UNITED STATES STRATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY - JUNE 2019
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UNITED STATES
STRATEGY
ON WOMEN, PEACE,
AND SECURITY
JUNE 2019Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................2
The Strategic Challenge....................................................................4
The Theory of Change: A National Strategy on Women,
Peace and Security........................................................................... 5
Line of Effort 1................................................................................................................................... 6
Line of Effort 2................................................................................................................................... 8
Line of Effort 3................................................................................................................................. 10
Line of Effort 4................................................................................................................................. 12
Metrics and Targets........................................................................15
Resourcing and Reporting...............................................................16UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
Introduction
The United States is unapologetic in championing the principles upon which our
country was founded: individual liberty, free enterprise, equal justice under the
law, and the dignity of every human life. The President’s National Security Strategy
(NSS) highlighted that these principles form the foundation of our most enduring
alliances, since governments that respect citizens’ rights “remain the best vehicle
for prosperity, human happiness, and peace.” Further, the NSS also noted that
“governments that fail to treat women equally do not allow their societies to
reach their potential [while] societies that empower women to participate fully in
civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful.”
The Trump Administration is committed to violent extremism, and building post conflict
advancing women’s equality, seeking to protect peace and stability. The WPS Strategy seeks
the rights of women and girls, and promoting to increase women’s meaningful leadership in
women and youth empowerment programs. The political and civic life by helping to ensure they
United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and are empowered to lead and contribute, equipped
Security (WPS Strategy) responds to the Women, with the necessary skills and support to succeed,
Peace, and Security Act of 2017, which President and supported to participate through access to
Donald J. Trump signed into law on October 6, opportunities and resources.
2017.1 This is the first legislation of its kind globally,
which makes the United States the first country in Key departments and agencies that will
the world with a comprehensive law on WPS, and implement the WPS Strategy include, but
de facto, the first with a whole-of-government are not limited to, the Departments of State,
strategy that responds to such a domestic law. Defense (DOD), and Homeland Security (DHS);
The WPS Strategy recognizes the diverse roles and the United States Agency for International
women play as agents of change in preventing Development (USAID). This Administration will
and resolving conflict, countering terrorism and capitalize on the opportunity to link our new,
1
The WPS Strategy responds to the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-68-Oct. 6, 2017), which requires,
within 1 year of the enactment of the Act, and again 4 years thereafter, the submission of a strategy to the appropriate Congres-
sional Committees and its publication. The WPS Strategy supersedes the 2016 U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and
Security; complements relevant laws, appropriations, and Executive Orders, including the State and Foreign Operations Acts
and the National Defense Authorization Act; and satisfies Executive Order 13595.
2UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
strategic approach to women, peace, and security Protection Act (TVPA); and National Security
to the NSS and other national strategic guidance Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) 16: Promoting
on matters of peace and security, including the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity,
2018 National Strategy for Counterterrorism; which the President signed in February 2019,
the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS); State, establishing the Women’s Global Development
DOD, and USAID 2018 Stabilization Assistance and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative. In line with
Review; the 2018 Strategy to Support Women and the NSS, the W-GDP Initiative seeks to empower
Girls at Risk from Violent Extremism and Conflict; women economically around the world, and in so
efforts to counter trafficking consistent with the doing, create conditions for increased stability,
NSS, including pursuant to the Trafficking Victims security, and prosperity for all.
3UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
The Strategic Challenge
A
round the world, conflict and disasters between women’s empowerment and global
adversely and disproportionately affect peace and security. Social and political margin-
women and girls, yet women remain alization of women strongly correlates with the
under-represented in efforts to prevent and likelihood that a country will experience conflict.
resolve conflict, and in post-conflict peace- One metric indicates that 14 of the 17 lowest-
building or recovery efforts. Research has shown scoring countries in the Index for Gender Discrim-
that peace negotiations are more likely to succeed, ination of the Organization for Economic Co-Op-
and result in lasting stability, when women partic- eration and Development have experienced
ipate.2 The barriers to women’s meaningful partic- armed conflict in the last two decades. Global
ipation are numerous, and include under-rep- insecurity also affects the national security of
resentation in political leadership, pervasive the United States, as regions of conflict often
violence against women and girls, and persistent provide safe haven for terrorists and other
inequality in many societies. illicit actors; become proxies for broader wars
between nation-states; and lead to massive
Despite advancements in women’s social, population displacement, migration, and further
political, and economic rights, women still regional instability.
enjoy fewer freedoms and opportunities than
men worldwide. Instability and conflict magnify This Strategy promotes the meaningful inclusion
these challenges in places where malign actors of women in processes to prevent, mediate,
frequently exploit individual, community, and resolve, and recover from deadly conflict or
societal vulnerabilities for their own gain. In these disaster. While the United States maintains
instances, women and girls are often targeted a deep commitment to promoting women’s
for various forms of violence, exploitation, and equality, we recognize that fully achieving that
abuse. Oftentimes, their physical vulnerability goal globally has proven elusive. Much remains to
can be directly traced back to their politically and be done, both to enhance the equality of women
socially disadvantaged place in society. 3 and girls, and to secure the meaningful inclusion
of women in preventing and resolving conflict,
The United States recognizes the linkage and in post-conflict peace building and recovery.
2
Valerie Hudson, Bonnie Ballif-Spanvill, Mary Caprioli, and Chad F. Emmett, Sex and World Peace (New York: Columbia
University Press, 2012).
3
Report of the United Nations Secretary-General on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, March 23, 2018, S/2018/250, Section 11, p. 4
4UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
The Theory of Change:
A National Strategy on Women,
Peace and Security
T
he WPS Strategy acknowledges a preventing, mediating, and resolving conflict
tremendous amount of untapped potential and countering terrorism, in ways that
among the world’s women and girls to promote stable and lasting peace, including in
identify, recommend, and implement effective conflict-affected areas.
solutions to conflict. At its core, the WPS Strategy
recognizes the benefits derived from creating To work toward this end state, the WPS Strategy
opportunities for women and girls to serve as identifies three separate, yet interrelated, strategic
agents of peace via political, economic, and social objectives that must be achieved. These strategic
empowerment. The WPS Strategy therefore aims objectives aim to make demonstrable progress
to make meaningful progress around the world (defined below) by 2023:
to empower women in preventing conflict and
building peace, while endeavoring to rectify the ■■ Women are more prepared and increasingly
disproportionate, adverse impacts of armed able to participate in efforts that promote
conflict on women and girls.4 The United States stable and lasting peace;
embraces these concepts and recognizes the
powerful role that women can play as peace- ■■ Women and girls are safer, better protected,
makers and political agents in societies that are and have equal access to government and
transitioning out of conflict and toward peace. It is private assistance programs, including from
therefore crucial that ongoing United States efforts the United States, international partners, and
to engage in preventing and mitigating conflict host nations; and
around the world strategically factor in the partic-
ipation, perspectives, and interests of women, ■■ United States and partner governments have
including those from under-represented groups. improved institutionalization and capacity
to ensure WPS efforts are sustainable and
This Strategy defines women’s political empow- long-lasting.
erment and equality as the end state whereby
women can meaningfully participate in The WPS Strategy also identifies four lines
4
Security Council Resolution 1325, October 31, 2000, S/RES/1325
5UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
of effort, which are the separate-yet-interre- investments and ensure accountability. When
lated ways to synchronize and prioritize United and where the United States does choose to
States actions to achieve the strategic objec- engage, the WPS Strategy will help inform how
tives. Importantly, actions (tasks) completed the United States approaches and prioritizes
within each of the lines of effort will focus on its involvement, including in coordination with
improving women’s empowerment and equality like-minded partners, to secure more effective
in one or more of the conflict phases: preventing and lasting gains.
conflict and preparing for disasters; managing,
mitigating, and resolving conflict and crisis;
and post-conflict and post-crisis efforts in relief Line of Effort 1:
and recovery.
