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America.gov Selection October 26-30, 2009 : Articles of Particular Interest in Africa.

Secretary Clinton’s Visit in Morocco: November 2 & 3

Clinton Will Attend Forum for the Future in Morocco Washington — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will attend the sixth Forum for the Future in November in Morocco, a meeting that has become an important regional conference that brings together leading government officials from the Middle East and North Africa, representatives of the major advanced economies, and civil society and private sector leaders.

The United States and the African Union

	U.S. Mission to African Union Shows Commitment to Africa Interview with U.S. Ambassador Michael Battle Washington — The United States was the first major non-African country to appoint a full-time ambassador to the African Union (AU), and that shows the importance the people of the United States attach to their partnership with the people of Africa, says the U.S. ambassador to the African Union, Michael Battle.

Ambassador Rice on U.S. Support for African Union Peacekeeping U.S. supports partnership between U.N. Security Council and African Union Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on Support for African Union Peacekeeping, in the Security Council Chamber, October 26, 2009.

Peace and Security: Fighting Terrorism and Piracy

Senate Vote Marks Next Step in Complex Effort to Close Guantánamo Obama seeks to ensure due process as well as national security Washington — Shortly after his inauguration, President Obama called for the closure of the detention facility at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba within a year, banned use of torture in interrogations, pledged adherence to the Geneva Conventions, and created a task force to develop a new policy for detainees.

U.S. Re-Designates Al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb as Terrorist Group Designation of terrorist groups is critical in fight against terrorism On October 16, 2009, Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg maintained the designation of Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended. The review of AQIM’s designation was conducted in accordance with Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 USC 1189), which requires that an FTO review occur if after a five-year period there has been no review of the designation. This review was done in consultation with the Department of Justice, Department of Treasury and other relevant U.S. agencies.

State Official Provides Update on Anti-Piracy Shapiro says strategies needed to discourage attacks U.S. Department of State Andrew J. Shapiro, Assistant Secretary, Political-Military Affairs International Propeller Club of the United States, International Port of Piraeus, Greece/Atlantic Merchant Vessel Reporting (AMVER) Dinner Awards Athens, Greece.

Social Networking and African Development

	Social Networking Unites African Activists Online communities build democracy, demand accountability Washington — “Africa’s future is up to Africans,” President Obama told an audience in Accra, Ghana, on July 11. A global audience, including many members from Africa, has responded to that statement on the Department of State’s America.gov eJournal Facebook site.

Burkinabé American Uses Cycling to Aid Burkina Faso Flood Victims Social networking and a bicycle round up aid for Burkina Faso Washington — When Eric Tiénou, a Burkinabé American and avid cyclist based in New York City, learned that devastating flooding in West Africa had killed at least 150 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more, he knew he could help.

Ensuring Education for Girls Worldwide

	To Anyone Who Doubts Girls’ Place in School: ‘Batonga!’ Studies show education protects health, improves earnings potential Washington — When puberty hits adolescents in poor countries, girls start disappearing from classrooms. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always bother adults as much as it should. While access to primary schools has dramatically improved throughout the developing world in recent decades, secondary education for females too often has been seen as an unnecessary privilege. Attendance prevents teenage girls from providing labor for their families or getting married and bringing in a dowry.

Global Health: Fighting H1N1 Influenza Virus

2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus: A Global Challenge State Department on U.S. efforts to confront the spread of H1N1 President Barack Obama announced in September 2009 that the United States is acting aggressively to confront the spread of the pandemic 2009-H1N1 influenza and will make as much as 10 percent of our H1N1 vaccine supply available to other countries through the World Health Organization (WHO).

Freedom of Speech and Religion – Release of the 2009 Department of State International Religious Freedom Report

Freedom of Speech and Religion Must Be Balanced, Clinton Says Religious tolerance also promotes national stability Washington — There must be a sensible balance between freedom of religion and freedom of speech, says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. “An individual’s ability to practice his or her religion has no bearing on others’ freedom of speech,” Clinton said at a special briefing October 26 marking the release of the 2009 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom .

Clinton on Release of International Religious Freedom Report 2009 Report focuses on promoting interfaith dialogue and tolerance, she says U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman October 26, 2009 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton On The Release of the 2009 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom.

Executive Summary of 2009 State Dept. Religious Freedom Report Overview of state-sponsored challenges to religious freedom worldwide U.S. Department of State BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR International Religious Freedom Report 2009 October 26, 2009.

Introduction to 2009 State Department Religious Freedom Report U.S. encourages nations to protect religious freedom, promote tolerance In his landmark speech at Cairo University, President Obama articulated his vision for "a new beginning" between the United States and Muslims around the world – a relationship based on mutual interest and mutual respect. Building stronger ties, he said, requires "a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground." This renewed engagement compels us not to shirk from contentious issues but rather to "face these tensions squarely" and work as partners to solve problems.

Briefing on 2009 Report on International Religious Freedom Assistant Secretary Posner discuss human rights and national security ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSNER: Thank you, Madame Secretary, for your remarks and for your leadership on this issue of religious freedom. I have recently been confirmed as the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. In this position, I’m charged with leading the bureau in which the Office of International Religious Freedom is a part.

Preface of 2009 State Department Religious Freedom Report State Department submits annual report on religious freedom to Congress The Department of State submits this report to the Congress in compliance with Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. The law provides that the Secretary of State, with the assistance of the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, shall transmit to Congress “an Annual Report on International Religious Freedom supplementing the most recent Human Rights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters involving international religious freedom.”