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… more »
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.
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… more »
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… more »
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… more »
like it ! Excellent tool for women to protect ourselves !!
more »
Gary in Washington DC writes:
I agree that men and boys play critical roles in addressing the violence against women, and the government and NPOs should keep educating males to respect…
more »
John in Indonesia writes:
live in harmony in our family, no violence at all, positive thinking, hoping that our neighbour will see and copy us.
more »
Spokesperson Nuland (Feb. 10): "We will have more of this declassified U.S. national available both on Robert's site in coming days but also on our new site www.stateondemand.com, where news organizations can find all of our content to pull down around the world. more »
Secretary Clinton (Feb. 9): "I want to underscore how confident we are in Italy, in Italy's future, in the extraordinary commitment that Prime Minister Monti and his government are bringing to the challenges confronting the Italian people..." more »
![Girls study their lessons in Nairobi, Kenya, June 29, 2007. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_0802_African_girls_education_m.jpg)
![An Afghan refugee girl poses for a photo in a refugee camp, Kabul, Afghanistan, April 29, 2010. [AP]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_0722_afghan_girl_m.jpg)
![Women from Masdar Institute for Science and Technology, May 4, 2010. [U.S. Embassy Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_0524_women_engineers_m.jpg)