Support the preparation and meaningful
LINE OF EFFORT 1: Seek and support the prepa- participation of women around the
ration and meaningful participation of women world in informal and formal decision-
around the world in decision-making processes making processes related to conflict
related to conflict and crises; and crisis.
LINE OF EFFORT 2: Promote the protection of The Goal
women and girls’ human rights; access to human-
itarian assistance; and safety from violence, Increase women’s meaningful participation in
abuse, and exploitation around the world; political, civic, and military processes to prevent
and resolve conflicts, prepare for disasters, and
LINE OF EFFORT 3: Adjust United States interna- set conditions for stability during post conflict
tional programs to improve outcomes in equality and post-crisis efforts.
for, and the empowerment of, women; and
The Problem
LINE OF EFFORT 4: Encourage partner govern-
ments to adopt policies, plans, and capacity to In spite of the growing evidence of a direct
improve the meaningful participation of women correlation between the equality and empow-
in processes connected to peace and security erment of women and a nation’s stability,
and decision-making institutions. women remain critically under-represented in
conflict prevention, conflict-resolution, and
Further, we acknowledge that we will likely not post-conflict peace building efforts. The voices
be able to advance WPS principles in every corner and concerns of women affected by violence
of the globe. As with all matters of national during conflict — those who will carry much
security, the United States will continue to of the burden for healing and rebuilding their
engage selectively, and in ways that advance communities in peacetime — are routinely absent
America’s national interests. The United States from, or overlooked at, the negotiating table.
Government will also serve as responsible Despite numerous examples of women who
stewards of taxpayer dollars, seeking to optimize have provided leadership to prevent and resolve
6UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
conflict at local, national, and regional levels, The WPS Strategy Approach
persistent inequality and marginalization often
prevents women from realizing their full potential Departments and agencies will tailor their
and influence as negotiators, mediators, and engagements and programs in ways that help
decision makers. The United Nations (UN) women around the world be more prepared
reports that between 1992 and 2011, women for, and able to participate in, decision-making
made up just 2 percent of mediators, 4 percent processes related to conflict and crisis.
of witnesses and signatories, and 9 percent of
negotiators in formal post-conflict peace talks.5 Illustrative activities in support of the above goal
could include (and noting primarily in which conflict
The first step in advancing WPS principles or crisis phase(s) the activities would be focused):
requires that we empower women and girls with
the tools and capabilities they need to engage ALL PHASES:
meaningfully in conflict and crisis situations,
whether before, during, or after these events, and ■■ Encourage the increased, meaningful partici-
then encourage their meaningful participation pation of women in security-sector initiatives
in efforts to promote stable and lasting peace. funded by the United States Government,
Increasing women’s capacity to participate including programs that provide training to
meaningfully in peace and political processes foreign nationals regarding law enforcement,
provides them with the distinct advantage to be the rule of law, and professional military
prepared to contribute to a range of formal and education. United States courses that histor-
informal peace proce sses, dialogues, and negoti- ically attract only male international students
ations that determine the fates of their families from certain countries or regions should
and communities. consider ways to incentivize the inclusion of
female students as well.
The factors that preclude women’s meaningful
participation vary from one country to the next. ■■ Integrate women’s perspectives and interests
Legal, structural, and other barriers also often into conflict prevention, conflict-resolution,
interact with deeply entrenched social norms and post conflict peace-building activities and
to undermine women’s influence and represen- strategies, including women from under-rep-
tation. For the United States to be successful resented groups, via consultation with local
in its efforts, it is critical that we understand women leaders in the design, implementation,
local barriers before setting out a program to and evaluation of United States initiatives;
overcome them. The design of efforts must go
hand-in-hand with research, and implementers ■■ Encourage the inclusion of women leaders
must seek the continuous input of the women and women’s organizations in the prevention
they are trying to serve. and resolution of conflict, and in post-conflict
5
UN Women, “Women’s Participation in Peace Negotiations: Connections between Presence and Influence,” (October 2012) p. 3.
7UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
peace-building efforts. Where appropriate, Line of Effort 2:
United States diplomatic, military, and devel-
opment interventions will lead by example Promote the protection of women and
through inclusion of American women in such girls’ human rights, access to aid,
efforts, and will engage local women leaders and safety from violence, abuse, and
as vital partners, including through support exploitation around the world.
that advances their meaningful political
participation and empowerment, capacity, The Goal
credibility, and professional development; and
Women and girls’ security, human rights, and
■■ Use relevant analysis and indicators, including needs are protected – by their governments,
the collection of sex-disaggregated data, to augmented as appropriate with regional or other
identify and address barriers to women’s security sector forces – so they can meaningfully
meaningful participation in the prevention contribute locally, nationally, and globally.
and resolution of conflict, and in post-con-
flict peace-building efforts and programs, The Problem
including early warning systems related to
conflict and violence. Women and girls bear unique, and sometimes
disproportionate, impacts of armed conflict.6
PREVENTING CONFLICT AND PREPARING In many conflict-affected and fragile settings
FOR DISASTERS:Provide, as appropriate, around the world, malign actors deliberately
technical assistance and training to female target and attack women and girls, often
negotiators, mediators, peace-builders, and with impunity, for various forms of violence,
stakeholders. including, but not limited to, physical and sexual
violence, torture, mutilation, trafficking, and
MANAGING, MITIGATING, AND RESOLVING slavery. While women and girls sometimes
CONFLICT AND CRISIS: Provide, as appro- voluntarily join terrorist organizations, some
priate, logistical support to female negotiators, may be coerced or manipulated into becoming
mediators, peace-builders, and stakeholders, terrorists or foreign terrorist fighters themselves.
particularly during democratic transitions, which Post-conflict, women and girls continue to
is critical to sustaining democratic institutions, experience high levels of violence and insecurity.
creating more inclusive democratic societies, and Most survivors never receive justice, and,
contributing to long-term stability. instead, face considerable challenges in gaining
access to the medical, psychosocial, legal, and
POST-CONFLICT AND POST-CRISIS RELIEF economic support that is necessary to help them
AND RECOVERY: Support, as appropriate, local heal, recover, and rebuild their lives. These
women’s peace-building organizations. patterns have been shown to have devastating
6
Security Council Resolution 2106, S/RES/2106, 24 June 2016
8UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
effects on societies, and lead to continued cycles slavery, and recruiting women to become
of insecurity and instability.7 terrorists themselves have become a hallmark
of terrorist groups, trapping thousands of
Breakdowns in the rule of law and forced women and girls in cycles of repression and
displacement from conflict and disaster expose violence. Ongoing efforts to address the adverse
refugees and internally displaced persons, partic- impact of terrorism and violent extremism are
ularly women and girls, to additional risks of therefore more effective and sustainable when
violence and exploitation. Women cannot fully we empower women and girls to be active partic-
participate in the prevention or resolution of ipants and leaders in preventing and responding
conflict or participate in recovery efforts if they to terrorism and political violence.
themselves are victims of violence or intimi-
dation, and pervasive violence against women The WPS Strategy Approach
and girls undermines the recovery of entire
communities and countries affected by violence Departments and agencies will support
or disaster. countries’ local and regional efforts to seek to
ensure women and girls are protected from
In situations of conflict and crisis, during which all forms of violence, and benefit equally from
populations rely on humanitarian assistance and governmental and non-governmental assistance
other aid to meet their basic needs and begin the and development programs.
challenging process of recovery, the United States
Government must design our efforts to address Illustrative activities in support of the above goal
the distinct needs of women and girls, including could include the following:
women’s economic security, safety and dignity.
