Yet around the globe, women and girls face significant obstacles stemming from discrimination, legal barriers, and cultural norms. Women and girls bear the brunt of negative consequences from poverty, conflict, and climate change, but their voices and views are often excluded from leadership and decision-making structures. Studies have shown that the full inclusion of women at all levels of society grows economies, prevents conflict, and builds sustainable peace, all of which benefit the national security of the United States.
Call on Congress to support legislative initiatives that support the health, rights, and political and economic empowerment of women and girls, promote their access to education at all levels, address gender-based violence, and promote women in peacebuilding efforts.
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In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposed eliminating the Office of Global Women’s Issues (GWI), the primary office focused on protecting and supporting the rights of women and girls worldwide, as part of his proposed State Department reorganization plan,. Previously, GWI led efforts to implement the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Act of 2017—legislation supported by Secretary Rubio during his time in the Senate and signed into law by President Trump in his first term.
Under the new reorganization plans, WPS programming will be integrated into regional bureaus and embassies where, more than likely, the lack of dedicated staff and expertise will lead to de-prioritization and disjointed implementation. As a consequence, the perspectives of women and girls will be left out of diplomatic conversations and peace negotiations. The administration’s foreign aid cuts will also have a devastating impact on U.S. support for gender equality and women’s empowerment: key programs focused on women’s health, economic empowerment, and democratic participation have already been disrupted or will be eliminated.
