The United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, under the auspices of the Global Counterterrorism Forum and in partnership with the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, launched a global initiative to address homegrown terrorism on November 15–16, 2017.

ISIS’s prolific use of social media has expanded its reach throughout the world, allowing the group to direct or inspire adherents, including those who have never stepped foot in a conflict zone, to commit acts of terrorism in their own countries. The homegrown terrorism threat is growing as ISIS attempts to compensate for the loss of control of territory in Iraq and Syria by encouraging and directing attacks elsewhere, including by leveraging foreign terrorist fighters relocating from the conflict zone. Recent attacks in Barcelona, New York, and Manchester, show no country is immune to these terrorist attacks.

To address homegrown terrorism, the initiative’s launch brought together over 70 government officials, law enforcement officers, academics, and non-governmental representatives from 25 countries. The participants discussed the trends and issues associated with homegrown terrorism, and highlighted available tools and programs to address this threat. Participants reviewed ways to improve information sharing, both within and among governments, and examined prevention and intervention programs. This initiative will result in non-binding good practices for policymakers and practitioners that will highlight comprehensive and integrated approaches to preventing and detecting homegrown terrorists.

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The Department of State has submitted the first annual report to Congress as required by the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt (END) Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016.

Wildlife trafficking remains a serious transnational crime that threatens security, economic prosperity, the rule of law, long-standing conservation efforts, and human health. The U.S. government is combating this illegal trade at home and abroad by targeting three strategic priorities: strengthening enforcement; reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife; and building international cooperation. Wildlife trafficking is one of four areas highlighted in Executive Order 13773, signed by President Trump on February 9, 2017, calling for a comprehensive and decisive approach to dismantle organized crime syndicates.

The Act directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce, to submit to Congress a report that lists Focus Countries and Countries of Concern, as defined in the Act. Each Focus Country is a major source, transit point, or consumer of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives. Being identified as a Focus Country is neither a positive nor negative designation. Many Focus Countries have taken significant steps to combat wildlife trafficking, including in partnership with the United States. A Country of Concern is one whose government has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened species. The United States looks forward to continuing dialogue with both Focus Countries and Countries of Concern to identify steps to thwart transnational organized crime engaged in wildlife trafficking.

The 2017 Focus Countries identified are Bangladesh, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. The 2017 Countries of Concern are Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Laos.

For more information, contact Tory Peabody (PeabodyVW@state.gov) and follow the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs on Twitter @StateDeptOES.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will host discussions with foreign ministers or their representatives from the African continent, including the African Union Commission Chairman, in Washington, D.C. on November 17, 2017. The discussions will be based on three themes: trade and investment, security, and good governance. This meeting will advance the U.S. agenda, working with African partners, to promote a shared commitment to open markets; free and fair trade; democracy and the rule of law; and effective responses to global terrorist threats. This meeting also builds on President Trump’s working lunch with African leaders in September at the UN General Assembly.

The opening session and the family photo session will be open to the press.

For Opening Remarks at 9:45 am in the Loy Henderson Conference Room: Pre-set time for cameras: 8:30 am from the 23rd Street entrance. Final access time for writers and stills: 9:15 am from the 23rd Street entrance.

For the Family Photo at 11:30 am in the Dean Acheson Auditorium: Pre-set time for cameras: 10:45 am from the 23^rd Street entrance. Final access time for writers and stills: 11:15 am from the 23^rd Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend these events upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued photo media credential (e.g., Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), or (2) an official photo identification card issued by their news organization, or (3) a letter from their employer on official letterhead verifying their current employment as a journalist.

Additionally, they must present an official government photo identification card (i.e., U.S. driver’s license or passport).

For more information, please contact AF-Press@State.gov or the State Department’s Office of Press Relations at 202-647-2492.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

We honor the memory of Sergey Magnitskiy, who died on November 16, 2009, while in custody in a Moscow prison. An investigation by Russia’s Presidential Human Rights Council found that Magnitskiy had been severely beaten in prison, and members of the Council said his death resulted from beatings and torture by police officials.

Magnitskiy uncovered a vast tax fraud scheme perpetrated by Russian officials, and was imprisoned by those whose crimes he uncovered. Russian authorities have failed to hold those responsible for his death accountable and instead, in recent months appear to be increasingly propagating conspiracy theories designed to distract attention from the crime.

In honor of Magnitskiy’s extraordinary courage, we continue to support efforts to hold those responsible for his treatment in prison and subsequent death accountable, including implementation of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

Today the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development are releasing the U.S. government’s Global Water Strategy.

Safe water and sanitation are fundamental to human health, economic development, peace and security. Globally, three in ten people lack safe drinking water in their homes, and six in ten people lack safe sanitation. Water scarcity is forecasted to intensify in the years and decades ahead. A predicted two-thirds of the world’s population will live in water-stressed conditions by 2025. Many nations have no agreements or frameworks in place to share their water resources. These challenges have the potential to spread disease, undermine economic development, exacerbate migration pressures, increase civil unrest, reduce trade and export opportunities, and prevent countries from advancing policies and programs important to the United States.

The Global Water Strategy envisions a water-secure world, where people and nations have the water they need to be healthy, prosperous, and resilient. To advance the Strategy, the U.S. government will work with partner countries and key stakeholders to achieve four interrelated objectives: (1) increasing access to sustainable safe drinking water and sanitation services, and promoting hygiene; (2) protecting freshwater resources; (3) promoting cooperation on shared waters; and (4) strengthening water governance and financing. The U.S. government’s efforts will focus on countries and regions where needs and opportunities are greatest and where engagement can best protect our national security interests.

The Strategy reflects contributions from more than 17 U.S. government agencies and departments and is intended to mobilize knowledge, expertise, and resources from across the United States to create a more water-secure world. The U.S. Global Water Strategy is required by the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014. For a copy of the U.S. Global Water Strategy please visit: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/rls/rpts/globalwaterstrategy/index.htm and www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/water-and-sanitation/us-global-water-strategy. For more information, contact Tory Peabody at PeabodyVW@state.gov.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.