12 Stories from the U.S. State Department in 2012

December 28, 2012

Aung San Suu Kyi meets with Hillary Clinton at the State Department in Washington, D.C. (State Dept.)

Here are just a few stories that you may have missed from the Department of State in 2012:

1. The U.S. Department of State designated January 2012 as 21st Century Statecraft Month, which kicked-off a year-long commitment to digital engagement, including our first nine-language Twitter Q&A and first Persian-language Google+ Hangout.

2. The State Department announced improvements to the visa process and a decrease in the interview wait times in key tourism markets, such as Brazil and China, as part of the State Department's support for the President's travel and tourism initiatives.

3. Through Economic Statecraft, Secretary Clinton placed economics and market forces at the center of U.S. foreign policy.

4. Secretary Clinton set a record as she visited her 100th country as Secretary of State.

5. The State Department marked the first year of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, a blueprint for elevating American civilian power.

6. World leaders gathered for the 67th United Nations General Assembly in New York, and the State Department took you behind the scenes as our diplomats addressed issues related to Africa, the Near East, and the Western Hemisphere.

7. Secretary Clinton honored Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during an historic visit to Washington, DC, and Suu Kyi recognized the staff of Radio Free Asia and Voice of America -- the people who produced the radio shows she listened to ever day while she was under house arrest.

8. The world celebrated the first-ever International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, and Secretary Clinton pledged U.S. support for efforts to address and prevent child marriage.

9. Secretary Clinton convened an international effort to combat wildlife trafficking and promote conservation.

10. The United States provided nearly $200 million in humanitarian aid to help those affected by the violence in Syria and in neighboring countries.

11. Secretary Clinton released a blueprint for an AIDS-free generation.

12. Secretary Clinton discussed opportunities and challenges for U.S. foreign policy at Foreign Policy's "Transformational Trends 2013" Forum.

Source: U.S. Departement of State Official Blog