UNITED STATES STRATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY

JUNE 2019

Table 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...... 16 UNITED STATES STRATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY

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.

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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.

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The Strategic Challenge

round the world, conflict and disasters between women’s empowerment and global adversely and disproportionately affect peace and security. Social and political margin- Awomen 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

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The Theory of Change: A National Strategy on Women, Peace and Security

he WPS Strategy acknowledges a preventing, mediating, and resolving conflict tremendous amount of untapped potential and countering terrorism, in ways that Tamong 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

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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

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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.

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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

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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).

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■■ 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.

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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.” 11 UNITED STATES STRATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY

■■ 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).

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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 .

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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.

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Metrics and Targets

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 Tcontribute 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.

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Resourcing and Reporting

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 Nnominate 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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