration sends a very clear message that though they may work in lonely circumstances, they are not alone. We are standing with you." Read the Secretary's full remarks here.

Andrea Jung, Chairwoman and CEO of Avon, and Reese Witherspoon, Avon's global ambassador, also participated in the ceremony. The Avon Foundation is contributing half a million dollars to the Secretary of State's Fund for Global Women's Leadership. This $500,000 grant will provide funds for NGOs that work on domestic and gender violence issues around the world.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/iwoc_awards_2010/ 2010-03-10T19:36:34+00:00 About the Authors: Elizabeth Timberlake serves as Political Officer on the Afghanistan Desk and covers women's issues and human rights. Saba Ghori serves as South and Central Asia Specialist and Violence Against Women Advisor for the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, and covers the countries of South and Central Asia, including Afghanistan.

Women are essential to progress and stability in Afghanistan. This is a critical point that is addressed in depth by the U.S. government's revised Afghanistan and Pakistan Regional Stabilization Strategy. This strategy incorporates women into every aspect of our programs and engagement. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on February 23, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer underscored this, saying "women and girls represent one of the most powerful -- but underused -- forces that we have to advance security, stability, and development in Afghanistan. Ambassador Verveer also stated that "our Afghanistan and Pakistan Regional Stabilization Strategy recognizes women as agents of positive change" and key to "our efforts to strengthen Afghan communities' capacity to withstand the threat posed by extremism. It establishes women's empowerment as critical to unleashing the full economic potential of the Afghan people."

The women's plan focuses on sustaining and expanding critical gains in women's rights by focusing on women's security and peace-building; women's leadership in the public and private sector; women's access to judicial institutions, education, and health services; and women's ability to take advantage of economic opportunities, especially in the agricultural sector. For example, U.S. government programs partner with the Afghan government to expand women's role in animal husbandry and commercial agriculture; thanks to these types of initiatives, chicken egg production is now a sustainable enterprise for a number of Afghan women.

Senator Barbara Boxer expressed concerns about Afghan-led reintegration of the Taliban into Afghanistan society and government and asked for reassurance that the laws designed to protect women would be enforced and that women would have a seat at the table -- whether in the Peace Jirga or in other discussions and deliberations -- in charting the future of Afghanistan. Dr. Sima Samar, Chair of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, and Rachel Reid, Afghan Researcher at Human Rights Watch, also testified before the committee, emphasizing the need to consult with women as this process moves forward.

These voices from the Hill, the NGO community and directly from Afghan women are a reminder that reintegration initiatives must recognize the right of Afghan women to have a voice in policy processes that impact their daily lives. President Obama emphasized in his 2010 State of the Union Address that our policies in Afghanistan reflect our national values and "support the rights of all Afghans -- men and women alike." Safeguarding women's rights, while also ensuring women have a voice in critical discussions about Afghanistan's future, is a top U.S. priority. We will not compromise our values on this issue. Afghanistan cannot prosper if half its citizens are left behind.

Read the full strategy here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/commitment_afghan_women/ 2010-03-10T01:48:19+00:00 About the Author: Kristin M. Kane is a Public Diplomacy Officer in the Bureau of International Organization (IO) Affairs. She is attending CSW as part of the USUN-New York Press and Public Diplomacy team.

When I walked into Conference Room 4 of the Secretariat at the United Nations, I knew right away that this was not going to be a typical UN panel discussion. Seated at the head of the table was a woman with short-cropped, platinum blonde hair in a bright red shirt with bold white letters spelling "HIV Positive." She was singer Annie Lennox, formerly of the Eurythmics. The moderator, UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr. Michel Sidibe, opened up the session on a "Call for Action on Women, Girls, Gender, Equality, and HIV" by showing Annie Lennox's video "Sing" which she filmed in South Africa as part of her "Sing Campaign" after having been greatly inspired by Nelson Mandela. The video shows Lennox walking through villages, arm-in-arm with South African women and also playing with new babies in health centers and orphanages. South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV and AIDS in the world -- 28 percent of pregnant women, according to one recent study.