Women cannot participate in the prevention or ALL PHASES: Address security-related barriers
resolution of conflict or recovery from disaster if to the protection of women. This includes the
they cannot meet their basic needs or provide for following:
their children.
■■ Identify and reduce obstacles or barriers not
Data also indicates that the consequences codified in formal rules or regulations but that
of terrorism and terrorism-related violence nonetheless reflect sex-based discrimination,
in conflict uniquely affect women and girls. sex-based bias, or lack of recognition for
Women are often the first targets of terrorism women’s rights;
and violent extremist ideologies, which restrict
their rights and can lead to increases in violence ■■ Address the use of violence, intimidation, or
against them. Terrorists often advocate for, harassment to prevent women from partici-
and carry out, the enslavement of women and pating in decision-making or related political,
girls. Tactics such as human trafficking, sexual diplomatic or military processes;
7
According to the UN Secretary General’s 2018 Report on Conflict-related Sexual Violence, the accumulation of unresolved
crimes fuels new cycles of violence, vengeance and vigilantism, which are inimical to reconciliation. Report of the Secre-
tary-General on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Sec. 20 p. 7, S/2018/250 (March 23, 2018).
9UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
■■ Champion efforts to prevent and respond recruitment. This includes promoting voices
to sexual abuse and exploitation by peace- of pluralism and tolerance, undermining the
keepers and relief workers; and power of terrorist ideologies; undercutting
terrorist recruiting; and raising awareness of
■■ Encourage countries’ local law-enforcement radicalization and recruitment dynamics via
and judicial systems to appropriately address outreach, training, and international exchanges.
gender-based violence against women and
girls, especially as part of transitional justice POST-CONFLICT AND POST-CRISIS RELIEF
processes and initiatives. AND RECOVERY:
PREVENTING CONFLICT AND PREPARING ■■ Design United States diplomatic, military, and
FOR DISASTERS: development interventions in conflict- and
disaster-affected areas to maximize protection
■■ In coordination with broader United States for women and girls, and seek to ensure
efforts to provide humanitarian assistance women and girls receive equal access to
and disaster relief, ensure women and girls justice, humanitarian assistance, appropriate
have safe and equal access to humanitarian medical care, and psycho-social support for
assistance, including food, shelter, and survivors of violence, exploitation, and abuse,
heath security targeted at saving lives. This including for their children; and
includes efforts to increase access to humani-
tarian assistance in line with the Unites States ■■ Design humanitarian-assistance programs to
Government’s interpretation of the laws of reduce risks faced by women and girls in crisis
armed conflict and International Human and conflict, and to meet the specific needs of
Rights Law; women and girls who have experienced or are
at risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse.
■■ Support solutions to prevent and respond
to violence against women and girls. This
includes collecting and analyzing sex-dis- Line of Effort 3:
aggregated data for the purpose of devel-
oping and enhancing early warning systems Adjust United States international pro-
of conflict and violence; supporting multi- grams to improve outcomes in equality
lateral efforts, including at the UN, to address for, and the empowerment of, women.
violence in conflict, including sexual violence,
human trafficking, and slavery; and integrating The Goal
efforts to combat drivers of violence against
women and girls into conflict and efforts to The United States maintains its role as a leader
prevent atrocities; and on the world stage in promoting the meaningful
participation of women in preventing, managing,
■■ Empower women as partners in preventing and resolving conflict, and efforts in post-conflict
terrorism and countering radicalization and relief and recovery.
10UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
The Problem opment personnel to advance the goals of this
strategy through an ongoing process of training,
The United States has long proven its commitment education, and professional development in
to address injustice against women and girls in partnership with specialists who can provide
conflict areas, alongside our broader commitment insight and understanding to this challenging field.
to help those in need and those trying to build a
better future for their families. Through engage- Illustrative activities in support of the above goal
ments with partners and at multilateral organiza- could include the following:
tions such as the United Nations, the United States
has won recognition from friends and competitors ALL PHASES:
alike as a champion of women’s empowerment
across the phases of conflict and crisis resolution. ■■ Train United States diplomatic, military, and
development personnel, as appropriate,
As noted in the NSS, the competitions, rivalries, on the needs and perspectives of women in
and challenges that face the United States are preventing, mediating, and resolving conflict,
real and ongoing. As the United States responds including women from under-represented
to growing political, economic, and military groups; on protecting civilians from violence,
competitions around the world, we must also exploitation, and trafficking in persons; and,
ensure we mitigate conflict at its source – in accordance with the United States Govern-
including the role that systemic inequality faced ment’s understanding, on International
by women and girls serves as a known driver of Humanitarian Law and International Human
conflict.8 Just as the United States Government is Rights Law;
modernizing and integrating our tools to counter
terrorism and protect the homeland, we will also ■■ Support research into, and the evaluation
update our policies, training, and approaches of, effective strategies and the development
to emphasize the relationship between women and sharing of best practices for ensuring the
and security, helping ensure our WPS efforts are meaningful participation by women, to include
sustainable and long-lasting. This will include exchanges with international partners;
giving consideration to the unique security
requirements of both females and males, while ■■ Expand and apply gender analysis, as appro-
finding opportunities to promote the equal rights priate, to improve the design and targeting of
and opportunities of women and girls. United States Government programs;9
The WPS Strategy Approach ■■ Conduct assessments of new initiatives,
including perspectives from affected women,
The United States Government must equip and including women from under-represented
empower its diplomatic, military, and devel- groups;
8
See Mary Caprioli, “Primed for Violence: The Role of Gender Inequality in Predicting Internal Conflict,” International Studies
Quarterly 49, No. 2 (2005): 161–178.
9
The WPS Strategy incorporates the definition of “gender analysis” outlined in the Women’s Economic Empowerment and
Entrepreneurship Act, namely, to undertake analysis of “quantitative and qualitative information to identify, understand, and
explain gaps between men and women.”
11UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
■■ Develop public-private partnerships; leverage The Problem
non-Federal entities such as non-govern-
mental organizations, faith based organiza- Around the world, a wide range of factors prevent
tions, and businesses; and foster relationships women from participating meaningfully in efforts
between non-Federal partners and partner that promote stable and lasting peace. Some
governments to increase burden-sharing and of these factors stem from biases based on
ensure the sustainability of programs; normative perceptions about the roles of women
and men. However, others are consequences
■■ Target assistance strategically, by identifying of legal, regulatory, and structural barriers
a limited set of cases in which United States designed to prevent women from having a formal
Government WPS programs have a signif- say in how issues related to peace and security
icant opportunity for measurable impact and are brokered in their societies. These barriers
avoiding duplication, reduced impact, and are often supported by imbalanced or corrupt
wasted resources; and systems of power and influence that neglect and
exploit women at the cost of effective governance
■■ Demonstrate and quantify the tangible and lasting peace.
outcomes and impact of its assistance under
the WPS. Research indicates that when women are involved
in peace negotiations, they are more likely to
raise social issues that help societies reconcile
Line of Effort 4: and recover. Furthermore, studies suggest that
when women meaningfully participate in peace
Encourage partner governments to adopt negotiations, the likelihood that the resulting
policies, plans, and capacity to improve peace plan will last more than 2 years increases
the meaningful participation of women in by 20 percent, and the likelihood that it will last
processes connected to peace and security more than 15 years increases by 35 percent.10
and decision-making institutions. Considering that more than half of all peace
agreements fail within 5 years, the inclusion of
The Goal women in conflict resolution arguably saves lives
and limits the devastating economic costs of war.
