What is WPS?
In 2000, the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), the first resolution to address the disproportionate and unique effects of armed conflict on women and girls. In 2011, the United States published the first U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, in accordance with Executive Order 13595. In 2017, President Trump signed into law the Women, Peace, and Security Act (Public Law 115-68), making this the first legislation of its kind to acknowledge the multifaceted roles of women throughout the conflict spectrum and call on the U.S. Government to promote the meaningful participation and protection of women globally. In June 2019, the U.S. Government released the U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS Strategy), making the U.S. the first country in the world with both a comprehensive law and whole-of-government strategy on WPS.
WPS Principles
- Participation of women in peace and security
- Protection of women and girls from violence
- Inclusion of women in conflict prevention
- Equal access to relief and recovery before, during, and after conflict and crisis
- Protection of human rights
- Equal application of the rule of law
- Incorporation of a gender perspective into peace and security efforts
WPS and the DoD
The Department of Defense (DoD) was directed to implement WPS through the WPS Act of 2017, the subsequent 2019 National Strategy on WPS, and most importantly, the June 2020 DoD WPS Strategy and Implementation Framework (SFIP) with its 3 Defense Objectives and associated metrics and indicators. There is an annual reporting requirement for DoD organizations to provide input on how well they are implementing the SFIP. This includes JPME institutions such as JFSC.
Why WPS Matters
Integrating WPS principles improves operational effectiveness, promotes opportunities for meaningful participation in decision-making across DoD, and ensures safety, security, and human rights for all.
How JFSC incorporates WPS in Joint Professional Military Education (JPME):
- WPS themes in exercise products provided for Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) and Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) exercises
- JAWS lesson block focused on WPS/Human Security
- WPS considerations in JAWS Operational Art and Campaign Planning (OP) field of study
- Gender Advisor (GENAD) and Gender Focal Point (GFP) role-player scripts available for exercises
- Mary Edwards Walker Women, Peace and Security Distinguished Writing Award for JCWS student team papers
- JFSC student participation in NDU’s annual WPS Research and Writing Competition
- WPS themes addressed in 23 JCWS lessons as a result of WPS being a Special Area of Emphasis (SAE) for JPME in 2015
- WPS Faculty Development sessions for JFSC Faculty