June 2011
123 posts
WatchU.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing by Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner, June 30, 2011.
2 tags
High-Level Delegation Visits Samoa
About the Author: Adrian Pratt serves as Assistant Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Wellington in New Zealand.
The traveling 3-D (Diplomacy, Defense and Development) party had a full, three-pronged day in Samoa. The delegation headed by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell included Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet; U.S....
5 tags
Turning Tables: From At-Risk Youth to Generators...
About the Author: Paula Uribe is a Senior Advisor for Social Issues in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Youth are overrepresented both as victims and perpetrators of violent crime in the Americas. Children, as young as 12, in countries like El Salvador are recruited into gangs. The Latin American Technological Information Network has found that a young person in Latin America is 30...
Latest on #DipNote: From At-Risk #Youth to Generators of Change http://t.co/qsI3eiV cc @WHAAsstSecty #ElSalvador
5 tags
Secretary Clinton Travels to Budapest, Vilnius and...
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Budapest, Hungary, June 29, to participate in the dedication of the Lantos Institute. The establishment of the Lantos Institute has been supported by the Government of Hungary to promote Hungarian-born Congressman Tom Lantos’ long commitment to democratic principles and the protection of individual and human rights. Secretary Clinton...
3 tags
USAID Launches “Stop Human Trafficking App...
About the Author: Sarah Mendelson serves as Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at USAID.
When was the last time you used your mobile phone to look up an address, stream a video clip, or play a game? Now think about the last time you used your mobile phone to support human rights, raise awareness for a cause, or contribute to...
2 tags
Global Twitter Q & A with Under Secretary Judith...
On June 29 at 9:30 am EDT, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale will participate in the State Department’s first global “Twitter Q & A.” Using the hashtag #AskUSA, participants from around the world can simultaneously submit questions and share ideas directly with Under Secretary McHale about strengthening ties and increasing exchanges between the United States...
Share ideas about increasing exchanges between the U.S and other countries on 06/29 at 0930 EDT with #US4PD Judith McHale. #AskUSA
1 tag
UNESCO Now Available on iTunes University
About the Author: Ambassador David T. Killion serves as U.S. Permanent Representative to UNESCO.
As U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, I’ve discovered that one of UNESCO’s biggest secrets is the extent to which American companies are keen to collaborate with this 193-member state organization. Since I’ve arrived, I’ve...
6 tags
Closing the Gender Gap in Agriculture: A Call to...
About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.
The FAO’s 2010-2011 State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report, Women in Agriculture: Closing the Gender Gap for Development, revealed some compelling and informative findings about the critical but underutilized role women play in the food and agriculture industry globally. It also gave some...
4 tags
U.S. Department of State Hosts "TechCamp Vilnius"
TechCamp Vilnius will be the third event in a series supporting Secretary Clinton’s Civil Society 2.0 initiative to build the digital literacy of civil society organizations around the world. TechCamp is a key program of this initiative: a two day training event through which the State Department pairs leaders in the technology community with civil society organizations to provide training,...
2 tags
WatchSecretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton releases the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., June 27, 2011.
3 tags
Working To End Modern Slavery
About the Author: Sarah Mendelson serves as Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at USAID.
Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will release the eleventh annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report and the world’s attention will turn to the global fight against human trafficking and the persistence of this problem in at least...
6 tags
DipNote: The Week in Review
About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote’s Managing Editor.
Last week, President Barack Obama delivered remarks on the way forward in Afghanistan. President Obama said: “…In one of the most difficult decisions that I’ve made as President, I ordered an additional 30,000 American troops into Afghanistan. When I announced this surge at West Point, we set clear...
3 tags
Why I Serve
About the Author: Monique Quesada serves as the Political and Economic Section Chief at the U.S. Consulate in Herat, Afghanistan.
I was drawn to service in Herat, Afghanistan, because I wanted to know what it was really like for women here now. I wanted to do something constructive for them, if I could. Over the past nine months, I have been able to channel grants into projects that will teach...
2 tags
WatchSecretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks on the human rights of LGBT people and U.S. foreign policy at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., June 27, 2011.
2 tags
Secretary Clinton To Deliver Remarks on “The Human...
