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H.R. 5332 — what changed

Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2016

From Introduced in House to Engrossed in House. 8 sections amended between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.

Sec. 2 Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)
Around the world, women remain under-represented in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and post-conflict peace building efforts.
(2)
Despite the historic under-representation of women in conflict resolution processes, women in conflict-affected regions have nevertheless achieved significant success in—
(A)
moderating violent extremism;
(B)
countering terrorism;
(C)
resolving disputes through nonviolent mediation and negotiation; and
(D)
changed stabilizing societies by enhancing the effectiveness of security services, peacekeeping efforts, institutions, and decisionmaking decision-making processes.
(3)
Research shows that—
(A)
peace negotiations are more likely to end in a peace agreement when women’s groups play an influential role in the negotiation process;
(B)
once reached, a peace agreement is 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years if women have participated in the negotiation process; and
(C)
changed when women meaningfully participate, peace negotiations are more likely to address the conflict’s underlying causes, causes of the conflict, leading to more sustainable outcomes.

Sec. 3 Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)
changed the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention and conflict resolution processes helps to promote more inclusive and democratic societies and is critical to the long-term stability of countries and regions; andregions;
(2)
added the political participation and leadership of women in fragile environments, particularly during democratic transitions, is critical to sustaining lasting democratic institutions; and
(3)
renumbered was (4) the United States should be a global leader in promoting the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention, management, and resolution, and post-conflict relief and recovery efforts.

Sec. 4 Statement of Policy

added It shall be the policy of the United States to promote the meaningful participation of women in all aspects of conflict prevention, management, and resolution, and post-conflict relief and recovery efforts, reinforced through diplomatic efforts and programs that—

(a)
removed Statement of Policy— It shall be the policy of the United States to promote the meaningful participation of women in all aspects of conflict prevention, management, and resolution, reinforced through diplomatic efforts and programs that—
(1)
renumbered was (2)(3) integrate the perspectives and interests of affected women into conflict-prevention activities and strategies;
(2)
added encourage partner governments to adopt plans to improve the meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes and decision-making institutions;
(2)
removed encourage partner governments to adopt plans to improve the meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes and decisionmaking institutions;
(3)
renumbered was (2)(5) promote the physical safety, economic security, and dignity of women and girls;
(4)
renumbered was (2)(6) support the equal access of women to aid distribution mechanisms and services;
(5)
renumbered was (2)(7) collect and analyze gender data for the purpose of developing and enhancing early warning systems of conflict and violence;
(6)
renumbered was (2)(8) adjust policies and programs to improve outcomes in gender equality and the empowerment of women; and
(7)
added monitor, analyze, and evaluate the efforts related to each strategy submitted under section 5 and the impact of such efforts.
(7)
removed monitor, analyze, and evaluate implementation efforts and the impact of such efforts.
(b)
removed Sense of Congress— It is the sense of the Congress that the President, in implementing each strategy submitted under section 5, should—
(1)
removed provide technical assistance, training, and logistical support to female negotiators, mediators, peace builders, and stakeholders;
(2)
removed address security-related barriers to the meaningful participation of women;
(3)
removed increase the participation of women in existing programs funded by the United States Government that provide training to foreign nationals regarding law enforcement, the rule of law, or professional military education;
(4)
removed support appropriate local organizations, especially women's peace building organizations;
(5)
removed support the training, education, and mobilization of men and boys as partners in support of the meaningful participation of women;
(6)
removed encourage the development of transitional justice and accountability mechanisms that are inclusive of the experiences and perspectives of women and girls;
(7)
removed expand and apply gender analysis to improve program design and targeting; and
(8)
removed conduct assessments that include the perspectives of women before implementing new projects or activities in support of peace negotiations, transitional justice and accountability, efforts to counter violent extremism, or security sector reform.

Sec. 5 United States Strategy to Promote the Participation of Women in Conflict Prevention and Peace Building

