Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2012

On August 1, 2012, the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2012 (WPS Act) was introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2012 (WPS Act), enables Congress to do its part to move the United States toward an approach that will build lasting, just peace with women playing leading role in conflict prevention, peacemaking and peace building. The Act supports the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, and states that “implementation of the United States National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP) is paramount in improving the lives of women around the world and increasing global stability and prosperity."

The WPS Act would...

• require the Secretary of State to work with counterparts at the Pentagon and USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) to provide to Congress an annual report on women, peace, and security that gives an overview of how U.S. taxpayer dollars are being spent to promote women’s inclusion in decision-making with assessment of the impact of this assistance;
• oblige the head of each relevant agency of the Federal Government to ensure incorporation of tenets of the NAP (to include and empower women as equal partners) into all programs for conflict prevention; humanitarian and disaster response; conflict mediation; peacekeeping; post-conflict reconstruction; and democracy promotion;
• institute comprehensive training programs on the value of women’s participation in such areas as conflict prevention for all relevant diplomatic, defense, and development personnel;
• encourage the United States to assist women mediators and negotiators by eliminating barriers to their equal and secure participation in peace processes and to support partner governments that demonstrate a commitment to recruiting and retaining women in leadership roles;
• and instruct the President to designate a member of the National Security Council to oversee effective integration and implementation of the NAP goals and objectives on women, peace, and security in all relevant Federal agencies.

Click here to see WAND's Fact Sheet on The Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2012.

See U.S. Senators who have co-sponsored the WPS Act (S. 3477) here.

See U.S. Representatives have who co-sponsored the WPS Act (H.R. 6255) here.