In today's world, Internet freedom lies at the heart of academic freedom. An open online platform where information and ideas can be exchanged unimpeded is essential to the rigors of contemporary scientific and intellectual exploration. At present, however, Internet freedom remains threatened worldwide. And this poses as much of a danger to scientists and other academics as it does to human rights activists.
Last week, I had the opportunity to discuss the impact of these challenges on the academic community in a keynote address entitled "Science and Academic Freedom in the Digital Age" before a crowd of… more »
About the Author: Dr. Joshua W. Walker is senior advisor for the Office of the Secretary's Global Partnerships Initiative.
The image of the Palestinian Territories, for most outsiders who have never had the chance to visit the ruggedly beautiful terrain, typically only involves the political stalemate that overshadows the incredible creativity and inventiveness of the Palestinian people. In many ways Palestinians seem to have entrepreneurship in their DNA. I had the opportunity to witness this first hand on a recent visit to the region, where I accompanied U.S. Special Representative for Global Partnerships Kris Balderston. He was leading a delegation of American entrepreneurs and investors seeking to harness this entrepreneurial spirit and celebrate the culture of innovation in the West Bank.
Palestine for a New Beginning, the Palestinian chapter of… more »
Security Sector Reform is a critical mission for the U.S. Department of State. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, we help nations turn the page on past practices and establish effective and accountable security institutions that respect human rights and can positively contribute to promoting regional peace and security. As Nepal continues to emerge from a decade long civil conflict, these reform efforts are making a difference.
On November 21, 2006, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ended a 10-year civil war with Maoist insurgents and abolished the monarchy. The conflict left Nepal with significant challenges, including internal population displacement and the decline of a once-vibrant tourism industry.
For Nepal's peace to survive, the new government also needed to enact robust reforms to rebuild its army, police, and other security… more »
World Food Day is a reminder and call to action for the international community to strengthen efforts to end world hunger and malnutrition.
Today, nearly one billion people suffer from chronic hunger, which means that they do not get enough food to satisfy their body's basic nutritional needs.
Feed the Future is the U.S. government's global hunger and food security initiative and works with partner countries to support their own agriculture development objectives to increase agricultural productivity and improve nutrition, which can help reduce poverty and hunger. Seventy-five percent of the world's poor live in rural areas in developing countries, where most people's livelihoods rely directly on agriculture, and women in the developing world make up to forty-three percent of the agriculture… more »
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Lima, Peru, on October 15 and 16. In Peru, she met with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala to discuss bilateral and regional cooperation. After her meeting with the President, Secretary Clinton said:
"...The United States and Peru work together on many shared challenges and priorities. We are working together to promote citizen security and to work against the drug traffickers. We are working to support you in your ongoing efforts against the terrorists who have for too long brought violence to too many people throughout… more »
DipNote is the official blog of the U.S. Department of State —a place to share stories, discuss experiences, and inspire new ideas on the important foreign policy issues of the day. more »
In 2011, the eastern Horn of Africa was reeling from the region’s most severe drought in 60 years. Progress has been made over the last year, yet some 9 million people are still in need of assistance in the Horn of Africa. Learn more about the crisis, and how you can help.
Thank you, Jonathan, for this insightful post on World Food Day and the importance of strengthening our efforts as an international community to end world hunger…
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Spokesperson Nuland (Oct. 17): "Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Michael Posner, led a 22-member interagency delegation from the U.S. to discuss the full range of human rights issues affecting the country." more »
Oct. 16: Judith Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, held a conversation with Ann Cody, Director of Policy and Global Outreach, BlazeSports; and Kirk Bauer, Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA. more »
![Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner responds to your questions live in a Facebook chat on May 25, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234450im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0525_posner_facebook_chat_m.jpg)
![Members of the U.S. delegation to the Partners for a New Beginning Celebration of Innovation Conference pose for a photograph with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah, October 7, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234450im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_1017_pnb_coi_m.jpg)
![Nepalese army soldiers march during Nepal's National Democracy Day celebrations in Katmandu, Nepal, February 19, 2010. [AP Photo]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234450im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_1017_nepal_pm_m.jpg)
![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, Peru's President Ollanta Humala, center, and Michelle Bachelet, Chile's former president and U.N. Women executive director, pose for photos at the opening of a conference on women's empowerment in Lima, Peru, Oct. 16, 2012. [AP Photo]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234450im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_1016_clinton_peru_m.jpg)
