History shows that the inclusion of women in peace and security processes leads to more successful peace agreements, promotes stability, and strengthens U.S. national security. Through the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Act (WPS) 2017 and the continued support of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the United States continues to promote the full, equal and meaningful participation of women throughout their diversity. diplomatic commitments and foreign policies. This means contributing to the meaningful participation of women; advancing the protection of women and girls; scaling our internal capabilities to implement our WPS Strategy; and expanding partnerships with like-minded organizations and governments.
Together with the Department of Defense and Security and the U.S. Agency for International Development, the State Department is releasing a second Report on the Implementation of the 2019 US Strategy on WPS in conjunction with the 2020 Implementation Plan. This report represents significant progress against the Department’s WPS targets compared to last year’s initial report. In fiscal year 2021, the Department invested approximately $ 110 million in WPS support programming, improving our ability to apply WPS principles and strategies to the Department’s efforts. We have increased our internal capacity through training and in the 2021 fiscal year we have seen a dramatic 25% increase in the number of trainings led by the Department for employees that include the WPS principles. The Department also increased the number of programs aimed at improving the capacity of women and girls in FY 2021 by 20 percent to combat terrorism and extreme violence and to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts. These critical efforts reflect the Department’s ongoing commitment to the centrality of WPS work in our broader mission.
The US remains fully committed to maintaining its role as a champion of gender equality and to fostering the inclusion, protection and meaningful development of women and girls in line with the WPS strategy. I am committed to ensuring that the Department continues to be responsible for the ongoing implementation of the WPS objectives through annual reports. We know that promoting the WPS principles in all Departmental efforts strengthens democracy and human rights around the world and contributes to conflict prevention and stability.