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer was on the panel -- just the first of three side events she was to participate in the day, not to mention a number of meetings as well as a hearing on rape and violence by a group of Burmese village women. It seemed that there was no limit to the number of important events going on at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). It was difficult to be present at all of them, but Ambassador Verveer was certainly doing her best.

The panel was interesting not only because of Annie Lennox's star presence but also due to her impassioned pleas to better understand the role of women and HIV/AIDS. She opened the session by asking the audience, "You and I understand, but when you walk out into these streets of Manhattan, do people realize the effect that HIV and AIDS is having on women?" The audience shook their heads in frustration, and many called out "No!" As a woman and a mother, Lennox wants to "find effective and creative ways" to let people know that women are at the forefront of HIV/AIDS, to help reduce the stigma of the disease in places like South Africa and to make sure that male leaders better understand what is required to truly fight the pandemic.

The other panelists also brought forth unique and compelling arguments on how important it is to better integrate women into the global effort to fight HIV/AIDS. Indonesian activist Suksma Ratri is a leading voice for human rights in Asia because of her unique status -- she is an openly HIV-positive woman in a Muslim-majority country who has a HIV-negative daughter and more interestingly, an HIV-negative partner. (Ratri contracted HIV from her former husband who was abusive and did not inform her of his status.) Ratri spoke of the shock and even rage of people when they hear her situation -- yet as a woman, as a human being, she refuses to give up her inherent rights.

Ambassador Verveer talked about President Obama's new Global Health Initiative as one that is "women-centric" and uses an integrated model to addressing global health problems -- we can't silo women from health issues just as we can't silo HIV/AIDS from global security issues. Most importantly, she spoke of the importance of reminding the world that "the face of this pandemic is a woman's face."

Related Entry: Commission on the Status of Women Annual Meeting Opens in New York]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/a_call_for_action_women/ 2010-03-04T19:16:00+00:00 About the Author: Kristin M. Kane is a Public Diplomacy Officer for the Bureau of International Organization (IO) Affairs. She is attending CSW as part of the USUN-New York Press and Public Diplomacy team.

After the recent pounding of snow on New York City, at Monday's opening of the 2010 Commission on the Status of Women, or CSW, the sun was shining, the sky was bright, and the first day of March almost felt like the first day of a new season. Indeed, women who had come from around the world for the annual CSW meeting and side events arrived at the United Nations headquarters dressed in colorful clothing and wearing confident and contagious smiles, eager to take on the challenges of the world -- specifically, the pervasive challenge of the gender gap.

The line to get UN access badges wound around the corner, a seeming showing of the ambitions of those who have come to this international arena to make progress on women's rights -- through the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), through the UN-sanctioned Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and through a multitude of national, local and other initiatives.

As a member of the U.S. delegation on only my second day here, the message I am getting loud and clear from other conference attendees is “We are so happy to work with the U.S. Government.” By naming the first ever Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues, President Obama has raised the status of women as fundamental to our national security. In discussing the globe's current challenges on stability, governance, the environment, and economic development, Ambassador At Large Melanne Verveer states, “We won't succeed unless women are fully participating in the life of their societies.”

Ambassador Verveer spoke to a packed room of mostly, but not all, women non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives at the U.S. Mission here in New York; this was the first of four encounters with NGOs that the U.S. Mission is arranging to make sure that our government takes advantage of the knowledge and ideas of our non-governmental partners. Ambassador Verveer explained her efforts to ensure that women's issues, which are often distinct from the ones men face, are placed at the forefront of many of the global challenges of today: Giving the example of food security to a number of nodding heads, Ambassador Verveer emphasized that 60 -- 80% of small farmers are women, so achieving food security can only work if it considers and reflects the unique hurdles that women must overcome.

