Do Women Need to Play a Larger Role in Preventing and Resolving Armed Conflict? (S. 1141)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is S. 1141?
(Updated October 9, 2019)
This bill was enacted on October 6, 2017
This bill would express the sense of Congress that the U.S. should be a global leader in promoting the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention, management, and resolution, in addition to post-conflict relief and recovery efforts.
The president would be required to submit to Congress and make publicly available a Women, Peace, and Security Strategy that:
Is aligned with other nations’ plans to improve the participation of women in peace and security processes, conflict prevention, peace building, and decision-making institutions in conflict-affected environments;
Includes goals and evaluation plans to ensure the strategy’s effectiveness.
State Department personnel responsible for going to conflict zones would receive training in the following areas with an emphasis on ensuring the participation of women in:
Conflict prevention, mitigation, and resolution;
Protecting civilians from violence, exploitation, and human trafficking;
International human rights law.
Dept. of Defense personnel that go to conflict zones would receive training on conflict prevention, mitigation, and resolution initiatives that address the importance of participation by women. Additionally, they’d be trained in gender considerations and elements of international human rights law aimed at protecting civilians from violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.
The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development would establish guidelines for overseas American personnel to consult with stakeholders about U.S. efforts to:
Prevent, mitigate, or resolve violent conflict;
Enhance the success of mediation and negotiation.
Argument in favor
Women need to play a larger role in global peace negotiations and conflict prevention talks, and this bill would lead to a comprehensive strategy that ensures they’re fairly represented in U.S. negotiations.
Argument opposed
There doesn’t need to be a concerted effort to get women more involved in peace negotiations. If they have risen to positions in the State Department or other agencies that merit it, they’ll have a seat at the table.
Impact
Women who work for federal agencies in roles that would allow them to take part in peace negotiations or conflict prevention activities; the State Dept., DOD, and USAID; and the president.
Cost of S. 1141
The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2018-2022 period.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced this bill to ensure that women are fairly represented in peace negotiations and conflict prevention talks that the U.S. participates in:
“Women and girls are disproportionally affected by violence and armed conflict around the world, yet far too often they are under-represented at the negotiation table. This bipartisan legislation makes ending violence against women and girls a top diplomatic, devleopment, and foreign assistance priority, empowering more women and allowing them to more effectively affect change in our world. I look forward to working with the House to move this legislation and put women at the forefront of American foreign policy and peacebuilding around the world.”
Lead cosponsor Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) added:
"Women are effective problem-solvers and mediators, yet they are often excluded from peacekeeping and mediation efforts. As women continue to assume more leadership roles in international affairs, this legislation will help build on that momentum and promote their inclusion in peace processes."
This legislation was passed by the Senate on a voice vote. It has the support of four bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.
Of Note: A study by the nonprofit group Inclusive Security found that peace agreements negotiated with the involvement of women are 35 percent more likely to last 15 years.
Media:
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Sponsoring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Press Release
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CBO Cost Estimate
- Bustle
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Women’s Policy
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J Street (In Favor)
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