U.S. State Dept. - "Looking Ahead: Opportunities & Challenges for Women's Political Participation in 2014"

Link here. Excerpt:

'Catherine M. Russell
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues
National Democratic Institute (NDI) Offices
...
Let me commend specifically the important work that you are doing in the hard places. To IRI, thank you for the work you have done with your Women’s Democracy Network — to build the capacity of Syrian women in negotiation, leadership, advocacy, and other skills at this critical time for their country.

To NDI, thank you for the work you are doing in Afghanistan to help Afghan women be competitive in the upcoming elections -- through women’s campaign schools, one-on-one consultations with women candidates and developing policy working groups.

My job as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s issues is to promote the status of women and girls as a critical element of our diplomatic efforts. We believe that peace, security, prosperity, and economic growth cannot be achieved without the full participation of women, and that men and boys are important partners in this effort.
...
I've also just returned from a trip to Japan, where the current government is working to increase the percentage of women in leadership roles across society from single digits to 30 percent. There seems to be a growing recognition that the only way to ensure Japan's emergence from its decades long recession is to ensure that women are finally given the tools to participate in the political, economic and social spheres.'