Functional Bureau Strategy: Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues
Summary
Mission Statement: S/GWI seeks to ensure the integration of gender equity and equality and the advancement of women and girls in all their diversity in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy, programming, and diplomatic efforts.
STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE: The advancement of women and girls in all their diversity around the world is integral to achieving National Security Strategy (NSS) goals, including security, economic growth, democracy and human rights, the maintenance and development of alliances, and American leadership. American security, prosperity, and leadership advances when we demonstrate our democratic values by fully integrating women, girls, and all persons who experience gender-based discrimination into our foreign policy.
PROBLEM STATEMENT: Gender inequities and inequality inhibit the full, meaningful participation of all members of a community, society, and nation in progress towards peace, security, economic growth, preventing and responding to GBV, and fully respecting human rights. For the Department, S/GWI leads the USG response to gender inequity and inequality in partnership with people around the world and in addressing those challenges across U.S. foreign policy.
CONTEXT: All countries, including the United States, are more stable, prosperous, and secure when women and girls have equal opportunities in all areas of society, including as leaders, peacebuilders, human rights defenders, entrepreneurs, and wage earners, and experience freedom from gender-based violence. When women and men are equally empowered as political, social, economic, and cultural actors, governments are more effective and representative of their communities. Greater equality in employment, environment, health, and education for women and girls leads to greater economic growth and builds stronger and more equitable and just societies. Advancing the leadership and meaningful participation of women in peace negotiations and security efforts helps to not only prevent conflict, but also leads to more durable peace agreements.
FOCUS: Headed by an Ambassador-at-Large, S/GWI leads the State Department’s (Department) efforts to advance the status of women and girls, in all their diversity, in U.S. bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, partnerships, and programs. S/GWI’s focus areas include: 1) women’s leadership and meaningful participation in peace and security; 2) advancing women’s economic empowerment and environmental leadership; 3) preventing and responding to gender-based violence; and 4) and improving the effectiveness and leadership of U.S. foreign policy by integrating gender equity and equality. In all these areas, we place special emphasis on the areas of the world that both align with our foreign policy priorities and include the most vulnerable women and girls, such as in countries experiencing conflict and transition. S/GWI will also integrate the addition of a Special Envoy on Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights, and support staff, as the Department continues to focus on Afghanistan and promoting the rights and protection of Afghan women, girls, and human rights.
METHODS: To achieve these goals, our office will strengthen the integration of gender equity and equality into U.S. foreign policy and Department practices across the interagency and within the Department, including by elevating the voices and perspectives of women and girls within policymaking processes and instituting changes for policies, programs, budgets, and operations. We use our program funding and gender training to catalyze gender work across the Department to foster public/private partnerships on gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as create program models for gender integration and wome n’s empowerment, which advance U.S. foreign policy goals and champion American values. We engage in sustained and comprehensive public outreach through our messaging and programs, including the annual Secretary’s International Women of Courage Award (IWOC), and work towards enhancing the international policy and legal framework undergirding women’srights. We strengthen the capacity of our office personnel through robust and inclusive hiring, training, and management practices that value and leverage our diversity.
Citation
Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI), “Functional Bureau Strategy,” January 7, 2022.
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