Despite some horrific abuse of women going on around the world, the Office of Global Women's Issues and the many domestic and international partners gathering here in New York this week are not looking for sympathy; these meetings are not occasions to portray women as victims. Rather, the goal is to make the world understand that women are problem solvers. They are, in fact, the solution.
President Obama understands this, Ambassador Verveer proudly tells the women gathered at the U.S. Mission and refers to the President's commitment to the MDGs, including MDG #3 -- promote gender equality and empower women -- as perhaps the central one to spur all of the others. “Women grow GDP,” Ambassador Verveer states. It is as simple as that.

The U.S. delegation and the other governmental delegations here, NGO groups, civil society representatives, and others, will be working to make sure that the message is heard loud and clear.

Related Entry: A Call for Action on Women, Girls, Gender, Equality, and HIV]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/2010_csw_annual_meeting/ 2010-03-02T22:08:08+00:00
The awardees are: Shukria Asil (Afghanistan), Col. Shafiqa Quraishi (Afghanistan), Androula Henriques (Cyprus), Sonia Pierre (Dominican Republic), Shadi Sadr (Iran), Ann Njogu (Kenya), Dr. Lee Ae-ran (Republic of Korea), Jansila Majeed (Sri Lanka), Sister Marie Claude Naddaf (Syria), and Jestina Mukoko (Zimbabwe).

The annual International Women of Courage Award was started in March 2007 to recognize women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and advancement. This is the only award within the Department of State that pays tribute to outstanding women leaders worldwide. It recognizes the courage and leadership shown as they struggle for social justice and human rights.

“These ten women have overcome personal adversity, threats, arrest, and assault to dedicate themselves to activism for human rights,” said Melanne Verveer, the State Department's first ever Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. “From striving to give more voice to politically underrepresented women in Afghanistan to documenting human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, these heroic individuals have made it their life's work to increase freedom and equality in the world.”

Biographies of the awardees are available on the Office of Global Women's Issues website.

Award recipients will be in Washington and available for interviews from March 7-12. Media contact for scheduling is Ruth Bennett, 202-647-7282 or 202-279-0380 (cell).]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/clinton_2010_iwoc_awards/ 2010-03-01T22:15:10+00:00 About the Author: Nicole Peacock serves as the Public Outreach Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs.

For thousands of girls across Africa, the onset of puberty means a difficult choice: risk the humiliation that comes with not having adequate hygiene supplies; or miss school each month. In this context, a program that supplies sanitary pads can make a world of difference to young women's educational success.

Working as a public affairs specialist in the Bureau of Africa Affairs at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, I heard that the lack of access to sanitary pads was a barrier to girls' education, and decided to do something about it. I created the “Once a Month” campaign, and began to solicit donations of hygiene supplies. We received contributions from a variety of donors and shipped them to the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, where colleagues distribute them to charities working with adolescent girls in school. Their goal is simple: get the pads to girls so they don't have to miss classes every month and can excel in school with dignity and confidence.

The campaign is making a difference. As a senior girl at Kamulanga High School explained, “Before, if you had no money to buy pads and you had an emergency here at school, you had no choice but to go home.”

The “Once A Month” program has sent tens of thousands of hygiene supplies to Zambia, for distribution to hundreds of girls, through two NGOs: the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) and the Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA). The program has captured the attention of U.S. associations for professional women, such as the Zonta Club International and the Links, who see their donations as a way to reach out to African girls in a concrete and meaningful way.

Recently, the program was extended in Eritrea to support women and girls recovering from the trauma of fistula: tears in the vaginal wall, often caused by sexual assault or abuse, that cause chronic incontinence. On January 12, 2010, Deputy Chief of Mission Melinda Tabler-Stone and Public Diplomacy staff from the Embassy in Asmara traveled to the Mendefera Hospital Fistula Clinic, where they were welcomed by International Visitors Leadership Program alumnus Dr. Habte Ghebre Selassie. Dr. Ghebre Selassie explained the kind of medical assistance the hospital is providing to women in the clinic. The opportunity to extend the “Once A Month” program to the facility means that the patients will have a more comfortable and dignified way to recover from their surgeries.

