Department of State Weekly
As the Deputy Editor for the Department of State weekly periodical, I covered global negotiations at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
POLITICAL AND SPECIALIZED AGENCIES (PSA)
Critical Human Rights Discussions Heat Up at HRC 19
As the Human Rights Council entered its second week, delegates tackled some of humanity's most pressing challenges - from combating torture and investigating disappearances to protecting religious freedoms and ensuring basic rights to food and shelter. Children's rights also took center stage in these vital discussions.
Meanwhile, the U.S. delegation launched what promises to be a watershed debate on Sri Lanka, beginning strategic discussions on a controversial new resolution. Behind the scenes, PSA officers worked tirelessly to build international consensus on crucial resolutions addressing human rights concerns in Iran, Burma, Syria, Libya, and North Korea.
Historic LGBT Rights Debate Sparks Dramatic Chamber Moment
In a watershed moment for human rights diplomacy, a discussion on violence and discrimination against LGBT individuals commanded the Council's spotlight. The unprecedented session highlighted the growing global divide on LGBT rights, as several African, Arab, and Asian diplomats staged a silent walkout in protest.
Despite the dramatic exit, the majority of delegates remained firmly in their seats, demonstrating shifting international attitudes. The discussion – marking a bold step forward in addressing LGBT rights at the highest diplomatic levels – continued uninterrupted, setting a powerful precedent for future dialogue on this vital human rights issue.
ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS (ESA)
Empowering Women to Effect Change
In partnership with the International Trade Center (ITC) and the Organization for Women in Trade (OWIT), ESA organized a panel discussion on March 5th on “Leveraging the Power of Women’s Networks to Effect Change.” Marking International Women’s Day 2012 brought together an eclectic audience from the public and private sectors.
Ambassador King opened the evening dedicated to reviewing successful strategies, tactics, and alliances that empower women. Ruth Goldway, Chairman of the US Postal Regulatory Commission, spoke of the importance of associations that support networking and mentoring for women. Stressing that empowering women economically makes good business sense, Patricia Francis, Executive Director of ITC, noted that the best-performing businesses with strong bottom lines employed plenty of women within their ranks.
Ambassador King spoke of the importance of the Millennium Development Goals dedicated to women’s empowerment and health and their significance to overall MDG performance. Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, Reta Jo Lewis, moderated an hour of lively discussion. Public Affairs supported the event through invitational travel for one speaker, logistics, and amplification through social media tools including Twitter and the Mission’s flickr page.
Schwarzenegger Pumps Up Sub-nationals Role in the Green Economy
Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger described his evolution from bodybuilder to actor to politician to “environmental crusader” to an audience of over 350 people at the monthly American International Club of Geneva lunch on March 8. As the major force behind R20 – a newly launched Geneva area-based organization focused on assisting local governments to implement carbon and climate-resilient economic development projects – the former Governor is determined to bring together sub-national governments, financing, and technology to realize green economy initiatives and projects around the world. Governor Schwarzenegger lamented the slow pace of multilateral climate negotiations and touted the capacity of sub-national governments to rapidly implement effective programs aimed at offsetting and curtailing carbon emissions.
S/R Lewis Spotlights the Role of Sub-national Governments in Sustainability
Throughout her March 5-7 visit to Geneva in connection with the formal launch of R20, Special Representative Lewis drove home the role of sub-national governments in creating a sustainable global future. In her remarks at the opening of the March 7th R20 conference – “The Road to Rio: Regions Building the Green Economy” – S/R Lewis underscored how “discussions of sustainability must encompass the critical role of states and cities” in greening economies and achieving sustainability. In support of this point, she highlighted a number of American cities implementing sustainability programs including the Climate Action Plan of Portland, Oregon.
U.S. Shares in Estonian Patent Office Success
On March 8, ESA’s IP Attaché Todd Reves represented the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at the 20th Anniversary of the re-establishment of the Estonian Patent Office in Tallinn, Estonia. Also in attendance were the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Francis Gurry, President of the European Patent Office, Benoit Battistelli, and President of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, Antonio Campinos, as well as several heads of national patent offices throughout Europe.
Representatives from the Estonian Ministry of Justice and the Estonian Patent Office highlighted the challenges the government faced when creating a functioning patent office after fifty-two years of dormancy, including hiring qualified examiners, creating effective patent legislation, and facilitating awareness among innovators and businesses. The Minister of Justice, Kristen Michel, touted the rich talent of Estonian innovators and stated that since Estonia has very little in the way of natural resources, its intellectual talent was its main asset.
The USPTO has contributed significantly to Estonia’s progress by funding participants to attend its Global Intellectual Property Academy in Alexandria, Virginia, as well as conducting training programs for enforcement officials in Estonia.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS (PA)
PA supports International Women’s Day Events
For International Women’s Day, Mrs. Megan Beyer brought a delegation to Geneva as a part of a several-day long series of events for “Sister Republics: Building Bridges” – bringing women together to find practical solutions to common issues. For the Geneva portion of the events, Ambassador Donahoe hosted a coffee and discussion at which she and Ambassadors King and Kennedy also spoke. Following this event, the delegation moved on to another event at WEF. In support of International Women’s Day, Public Affairs conducted a vigorous social media messaging campaign.
Student Briefing
A group of twenty undergraduate students from the GWU/KSU European Business Program in Florence, Italy visited the mission on Thursday as part of a field trip to International Geneva. The International Business program in Florence provides courses on Financial Management, International Business, and Business & Government Relations. David Kennedy (PA) provided insight into the overall workings of the US Mission. Rachel Bae and Jonathan Lyons (USTR) addressed USTR and trade-related issues, while Bart Cobbs (ESA) elaborated on climate change and its impacts on business. Mission interns Michael Anthony, Maria Cossio, Kenzi Green, Regina Ranstrom, and Alexis Zavras shared their experiences of applying for internships with the State Department and working at the Mission.