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U.S. Department of State
Empowering women and girls is central to U.S. foreign policy. Investing in gender equality advances the U.S. Government’s standing as a moral leader, strengthens its national security, and creates economic opportunities both abroad and at home in the United States.
The Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues (GWI) leads the Department of State’s work to promote the rights and empowerment of women and girls in U.S. foreign policy. The Office of Global Women’s Issues, which has had long-standing, bipartisan support, leads the Department’s efforts to include women and girls in U.S. diplomacy, partnerships, and programs. This Senate-confirmed position is the highest-ranking official with this mandate in the State Department.
Any nominee for this post should, at a minimum, be a champion for the equality, rights, and empowerment of women and girls. Candidates for this important post should be carefully considered throughout the nomination and confirmation process, and should have at least the following qualifications:
Qualifications and Experience
Commitment to gender equality and advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls
- Commitment to working with a broad range of governments, civil society, private sector, grassroots women’s and community-based organizations that represent various backgrounds and perspectives
- Experience working in international affairs
- Track record of advancing women’s empowerment
- Commitment to opposing all forms of discrimination and violence, and to empowering vulnerable populations, including religious, racial and ethnic minorities; indigenous peoples; people with disabilities; LGBTQI; people living with HIV or AIDS; migrants, refugees and internally displaced people; older persons, married or unmarried adolescents and youth; widows; or people who are economically disadvantaged
Understanding of U.S. foreign policy and mechanisms used to implement commitments to gender equality
- Knowledge of the Global Women’s Issues Office and a commitment to the Office’s mission and role within the U.S. Department of State
- Understanding of the suite of current U.S. Government strategies for women and girls empowerment, such as the National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security, the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence, U.S. Department of State Strategy for Women’s Economic Empowerment, the U.S. Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls, and a willingness to implement and leverage those strategies within U.S. foreign policy
- Commitment to U.S. government leadership in the global community and leveraging the UN system and other multinational institutions as a positive force for change for women and girls
- Experience in applying non-partisan research, evidence and data as the basis of setting priorities and making decisions
- Commitment to holistic and human-rights based programming approaches that advance the policy imperative of gender equality and female empowerment
- Commitment to supporting and promoting women’s autonomous decision making over their bodies and their lives
- Ability to bring about consensus to advance shared values and interests
Endorsing Organizations (list in formation):
- Action for Women and Children Concern (AWCC) Somalia
- Advancing Girls’ Education in Africa
- Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation
- Advocates for Youth
- AJWS
- Alliance for Peace and Human Rights
- American Academy of Nursing Expert Panel on Violence
- ART WORKS Projects
- Ba Futuru
- CARE USA
- Catholics for Choice
- Coalition pour le Développement et la Réhabilitation Sociale, CODR UBUNTU
- Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD)
- Council for Global Equality
- Development Action Association
- Equality Now
- Femmes- Sante-Developpement (FESADE)
- Forum for African Women Educationalist Kenya Chapter
- Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
- Futures Without Violence
- Girl Up
- Global Rights for Women
- Global Women’s Institute
- GreeneWorks
- Heartland Alliance International
- U.S. National Committee for UN Women
- Himiza Social Justice
- Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) Cameroon
- Human Rights Campaign
- Human Rights Watch
- The Hunger Project
- Inclusive Security
- Institute for International Law and Human Rights
- InterAction
- International Action Network for Gender Equity and Law
- International Center for Research on Women
- International Rescue Committee
- International Women’s Health Coalition
- International Youth Foundation
- Islamic Relief USA
- Malkia Foundation
- Men’s Story Project
- Mercy Corps
- MSASI
- National Organization for Women
- OutRight Action International
- Oxfam America
- PAI
- Peace is Loud
- Plan International USA
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Population Council
- Population Institute
- Project Concern International
- Promundo-US
- Regional Alliance for Fostering Youth – RAFY
- Sahiyo
- Save the Children
- Shamwariyemwanasikana
- Solidarity Center
- Too Young To Wed
- United States International Council on Disabilities
- U.S. National Committee for UN Women
- Vanuatu Young Women For Change
- V-Day
- Vision Spring Initiatives
- Vital Voices Global Partnership
- VOICE 4 Girls
- The Voices and Faces Project
- Women for Women International
- Women LEAD Nepal
- Women-Concern Liberia
- Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
- Women Graduates-USA
- Women’s Refugee Commission
- Women Thrive Alliance
- WOUGNET
- Youth Coalition Against Gender-based Violence – SEMERERA
- Youth Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (YELI-Burundi)
- YWCA USA