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver remarks on “The Human Rights of LGBT People and U.S. Foreign Policy,” at an event co-hosted by the State Department and Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA), on Monday, June 27, at 10:25 a.m. (EDT). Under Secretary Maria Otero will lead a panel discussion with senior U.S. Government Officials at 9:30 a.m. (EDT), prior to...
4 tags
Marking Progress for LGBT Americans in Foreign...
About the Author: Curtis Ried is a Political Advisor at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. For more information on the work of the U.S. Mission to the UN, visit www.usun.state.gov and follow Ambassador Rice on Twitter and Facebook.
Life at the State Department has changed immeasurably for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees since the founding of Gays and Lesbians in...
7 tags
WatchAssistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt M. Campbell briefs the press on his upcoming travel to the Pacific region, June 24, 2011.
5 tags
The Korean Peninsula at Night
About the Author: Dr. Rajiv Shah serves as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
If you look at a map of the Korean Peninsula at night, you can immediately understand the impact of global development. Darkness covers nearly the entire North, masking a child malnutrition rate of nearly 50 percent and untold stories of individual suffering and poverty. But over...
2 tags
WatchRemarks by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan after their meeting at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., June 24, 2011.
1 tag
Expeditionary Diplomacy in Southern Sudan
About the Author: Clint Fenning serves as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization and is a Standby member of the Civilian Response Corps.
In Southern Sudan, every aspect of life presents its people with opportunities to move forward together, building the foundation of a new nation. On my recent deployment there to support the U.S....
1 tag
President Obama Delivers Remarks on the Way...
President Barack Obama delivered a televised address on the way forward in Afghanistan at the White House on June 22, 2011. President Obama discussed beginning a drawdown of troops and responsibly ending the war. President Obama said, “Nearly 10 years ago, America suffered the worst attack on our shores since Pearl Harbor. This mass murder was planned by Osama bin Laden and his al...
In a New Era, Living Up to Old Ideals
About the Author: Ambassador Joseph M. Torsella is the U.S. Representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform.
For just a few minutes on Tuesday afternoon, the lobby of U.S. Mission headquarters was home to the original United Nations Charter. There, flanked by guards and inscribed with the names of the world’s most notable mid-century diplomats, sat the UN’s...
3 tags
The First Lady’s Trip to Africa
First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to South Africa and Botswana during an official visit to Africa from June 20-26, 2011, focused on youth leadership, education, health and wellness. The trip is a continuation of Mrs. Obama’s work to engage young people, especially girls and young women, at home and abroad. Follow the First Lady’s trip on WhiteHouse.gov/YoungAfrica and on...
2 tags
Partnering With Central America To Combat Crime
About the Author: About the Author: Julissa Reynoso serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Early tomorrow morning, Secretary Clinton will lead the U.S. delegation to the International Conference of Support for Central American Security Strategy, in Guatemala City. The conference will bring together many of the presidents from Central...
2 tags
Innovating Our Way to a Second Green Revolution
About the Author: Robert D. Hormats serves as Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs.
Nearly one billion people — one seventh of the world’s population — suffer from chronic hunger. Because of extreme hunger and poverty, children, adults, and indeed entire societies are prevented from achieving their full potential. But, through the work of...
Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks at Memorial...
Posted by DipNote Bloggers / June 21, 2011
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks at the Memorial Service for Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger in Arlington, Virginia, on June 21, 2011. Secretary Clinton said, “When I first was asked to be Secretary of State by President Obama, I figured I should call all of my esteemed predecessors to ask for any words of...
2 tags
Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks at U.S.-Japan...
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, and Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa participated in the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting, known as the 2+2, at the Department of State on June 21, 2011. Secretary Clinton discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, and...
Secretary Clinton To Host 2011 World Food Prize...
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will host the the 2011 World Food Prize Laureate Announcement Ceremony at the Department of State on June 21, 2011, at 12:00 p.m. (EDT). Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, the president of the World Food Prize Foundation, will announce the winner of the 2011 World Food Prize during the ceremony. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah...
1 tag
Assistance to Refugees: A Critical Component of...
About the Author: Eric Schwartz serves as Assistant Secretary of State forPopulation, Refugees, and Migration.
Today is World Refugee Day, an international commemoration aimed at highlighting the needs of refugees and vulnerable people around the world, as well as to promote sustained commitment to international humanitarian response. And recent events have been a stark reminder that upholding...