With such a small act as supplying sanitary pads, the Once A Month program, and a handful of small programs like it, offer girls more opportunities to better their futures. As a 17-year-old from Kamulanga High School in Zambia explained, “I am happy knowing that we girls have been given materials...I am truly grateful.” ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/program_changing_lives/ 2010-02-22T14:57:58+00:00 About the Author: Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer serves as director of the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues.

No matter what country women around the world live in, no matter what religion they are, how much money they earn, or what age they are, they have at least one thing in common: They are potential victims of violence. Violence against women is endemic around the globe.

Violence can affect girls and women at every point in their lives, from sex-selective abortion and infanticide, to inadequate healthcare and nutrition given to girls, to genital mutilation, child marriage, rape as a weapon of war, trafficking, so-called “honor” killings, dowry-related murder, and the neglect and ostracism of widows -- and this is not an exhaustive list.

Far too often, these acts go unpunished. Even when countries have laws on their books to criminalize violence against women, these laws frequently go unenforced. Even when individual cases are seen as the individual tragedies that they are, connections are too seldom made to the larger pattern of women's global inequality and the worldwide lack of respect for their human rights.

Far too often, these acts are seen as family matters, and take place behind a veil of privacy. And far too often, efforts to punish these criminal acts are dismissed as being against national customs or traditions.

I want to make it clear: “culture” cannot justify the violation of human rights. Addressing violence against women is the responsibility and imperative of every nation. In terms of its moral, humanitarian, development, economic, and international security consequences, violence against women and girls is one of the major impediments to progress around the globe. We need the kind of serious and coordinated response to it that we give to other threats of this magnitude.

On February 4, the International Violence Against Women Act was introduced by Senators Kerry (D-MA), Boxer (D-CA), Snowe (R-ME), and Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Delahunt (D-MA) and Poe (R-TX). They and other members of Congress understand the severity of this global scourge. We share Congress' view that ending violence against women must be a policy priority of the United States. While we continue to push this issue at all levels of our foreign policy engagement, we know that more work can and should be done to support effective coordination across the entire U.S. government to address international violence against women.

The proposed legislation calls for a five-year strategy to support programs to combat violence against women around the world. It would authorize a specialized office in the U.S. Agency for International Development to expand and modify emergency and humanitarian relief programs to address violence, and would support prevention strategies across foreign policy and assistance programs.

Members of Congress rightfully seek to put the issue of of violence against women in its proper context, as one that's central to our foreign policy goals. As I've said on other occasions, no country can get ahead if half its population is left behind -- and ending violence against women is a prerequisite for women's social, economic, and political participation and progress. Girls in Afghanistan can't get an equal education if they're subject to acid attacks and their schools are burned down. Women can't succeed in the workplace if they are abused and traumatized, nor can they advance if legal systems continue to treat them as less than full citizens. And female politicians can't compete for office on an equal playing field when they receive threatening “night letters” or fear for their families' safety.

Our response to violence against women must include men and women working together to elevate the problem beyond “a domestic matter,” and beyond a “women's issue.” Ending violence against women around the world is a human rights issue, and a worldwide crisis that must be resolved if we are to make gains in global stability, security, and prosperity. It is long past time that ending violence against women became a priority for us all.

Related Content: State Department Spokesman's Statement on the Introduction of IVAWA]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/ending_violence_against_women/ 2010-02-09T03:13:25+00:00 About the Author: Saba Ghori serves as South and Central Asia Specialist and Violence Against Women Advisor for the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, and covers the countries of South and Central Asia, including Afghanistan.