(a)
changed Requirement— Not later than October 1, 2017, October 1, 2022, and October 1, 2027, the President, in consultation with the head heads of each the relevant Federal department departments and agency, agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and make publicly available a single government-wide strategy, to be known as the Women, Peace, and Security Strategy, that provides a detailed description of how the United States intends to fulfill the policy objectives in section 4. The strategy shall—
(1)
changed support and be aligned with plans developed by other nations countries to improve the meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes, conflict prevention, peace building, transitional processes, and decisionmaking institutions in conflict-affected environments; decision-making institutions; and
(2)
changed include specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, performance metrics, timetables, and monitoring and evaluation plans plans, to ensure the accountability and effectiveness of all policies, programs, projects, policies and activities initiatives carried out under the strategy.
(b)
changed Specific Plans plans for Agencies—agencies— Each strategy under subsection (a) shall include a specific implementation plan from each of the relevant Federal department departments and agency agencies that describes—
(1)
the anticipated contributions of the department or agency, including technical, financial, and in-kind contributions, to implement the strategy; and
(2)
changed the efforts of the department or agency to ensure that the activities policies and programs initiatives carried out pursuant to the strategy are designed to achieve maximum impact and long-term sustainability.
(c)
changed Coordination—Department of state implementation— The President should promote Within each relevant bureau of the meaningful participation Department of women in conflict prevention, in coordination State, the Secretary of State shall task the current Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary with the responsibility for the implementation of the strategy under subsection (a) and consultation the specific implementation plan for the Department under subsection (b), with international partners, including multilateral organizations, stakeholders, respect to the roles and other relevant international organizations, particularly in circumstances in which direct engagement is not appropriate or advisable.responsibilities of such bureau. The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretaries tasked with such responsibility shall meet, at least twice a year, to review the implementation of the strategy and the plan and to contribute to the report under section 8(b).
(d)
added Coordination— The President should promote the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention, in coordination and consultation with international partners, including multilateral organizations, stakeholders, and other relevant international organizations, particularly in situations in which the direct engagement of the United States is not appropriate or advisable.
(e)
added Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that the President, in implementing each strategy submitted under subsection (a), should—
(1)
added provide technical assistance, training, and logistical support to female negotiators, mediators, peace builders, and stakeholders;
(2)
added address security-related barriers to the meaningful participation of women;
(3)
added increase the participation of women in existing programs funded by the United States Government that provide training to foreign nationals regarding law enforcement, the rule of law, or professional military education;
(4)
added support appropriate local organizations, especially women’s peace building organizations;
(5)
added support the training, education, and mobilization of men and boys as partners in support of the meaningful participation of women;
(6)
added encourage the development of transitional justice and accountability mechanisms that are inclusive of the experiences and perspectives of women and girls;
(7)
added expand and apply gender analysis to improve program design and targeting; and
(8)
added conduct assessments that include the perspectives of women before implementing any new initiatives in support of peace negotiations, transitional justice and accountability, efforts to counter violent extremism, or security sector reform.

Sec. 6 Training Requirements Regarding the Participation of Women in Conflict Prevention and Peace Building

(a)
changed Foreign Service—service— Section 704 The Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Foreign Service Act Administrator of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4024) is amended by adding at the end United States Agency for International Development, shall ensure that all appropriate personnel (including special envoys, members of mediation or negotiation teams, relevant members of the following:civil service or Foreign Service, and contractors) responsible for or deploying to countries or regions considered to be at risk of, undergoing, or emerging from violent conflict obtain training, as appropriate, in the following areas, each of which shall include a focus on women and ensuring meaningful participation by women:
(1)
added Conflict prevention, mitigation, and resolution.
(2)
added Protecting civilians from violence, exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
(3)
added International human rights law and international humanitarian law.
(b)
added Department of defense— The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that relevant personnel receive training, as appropriate, in the following areas:

removed “(e) The Secretary, in conjunction with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall ensure that all appropriate personnel (including special envoys, members of mediation or negotiation teams, relevant members of the civil service or foreign service, and contractors) responsible for or deploying to countries or regions considered to be at risk of, undergoing, or emerging from violent conflict obtain training, as appropriate, in the following areas, each of which shall include a focus on women and ensuring meaningful participation by women:

removed “(1) Conflict prevention, mitigation, and resolution.

removed “(2) Protecting civilians from violence, exploitation, and trafficking in persons.

removed “(3) International human rights law and international humanitarian law.”

(b)
removed Department of Defense—
(1)
removed Chapter 107 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

removed “2158. Training for Ensuring Meaningful Participation by Women.

removed “(a) In general—Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that all appropriate personnel (including members of the armed forces, members of mediation or negotiation teams, and relevant members of the civil service) responsible for or deploying to countries or regions considered to be at risk of, undergoing, or emerging from violent conflict obtain training, as appropriate, in the following areas:

removed “(1) Advanced training in conflict prevention, peace processes, mitigation, resolution, and security initiatives that specifically addresses the importance of meaningful participation by women.

removed “(2) Gender considerations and meaningful participation by women, including training regarding—

removed “(A) international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as relevant; and

removed “(B) protecting civilians from violence, exploitation, and trafficking in persons.

removed “(3) Effective strategies and best practices for ensuring meaningful participation by women.

removed “(b) Existing training—All training provided in accordance with subsection (a) shall be incorporated into existing pre-deployment training.”