2 tags
A Preview of Secretary Clinton’s Trip to...
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela and Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement William Brownfield held a special press briefing at the Department of State to discuss the Secretary Clinton’s upcoming trip to Guatemala and Jamaica on June 20, 2011. Assistant Secretary Valenzuela said, “…The...
1 tag
UN Human Rights Council Adopts Resolution on...
The UN Human Rights Council adopted the first ever UN resolution on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons (LGBT) on June 17, 2011. This is the first UN resolution solely focused on LGBT persons. Secretary Clinton said, “This represents a historic moment to highlight the human rights abuses and violations that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people face...
2 tags
U.S. Assistance Advances Tajik-Afghan Partnership
About the Author: Robert O. Blake serves as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.
I recently had the pleasure to meet in Washington with Munir Merali, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Representative for Tajikistan. The AKDN is a global organization doing great work in health and humanitarian assistance in Tajikistan. The AKDN has also taken the initiative to...
7 tags
DipNote: The Week in Review
About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as DipNote’s Associate Editor.
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton returned from her trip to Africa. In Ethiopia, Secretary Clinton became the first United States Secretary of State to address the African Union. She discussed democracy, economic growth, and peace and security. Secretary Clinton said, “All three are critical...
1 tag
Former Refugee Embarks On Foreign Service Career
About the Author: Anya Yakhedts Brunson serves as a Foreign Service Officer.
I was born in the Soviet Union in the city of Minsk. I spent my childhood in the 1980’s attending school and learning why Lenin was a great man, learning to play violin, practicing gymnastics, and waiting in breadlines. These are the memories that I have from my country of birth. Now that I look back on it,...
1 tag
My Story As An Iranian Refugee
About the Author: Azzie Mansouri works in the Office of Foreign Assistance at the Department of State.
I was born in Tehran, Iran, in the early 1980s into a world where equal rights and laughter had just been silenced. My mother named me Azadeh, which translates to “freeperson,” as a subtle way of ensuring equal rights for women not be forgotten in the new regime. Once, my mother was...
1 tag
Coming to Grips with the Growing Global Threat of...
About the Author: Krysten Carrera is a Presidential Management Fellow working in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.
Non-communicable diseases (including cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes) represent an urgent and growing threat to global public health. In the United States, these diseases, known as NCDs, and other chronic diseases such...
1 tag
Op-Ed: “There Is No Going Back in Syria”
In an op-ed in the Asharq Al-Awsat (in Arabic), Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton condemns the violent crackdown in Syria and calls for a transition to democracy. The full text of the op-ed appears below. There Is No Going Back in Syria By Hillary Clinton As the violent crackdown in Syria continues, President Assad has shown that he is more interested in his own power than his people....
1 tag
Inside Secretary Clinton’s Meeting with Jamaican...
About the Author: Joslyn Mack-Wilson serves as the Jamaica Desk Officer in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
After closely following Jamaican Prime Minister Golding’s public statements and policy positions for almost two years as the Desk Officer for Jamaica at the U.S. Department of State, I looked forward to finally seeing him in person. Prime Minister Golding came to...
State Department Shines Light On Women and Girls...
About the Author: Dr. Sharon Hrynkow serves Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
This week, the Department of State took a step forward in advancing women and girls in science. Looking back on the week’s activities, I am left with a sense of great hopefulness for the future. Here is what we did, and why I am...
1 tag
My Story: From Ukraine to the United States and...
About the Author: Konstantin Dubrovsky serves as a Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine.
I was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, to a Jewish family living in what was the equivalent of Soviet ‘projects’ known as “Khrushchyovkas.” When I was about nine years old, the government announced that Jews were free to leave the Soviet Union. My family and everyone else in...
2 tags
Fulbright Forward for the 21st Century
About the Author: Anita McBride serves as Chair of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. She is a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council and is Executive in Residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University’s School of Public Affairs.
The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, which I chair, recently held its 251st...
Secretary Clinton Highlights U.S. Partnership in...
About the Author: Ambassador Eric Goosby serves as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
Following last week’s United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS, I had the pleasure of joining Secretary Clinton on her visits to Zambia and Tanzania. During visits to sites supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Secretary Clinton joined President Obama and Ambassador...