Understandably, much of the discussion about Afghanistan’s future focuses on security and military issues – on the surge, and on the international community and the Afghan military working together to defeat the Taliban. These issues are critically important. But the United States also has a civilian strategy in place that focuses on economic and social development, good governance, rule of law, and human rights. Afghan women are central to each of these goals.

Investing in women is one of the most powerful forces we have for international development. Increasing Afghan women’s participation in the agricultural sector and the workforce – and, crucially, giving them the education, training, and protection from violence that they need in order to participate in the economic and political life of their country – doubles the human capital available to Afghanistan. It boosts family incomes, decreasing the incentives for participation in illicit activities, and diminishing the power of Taliban financial inducements to their husbands and sons.

For all these reasons, Ambassador Verveer traveled to the Hague last week to address a conference sponsored by the Dutch NGO “Gender Concerns International,” which has been working to address women’s role in peace-building and their inclusion at all levels of society. You can watch her deliver her remarks here.

Related Entry: Ambassador’s Small Grants Program Supports Gender Equality in Afghanistan]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/afghan_women_future/ 2010-01-25T19:23:04+00:00 More about the crisis and how to help: state.gov/haitiquake

About the Author: Irene Marr serves as a Foreign Affairs Officer for the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, and covers Western Hemisphere countries, including Haiti.

It is hard to believe that the people of Haiti are being tested yet again – an earthquake so powerful it is being called the worst crisis the country has ever faced. Haiti certainly is no stranger to crisis; little over a year ago it was hit by multiple hurricanes. Storms ravaged the city of Port-au-Prince, displacing 150,000 people from their homes. Ranking as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, it seems particularly cruel that it has now been subjected to a disaster of “biblical” proportion, as Secretary Clinton has called it.

While this is clearly a human tragedy and a nightmare for all Haitians, those of us who work in the area of women’s human rights cannot help but consider the importance of including a gender perspective as the international community mounts a response. One can only imagine the impact this earthquake will have on the women of Haiti and their struggle just to survive.

When the news of the earthquake broke, it was painful to hear reports of desperate mothers attempting to feed their babies mud just to put something in their empty bellies, and to see news footage of a young girl being pulled out from rubble with broken bones, not knowing if she would ever see her parents again; mothers seeing their children dead at the side of the road.

Support and outreach to women in Haiti will be especially challenging under these horrific conditions, but essential to the solution to reconstruction and recovery. As governments, the military, and disaster relief services assess the humanitarian devastation and physical damage, I hope they will consider the particular needs of women. There will be no promise of a future for Haiti if the women and girls are left behind or excluded from the recovery.

Although we are only beginning to discern the potential consequences, it is remarkable to see Americans from the highest levels of our government to the ordinary citizen with a cell phone, mobilizing to respond to President Obama’s call for a swift, coordinated and aggressive effort to help Haiti through this crisis. The various aid drives and fundraising being done by volunteers, students, churches, relief organizations, NGOs, and so many others send a strong message of solidarity to the people of Haiti.

As President Obama said to the people of Haiti, “you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten. In this, your hour of greatest need, America stands with you. The world stands with you. We know that you are a strong and resilient people.” While these are words of hope, they are also a call to action. Please, in addition to the donations you send to organizations like the Red Cross and Mercy Corps, consider also donating to organizations, such as MADRE, which in addition to supplying general aid are specifically concerned with preventing the upsurge in violence against women that can occur in the aftermath of large-scale disasters.

The mothers, the daughters, the sisters, the grandmothers and the aunts – the backbone of Haitian society – will not be forgotten.

How To Help: Center for International Disaster Information | InterAction | Mercy Corps | Red Cross | Text Donation

Anyone wishing to donate or provide assistance in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that struck near Port au Prince on Jan 12, 2010, is asked to contact the Center for International Disaster Information.

For those interested in helping immediately, simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/haiti_women/ 2010-01-15T21:32:31+00:00 About the Author: Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer serves as director of the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues.

