Along with other women journalists in New Delhi today, I had the chance to speak with Melanne Verveer, the Ambassador-at-Large of the US State Department for Global Women's Issues. She spoke of how the Obama Administration is 'mainstreaming'  the women's agenda and ensuring that it be included within  defence, diplomacy and strategic planning. I asked her about her office's role in interacting with NATO in Afghanistan and addressing violence aginst women in armed conflicts. It was a very interesting discussion, and I will soon be writing up a report on this for Insight on Conflict.

Posted by Ashima Kaul, 6 November 2009