On February 16, 2011, Secretary Clinton launched the Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society. The Dialogue elevated the Department’s engagement with civil society alongside our cooperation with bilateral partners and underscores our commitment to protecting and defending civil society around the world. The Dialogue provides a forum for cooperation with civil society and a vehicle for telling the story of our ongoing work to support and protect the freedoms of association and expression.
The launch of the Dialogue brought together a broad cross-section of civil society representatives from more than 20 countries, senior officials from the U.S. Government, and Executive Directors from prominent U.S.-based International NGOs. It also included virtual participation from thousands of civil society representatives worldwide including attendees at viewing parties hosted by 55 U.S. Embassies.
Over the last year, the Dialogue has been carried out through a Federally chartered Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Tomicah Tillemann, and five thematic working groups:
Civil society representatives participating in the working groups have identified a series of policy proposals and forwarded them to the Secretary for action.
On May 16, Secretary Clinton will convene the Dialogue’s 2012 Summit at the State Department in Washington and announce action on policy recommendations that have been generated through the Dialogue. The Summit will bring together almost 200 representatives of civil society and government from 40 countries. Thousands of other activists will participate virtually or through embassy viewing parties. The Secretary will answer questions from civil society representatives that have been sent in via YouTube during a Global Town Hall at 10 AM. Other events taking place in conjunction with the 2012 Summit include a meeting of the Dialogue’s Federal Advisory Committee, a panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson Center, and a Congressional hearing by the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights.