Fifteen years ago, representatives from 179 nations came together at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo and agreed that, by the year 2015, all governments would make access to reproductive health care and family planning services a basic right. They agreed that governments would dramatically reduce maternal, infant, and child mortality, and ensure that girls and women have access to education.

Fifteen years ago, at this forum, the world first made the connections explicit between women's health, the quality of women's lives, and human progress and development.

Fifteen years later, the deadline set at ICPD is nearly here. And while we've made progress in a lot of areas, we have far too much to do to meet those goals.

We know what needs to be done. We have the tools but need to increase funding and attention to maternal, infant and child health and family planning. There is a direct connection between a woman's ability to plan her family, space her pregnancies, and give birth safely, and her ability to get an education, work outside the home, support her family, and participate fully in the life of her community.

In the United States, we're recommitting ourselves to that priority. As Secretary Clinton said, our Global Health Initiative dedicates $63 billion over the next six years to improve global health -- largely by addressing the unmet needs of women and children. This is a moral and humanitarian issue, but it's also one of international development -- educated, healthy mothers have educated, healthy families -- and of international stability and security.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/women_health_icpd/ 2010-01-08T21:27:52+00:00 Follow S/GWI on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Author: Ruth Bennett serves as the Public Affairs Advisor for the Secretary's Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI).

Like many offices in the State Department, we use the last two weeks of the year to review where we’ve been and map out where we’re heading. This year, it’s an easy assessment to make. January 2009, we didn’t exist. December 2009, so many people are talking – and, yes, sometimes arguing, but at least talking about and carefully thinking over – women’s role in foreign policy.

Here are just a few of our highlights:

• April 3, 2009: S/GWI is created, and Melanne Verveer is confirmed as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.

• May 13, 2009: Amb. Verveer testifies before the U.S. Senate Subcommittees on African Affairs and Human Rights, Democracy and Global Women’s Issues about rape and sexual violence in conflict zones.

• October 1, 2009: Amb. Verveer testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the global costs and consequences of violence against women.

• October 21, 2009: Amb. Verveer testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight about the incidence of violence against women, and about possible solutions.

Ambassador Verveer also traveled to most regions of the world and met with women from all walks of life and spoke with their governments about the barriers that still remain to women’s equality. Among many other places, these travels took her to Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and India. We saw major media take up the cause of women’s empowerment. Soon we’ll be launching a Women’s Leadership Fund to channel public/private partnership money to the places where it’s most urgently needed. And did we mention that you can track all these developments on our website as well as Facebook and Twitter?

We’re happy with this start, but, really, we’re focused on what comes next.

Next September marks the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women – the venue at which, in 1995, then-First Lady Clinton famously declared that “…human rights are women’s rights…And women’s rights are human rights, for once and for all.”

The Platform for Action that 189 countries agreed to at that conference in 1995 – the “Beijing Agenda” – outlined 12 areas in which action was critically needed to achieve women’s economic, political, and social equality. We’ve made progress on many of those issues, which ranged from women’s equal access to education, healthcare, jobs, and credit, to freedom from gender-based violence, and more, but the Beijing Agenda remains, clearly, an unfinished one.

As S/GWI looks ahead to 2010, we’re putting at the top of our action list all these remaining challenges to women’s equality. We’re also going to focus on two fundamental issues in particular: promoting women’s economic opportunities (from which other rights and freedoms often follow), and working to ensure that women around the world are safe from gender-based violence (without which safety other rights and freedoms are often impossible).

It’s a tall order. But the sense of momentum – from within government, from the private sector, from all of you – is undeniable, and we’re looking forward to reporting back to you our activities and our progress over the next few months. Happy holidays and happy new year to everyone!]]> http://blogs.state.gov/sgwi/index.php/entires/global_womens_issues_looking_back_looking_forward/ 2010-01-01T17:36:49+00:00