Women’s Issues

Policy and Programs

The Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) is committed to advancing the rights of women and girls as a central focus of U.S. diplomatic, development and defense interests.

The work of the office is organized based on four pillars: 1) Promoting the full engagement of women in the political and economic spheres; 2) Mitigating the impact of violence against women; 3) Addressing underlying socio-economic problems, including women’s access to health and education, food security, and global problems such as climate change; and 4) Ensuring that women are integrated as equal participants in reconciliation, post-conflict reconstruction and development in areas affected by conflict. (read more)

Additional Documents

Proclamation
President Obama’s Proclamation on Women’s History Month
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Women Should Reach Out to Women, Reporter Says
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Milestones in U.S. Women’s History
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Facts on Advancing Women’s, Girls’ Rights in U.S. Foreign Policy
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U.S. Promotes Women as Change Agents
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Innovation Awards Help Women Help Women
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State Department Initiative to Prepare Women for Public Service
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Clinton Condemns Violence Toward Women, Calls Women Peacemakers
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Nongovernmental Sector Helps Write U.S. Plan on Women and Peace
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Videos

The Women in Public Service Project
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This video was produced by the State Department’s Bureau of International Information Programs in December 2011. It features U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; Carol Christ, president of Smith College; and Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

America Out West: Women’s Barrel Racing
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A short video featuring a unique story of women’s empowerment – also available with Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and Persian captions. (YouTube)