To commemorate World Water Day, March 22, 2018, the U.S. Department of State held a public-private forum: “Increasing U.S. Private Sector Participation to Achieve Global Water Security.” Co-hosted with the U.S. Water Partnership, the event looked at how the U.S. government could better support U.S. companies to deploy water solutions in key countries to meet growing water needs. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Judith Garber and National Executive Committee Member for the U.S. Water Partnership Ambassador Harriet C. Babbitt delivered remarks.

U.S. companies, water experts, and officials from across the U.S. government exchanged insights on challenges and opportunities for U.S. businesses in the global water sector. The forum outlined U.S. interagency tools to support U.S. exports in water technology, goods, and services. The event also highlighted U.S. official financing programs, explored innovative finance tools for water infrastructure, and discussed how to better deploy U.S. solutions to respond to natural disasters and emergencies. Lastly, since the global water and wastewater market is valued at over $700 billion annually and growing, the forum looked at the top ten potential foreign markets for U.S. water technology exports and examined obstacles and opportunities for U.S. companies.

By 2025, nearly two-thirds of the world’s projected eight billion people will be living under water-stressed conditions, including roughly a billion people who will face absolute water scarcity—less than 264 gallons per person per year. In response to this growing crisis, the U.S. government in 2017 released the first U.S. Global Water Strategy, a comprehensive roadmap involving more than 17 U.S. government agencies and departments. The Strategy’s goal is to create a more water-secure world by building capacity, mobilizing resources from all sectors, promoting science and technology, and engaging diplomatically and through partnerships with governments, finance partners, NGOs, consumers, research institutions, and especially U.S. private sector technology and service firms.

On World Water Day 2018, the forum underscored that U.S. technology and innovation have an essential role to play in building a future in which every person has access to clean water.

For more information, contact OES-PA-DG@state.gov and follow the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs on Twitter @StateDeptOES and #WorldWaterDay and #innovatewater.

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The Department of State has designated Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari (KIB) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. E.O. 13224 imposes strict sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. This designation seeks to deny KIB the resources it needs to plan and carry out further terrorist attacks. Among other consequences, all of the group’s property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the group.

Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari is the largest Uzbek fighting force in Syria. The group has played a significant role in the fighting in northwestern Syria, fighting alongside groups including al-Nusrah Front – al-Qa’ida’s affiliate in Syria and a State Department designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and SDGT group. In April 2017, KIB published a video showing armed men taking part in clashes, and in December 2015, posted a video of a training camp for children, where children are taught to handle and fire weapons.

A list of State Department-designated FTOs and SDGTs is available here: https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/index.htm.

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.

The Department of State and the Government of Jordan today inaugurated a new regional counterterrorism training facility south of Amman.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Michael T. Evanoff , U.S. Embassy Amman Chargé d’Affaires Henry T. Wooster, His Royal Highness Prince Rashid, and Jordanian Gendarmerie Director Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh formally dedicated the new Jordanian Gendarmerie Training Academy, which was funded, constructed, and equipped through the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program.

Once fully operational, the new training center, part of a larger Gendarmerie training facility, will double ATA’s regional counterterrorism training capacity in Jordan in hard skills such as crisis response, explosive incident countermeasures, post-blast investigations, and tactical medicine.

For 30 years, the Government of Jordan has proven itself a steadfast partner of the ATA program and has contributed significantly to U.S. efforts to advance the counterterrorism capabilities of law enforcement agencies in the region.

Through the ATA program, Jordan has become a regional training hub where ATA has trained not only Jordanian police but also police from at least 21 other nations.

About the Antiterrorism Assistance Program

Established in 1983, the Department of State’s ATA program is the U.S. government’s premier counterterrorism training and equipment provider for foreign law enforcement agencies. All ATA assistance is delivered within a rule-of-law framework that promotes respect for human rights and fosters development of a self-sustaining capability through best practices such as embedded mentors and train-the-trainer programs.

ATA receives funding and policy guidance from the Bureau of Counterterrorism and is administered by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and its Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

Through ATA, DSS personnel build the critical counterterrorism capabilities of law enforcement partners abroad with both knowledge-enhancing training courses and tactical skills development to detect, deter, and disrupt terrorist activities. With its cutting-edge curriculum and equipment grants, the ATA program continues to contribute greatly to the security of our nation, our partners worldwide, and overall international peace and stability.

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.

The Department of State has designated Joe Asperman as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. E.O. 13224 imposes sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. This designation seeks to deny Asperman the resources he needs to plan and carry out further terrorist attacks. Among other consequences, all of his property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him.

French national Joe Asperman is a senior chemical weapons expert for ISIS. Asperman oversaw chemical operations production within Syria for ISIS and the deployment of these chemical weapons at the battlefront.

Today’s actions notify the U.S. public and the international community that Asperman has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism. Terrorism designations expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of U.S. agencies and other governments.

Lists of State Department-designated FTOs and SDGTs are available here.

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.

Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan to Honor Awardees on March 23;

Special Remarks by First Lady of the United States Melania Trump

Due to inclement weather, the 2018 International Women of Courage Award Ceremony is postponed until Friday, March 23, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.

On Friday, March 23, Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan will host the annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards at the U.S. Department of State to honor 10 extraordinary women from around the world. First Lady of the United States Melania Trump will deliver special remarks at the ceremony. In addition, Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert will deliver opening and closing remarks.

Now in its 12th year, the Secretary of State’s IWOC Award recognizes women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice. Since the inception of this award in 2007, the State Department has recognized more than 120 women from more than 65 different countries. U.S. diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries. The finalists are selected and approved by senior Department officials.

The bios of the 2018 awardees are located here and names listed below:

Roya Sadat of Afghanistan

Aura Elena Farfan of Guatemala

Dr. Julissa Villanueva of Honduras

Aliyah Khalaf Saleh of Iraq

Sister Maria Elena Berini of Italy (nominated by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See)

Aiman Umarova of Kazakhstan

Dr. Feride Rushiti of Kosovo

L’Malouma Said of Mauritania

Godelive Mukasarasi of Rwanda

Sirikan Charoensiri of Thailand

Following the official award ceremony and meetings in Washington, D.C., the IWOC honorees will travel individually to Austin, Cleveland, Dallas, Pensacola, Phoenix, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, or San Antonio on the International Visitor Leadership Program. American organizations and businesses will host the IWOC awardees and collaborate with them on strategies and ideas to empower women both in the United States and abroad. The awardees will reconvene in Los Angeles for a closing ceremony before returning to their home countries.

Use #WomenOfCourage for news and updates on this year’s award. For press inquiries, contact ECA-Press@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.