(1)
changed The table of sections at Training in conflict prevention, peace processes, mitigation, resolution, and security initiatives that specifically addresses the beginning of chapter 107 importance of title 10, United States Code, is amended meaningful participation by adding at the end the following new item:women.
(2)
added Gender considerations and meaningful participation by women, including training regarding—
(A)
added international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as relevant; and
(B)
added protecting civilians from violence, exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
(3)
added Effective strategies and best practices for ensuring meaningful participation by women.
(c)
removed Collaboration with the United Nations— The Secretary of State should work with the United Nations and the international community to increase the meaningful participation of women in international peacekeeping operations, and should promote training that provides international peacekeeping personnel with the substantive knowledge and skills needed to effectively ensure the physical security and meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention and peace building.

Sec. 7 Consultation and collaboration

(a)
changed In general— The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall establish guidelines for overseas United States personnel of the Department or the Agency, as the case may be, to consult with stakeholders regarding United States efforts to—
(1)
prevent, mitigate, or resolve violent conflict; and
(2)
enhance the success of mediation and negotiation processes by ensuring the meaningful participation of women.
(b)
changed Frequency and scope— Consultations The consultations required under subsection (a) shall take place regularly and include a range and representative sample of stakeholders, including local women, youth, ethnic and religious minorities, and other politically under-represented or marginalized populations.
(c)
added Collaboration and coordination— The Secretary of State should work with international, regional, national, and local organizations to increase the meaningful participation of women in international peacekeeping operations, and should promote training that provides international peacekeeping personnel with the substantive knowledge and skills needed to ensure effective physical security and meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention and peace building.

Sec. 8 Reports to Congress

(a)
changed Briefing— The Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the Secretary of Defense, shall brief the appropriate congressional committees, not later than one 1 year after the date of the enactment first submission of this Act, a strategy required under section 5, on—
(1)
changed existing, enhanced, and newly established training carried out pursuant to section 6 and the amendments made by such section; 6; and
(2)
changed the guidelines established for overseas United States diplomatic and consular personnel to engage in consultations with United States and international stakeholders, pursuant to section 7.
(b)
changed Report on Women, Peace, and Security Strategy— Not later than 1 year 2 years after the date of the submission of each strategy required under section 5, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that—
(1)
changed outlines summarizes and evaluates the monitoring implementation of such strategy and evaluation tools, mechanisms, the impact of United States diplomatic efforts and common indicators foreign assistance programs, projects, and activities to assess progress made on promote the policy objectives in section 4;meaningful participation of women;
(2)
changed summarizes United States diplomatic efforts describes the nature and foreign assistance programs, projects, extent of the coordination among the relevant Federal departments and activities to promote agencies on the meaningful participation implementation of women; andsuch strategy;
(3)
changed summarizes and evaluates the impact of outlines the programs, projects, monitoring and activities that support evaluation tools, mechanisms, and common indicators to assess progress made on the policy objectives in section 4.4; and
(4)
added describes the existing, enhanced, and newly established training carried out pursuant to section 6.

Sec. 9 Definitions

In this Act:

(1)
changed Appropriate Congressional Committees—congressional committees— The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2)
changed Stakeholders— The term stakeholders means nongovernmental non-governmental and private sector entities engaged in or affected by conflict prevention and stabilization, peace-building, peace building, protection, security, transition initiatives, humanitarian response, or related efforts, including—
(A)
changed registered or nonregistered non-registered nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, business or trade associations, labor unions, cooperatives, credit unions, relief or development organizations, community and faith-based organizations, philanthropic foundations, and tribal leaders or structures;
(B)
independent media, educational, or research institutions; and
(C)
private enterprises, including international development firms, banks, and other financial institutions, particularly small businesses and businesses owned by women or disadvantaged groups.
(3)
changed Meaningful Participation—participation— The term meaningful participation means, with respect to means safe, genuine, and effective access to, and present and active involvement in the full range of formal or informal processes related to negotiation or mediation, safe, genuine, and effective access to, and present and active involvement in—mediation with respect to any efforts toward the following:
(A)
changed conflict prevention;Conflict prevention.
(B)
changed efforts to resolve, mitigate, Resolution or mitigation of, or transition from from, violent conflict;conflict.
(C)
changed peacekeeping Peacekeeping and peace-building efforts;peace building.
(D)
changed post-conflict Post-conflict reconstruction, transition initiatives, elections, and governance; andgovernance.
(E)
changed humanitarian response.Humanitarian response and recovery.
(4)
changed Relevant Federal Departments departments and Agencies—agencies— The term relevant Federal departments and agencies means—
(A)
the United States Agency for International Development;
(B)
the Department of State;
(C)
the Department of Defense;
(D)
changed the Department of Homeland Security;Security; and
(E)
removed the Department of Justice;
(F)
removed the Department of the Treasury;
(G)
removed the Millennium Challenge Corporation;
(H)
removed the Peace Corps;
(I)
removed the Office of the United States Trade Representative;
(J)
removed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
(E)
renumbered was (6)(13) any other department or agency specified by the President for purposes of this Act.