Partner governments are reforming policies,
programs, and plans to increase women’s Experience further indicates that when women
meaningful participation in processes connected participate in security sector roles, they achieve
to peace and security and decision-making insti- substantive and lasting gains in peace and
tutions. security. For example, female peacekeepers are
more likely to gain admission to geographic and
10
Laurel Stone, “Annex II: Quantitative Analysis of Women’s participation in Peace Processes,” Reimagining Peacemaking:
Women’s Roles in Peace Processes (New York: International Peace Institute, 2015) (study of 156 peace agreements, controlling
for other variables).
12UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
population sectors traditionally closed to their women. This includes encouraging partner
male counterparts, which gives them unique governments to revise formal laws, rules,
access to information about the local security and regulations that disadvantage women
environment and potential risks. Women peace- as equal participants in all phases of conflict
keepers are also more likely to enjoy the trust and crisis resolution; support the effective
and confidence from the communities they implementation of laws, rules, and regulations
serve, and more likely to empower women to join that promote women as equal participants
security sector ranks, including the military and in all phases of resolving and responding to
law enforcement.11 conflict and crisis; and adopt plans to improve
the meaningful participation of women in
The WPS Strategy offers a foundation for processes connected to peace and security
long-lasting change. However, sustainability will and decision-making institutions;
require the support of the global community,
including non governmental entities, such as ■■ Assist partner governments to increase the
civil society and faith-based organizations, and opportunity for women to serve in security
private businesses, which have a long-term sector forces, including peacekeeping,
presence in country and often play a role in military, and law enforcement organizations.
helping to rebuild post-conflict and fragile states. This includes developing women’s technical
and professional competencies so they can
The WPS Strategy Approach better compete for security sector roles, and
seeking to cultivate and promote qualified
Departments and agencies will aim to reduce women in peace operations, peacekeeping
barriers and enhance protections in partner missions, and national administrations,
countries’ policies, laws, regulations and including at senior leadership levels across all
practices that impede women’s ability to relevant areas, including political, diplomatic,
engage or participate in preventing conflict and development and military sectors, on par with
preparing for disasters; managing, mitigating, their male counterparts. This also includes
and resolving conflict and crisis; and post-con- encouraging partner governments to foster
flict and post-crisis relief and recovery. professional growth for women as security
sector professionals via career counseling,
Illustrative activities in support of the above goal networking, targeted recruitment, and
could include the following: mentoring programs;
ALL PHASES: ■■ Support, and coordinate with, other countries
in their efforts to improve the meaningful
■■ Address host-nation barriers that discrim- participation of women in processes
inate against the meaningful participation of connected to peace and security, conflict-pre-
11
UN Women Policy Brief, Exploratory Options On Using Financial Incentives to Increase the Percentage of Military Women in UN
Peackeeping Missions (UN Women, 2015), http://wps.unwomen.org/resources/briefs/financial.pdf .
13UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
vention, peace-building, transitional justice, boys as partners in support of the meaningful
and decision-making institutions; participation of women in society.
■■ Confer with host governments and non-gov- MANAGING, MITIGATING, AND RESOLVING
ernmental organizations to reduce barriers CONFLICT AND CRISIS: Encourage the devel-
to and enhance the meaningful participation opment of transitional justice and accountability
of women in economic, political, and security mechanisms that are inclusive of the experiences
spheres, including the engagement of men and and perspectives of women and girls, including
boys in support of women’s equality; and women from under-represented groups. Work
with willing partners to strengthen their national
■■ Promote the American values of individual frameworks for justice and accountability with
liberty, religious freedom, and equal treatment the goal of ending impunity for all types of crimes
under the law in our engagement with other and atrocities, including gender-based violence
nations to implement the WPS Strategy. in conflict. This includes supporting survivors
of violence by providing access to healing and
PREVENTING CONFLICT AND PREPARING recovery programs, combating norms that
FOR DISASTERS: Support partner countries’ exacerbate violence in conflict, and seeking timely
training, education, and mobilization of men and justice and accountability for crimes committed.
14UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
Metrics and Targets
T
o track progress toward women’s ability The WPS Strategy understands “meaningful” as
to participate meaningfully in and having a measurable, enduring impact on one or
contribute to preventing, mediating, and all of the identified strategic objectives, and in
resolving conflict and countering terrorism, the one or all phases of conflict or crisis prevention
Administration will commit to rigorously track and resolution. “Meaningful” participation is not
and report on metrics across the interagency defined by a set proportion of women’s partic-
on an annual basis, and will seek meaningful ipation in every context. Instead, we will take
change in all three strategic objectives by relevant circumstantial factors into account, and,
2023. This will include reporting on training where necessary, apply lessons learned from the
requirements for applicable United States past, analytic rigor, and evidence-based research
Government personnel, as well as a summary to inform targeted and effective policies and
and evaluation of this strategy’s implemen- programming going forward. We will develop
tation by departments and agencies; applicable context-specific markers by which to measure
interagency coordination completed; and the progress on our efforts.
monitoring and evaluation tools, mechanisms,
and common indicators to assess progress To fulfill our responsibility to be good stewards
made within this strategy’s lines of efforts and of national resources, programs carried out
to achieve the strategic objectives by 2023. in furtherance of the WPS Strategy must
Departments and agencies will coordinate this measurably accomplish their goals. Departments
reporting with the reporting requirements of and agencies must modify or reassess programs
NSPM 16: Promoting Women’s Global Devel- that fail to do so, and must harness learning to
opment and Prosperity, to ensure data tracking inform future planning and implementation. To
for the two efforts is complementary and ensure accountability, departments and agencies
non-duplicative. To the extent common metrics will provide measurable goals, benchmarks, and
are reported and counted towards both efforts, timetables for their proposed WPS initiatives as
departments and agencies will clearly indicate part of their implementation plans, in addition to
where that is the case. estimating resource requirements.
15UNITED STATES STR ATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURIT Y
Resourcing and Reporting
N
o later than 90 days after this Strategy goes 4) Corresponding timelines and milestones,
into effect, departments and agencies will with clear benchmarks and deliverables for
nominate criteria to the Assistant to the each necessary action; and
President for National Security Affairs (APNSA)
for inclusion in a United States Government-wide 5) Approved measures of effectiveness and
WPS framework for monitoring and evaluating associated methods of assessment that, at
programs. Nominated criteria must include minimum, measure involvement both pre-
proposed measures of effectiveness in furthering and post intervention, to ensure the policies
each of the Strategy’s articulated goals. After the and initiatives are effective at achieving
approval of the WPS monitoring-and-evaluation strategic goals.
framework, relevant departments and agencies
will use it to assess and report on progress and Not later than 1 year after submission of this
results under the WPS Strategy. strategy, the Secretary of State, in conjunction
with the Secretary of Defense and the Admin-
Within 120 days of the approval of this WPS istrator of USAID, shall brief the appropriate
Strategy, State, DOD, DHS, and USAID shall each Congressional Committees on existing, enhanced,
develop, in coordination with the APNSA and or newly established training for relevant United
Office of Management and Budget, and provide States personnel on the participation of women
to the Congress a detailed, consolidated imple- in conflict-prevention and peace building.
mentation plan that provides the following infor-
mation with respect to their WPS Strategy imple- Not later than 2 years after submission of this
mentation plan: strategy, the Secretary of State, in conjunction
with the Secretary of Defense and the Adminis-
1) The anticipated technical, financial, and in-kind trator of USAID shall submit to the APNSA, and be
contribution of each department or agency; prepared to brief the appropriate Congressional
Committees on, a report that summarizes and
2) Roles and responsibilities across the evaluates departments’ and agencies’ implemen-
department or agency; tation plans; describes the nature and extent of
interagency coordination on implementation;
3) Processes required to support the WPS outlines the monitoring and evaluation on policy
Strategy, such as new policy or doctrine, or objectives; and describes existing, enhanced, or
capabilities assessments; newly established training. n
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