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.
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… more »
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… more »
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… more »
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… more »
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… more »
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… more »
On May 13, 2010, Secretary Clinton met with women ministers representing the Afghan government, including Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and the Disabled, Minister Afzali, acting Minister of Health, Dr. Dalil, and the Director of Gender and Human Rights in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Osman. Secretary Clinton said:
"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'… more »
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… more »
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… more »
like it ! Excellent tool for women to protect ourselves !!
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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 »
Feb. 13, 2012: Senior officials delivered remarks on the FY 2013 Department of State - USAID budget request. Watch for a replay at video.state.gov. More on Budget more »
Spokesperson Nuland (Feb. 10): "We will have more of this declassified U.S. national imagery available both on 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 »
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![Afghanistan's first national park, Bamiyan province. Undated photo. [AP File]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_1007_afghan_park_m.jpg)
![Woodcut depicting a session of the National Woman Suffrage Association, Illinois, 1880. [AP File]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_0910_equality_m.jpg)
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![Cooperation, by Wasan Shaheed Saadoun. Exhibited in Colors of Warka. [State Dept Image]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_0401_iraqi_women_painting_m.jpg)
