The United States supports efforts to promote the advancement of women through various embassy activities. A combination of funding and information exchange form the foundation of a process which elevates women's issues by expressing U.S. support for programs geared to the empowerment of women. Encouraging Dialogue on the Issues. Embassies are raising key women's rights issues with host governments, women's groups, and non-governmental organizations and are devising means to energize U.S. Government efforts around the world to promote the empowerment of women. Funding Grassroots Projects.
Many embassies use discretionary funds to support grassroots efforts for the advancement of women.
For example, in 1996, the U.S. Embassy in Namibia devoted its 1996 democracy and human rights discretionary funds to promote women's issues, funding six community-based programs on sexual violence against women and girls. The promotion of democracy is a U.S. foreign policy goal. The full participation and representation of women in the political lives of their countries builds a foundation for sustainable democracy. The State Department is supporting programs aimed at politically empowering women to become involved in all aspects of political life, including voting, running for office, and advocating for political change. For example, the State Department recently provided funding to a non-governmental organization which provides women in Asia with the training and skills to run for political office.