WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, April 26, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ --

LiveAtState | May 5th | Threats to Civilian Security in Africa

Please join the U.S. Department of State for an online press conference featuring Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall. Having recently returned from Guinea and Mali, the Under Secretary will discuss the threat of violent extremism in Africa, as well as ending female genital mutilation/cutting and ensuring accountability for sexual violence in conflict. Journalists will be able to submit questions ahead of time and live during the briefing.

DETAILS: 

Speakers:                         Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall

Topic:                                Threats to civilian security in Africa: violent extremism, female genital mutilation/cutting, and sexual violence in conflict

Date:                                  Thursday, May 5, 2016

Time:                                 09:00 a.m. EDT | 13:00 GMT

Language:                        English, with live interpretation into French and Portuguese via phone lines

Ground rules:                ON THE RECORD

Link:                                  To be provided upon RSVP

Dial-in Info:     Please note that all phone lines are listen-only – to ask questions you must enter them in the chat interface OR you can email them to live@state.gov. We appreciate you sending as many questions ahead of time as possible.

English: (as back-up only – participants should be able to listen/watch via the Adobe platform)

              

United States: (877) 336-1829             

International:  +1 636-651-0002           

Access Code:   5806095

French:

              

United States:  (800) 230-1096              

International:  +1 612-234-9959              

Call Name: Civilian Security in Africa French (392370)

Portuguese:

              

United States:  (800) 230-1093              

International:   +1 612-288-0337 

Call Name: Civilian Security in Africa Portuguese (392369)

            

Email address:              During the webchat, if you need to send your question via email instead of the webchat interface, please send it to Live@state.gov and we will add them to the queue.

RSVP:                                 To Live@state.gov with your name and affiliation by 3:00 p.m. EDT May 4, 2016.

About LiveAtState

LiveAtState is the U.S. Department of State’s interactive on-line video platform for engaging international media on the top foreign policy issues of the day. Invited journalists from around the world submit questions and receive live video answers from U.S. policymakers. By harnessing cutting edge web chat technology, we are able to cross borders and time zones, offering international media new opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions with U.S. policymakers through unscripted “virtual press briefings” that address the most pressing topics of the day. Past LiveAtState programs may be viewed on www.state.gov/liveatstate

How to Ask Questions in LiveAtState

During the LiveAtState event, please enter your questions into the Q&A box at the bottom of your screen in the “Press Questions” window or email Live@state.gov. You may also send questions in advance to the same email address.

BIO: Sarah Sewall

Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights

Term of Appointment: 02/20/2014 to present

Dr. Sarah Sewall is a longtime advocate for advancing civilian security and human rights around the world. Dr. Sewall was sworn in as Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights on February 20, 2014. She serves concurrently as the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. Over the previous decade, Dr. Sewall taught at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she served as Director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy and directed the Program on National Security and Human Rights.

Dr. Sewall has extensive experience partnering with the U.S. armed forces around civilian security. At the Kennedy School, she launched the MARO (Mass Atrocities Response Operations Project) to assist the U.S. military with contingency planning to protect civilians from large-scale violence. She was a member of the Defense Policy Board and served as the Minerva Chair at the Naval War College in 2012. She also led several research studies of U.S. military operations for the Department of Defense and served as the inaugural Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance in the Clinton Administration. Prior joining the executive branch, Dr. Sewall served for six years as the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to U.S. Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell and earned a Ph.D at Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.