Women, Peace and Security

aBOUT

Women, Peace and Security (WPS) is a United Nations Security Council resolution, United States law, and FY21 National Defense Appropriations Act that establish policy for the Department of Defense to advance the meaningful participation of women in decision-making roles across the peace and conflict continuum.

The WPS framework is anchored in the principle that effective emphasis on human perspectives and the meaningful participation of women in all areas of security will have a positive impact on the lives of all members in a society. 

On a global scale:

1. Peace agreements are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years when women participate.[1]

2. Evidence shows a linkage between a nation or state’s treatment of its women and the level of corruption, violence, and overall instability.[2]

"Where women thrive, the extremists don't."

Foundational documents

  UNSCR 1325 (2000)

  WPS Act (2017)

  United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security (2019)

  DoD WPS Implementation Plan (2024)

Lines of Effort & Defense Objectives

Lines of Effort

US Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security (2019)

LOE 1:  Support the preparation and meaningful participation of women around the world in informal and formal decision-making processes related to conflict and crisis.

LOE 2:  Promote the protection of women and girls' human rights; access to humanitarian assistance; and safety from violence, abuse, and exploitation around the world.

LOE 3:  Adjust United States international programs to improve outcomes in equality for, and the empowerment of, women.

LOE 4:  Encourage partner governments to adopt policies, plans, and capacity to improve the meaningful participation of women in processes connected to peace and security and decision-making institutions.

Defense Objectives

DOD WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (2024)

Defense Objective 1:  The Department organizes, trains, and equips the Total Force to perform its WPS roles to build enduring advantage.

Defense Objective 2:  The Department integrates its WPS roles within operations, activities, and investments (OAls) across the competition continuum and in crisis contexts, both domestically and abroad, to build a more stable and resilient global security environment.

Defense Objective 3:  The Department advances WPS through its engagements and security cooperation with Allies & partners to advance shared security objectives.

WPS in action