---
kind: "range"
citation: "22 U.S.C. §§ 2152j–2152j–4"
title: "22"
from: "2152j"
to: "2152j–4"
count: 5
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/2152j..2152j-4"
---

# §2152j. Statement of policy


It shall be the policy of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) to promote the meaningful participation of women in all aspects of overseas conflict prevention, management, and resolution, and post-conflict relief and recovery efforts, reinforced through diplomatic efforts and [programs](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) that—

- (1) integrate the perspectives and interests of affected women into conflict-prevention activities and strategies;
- (2) encourage partner governments to adopt plans to improve the meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes and decision-making institutions;
- (3) promote the physical safety, economic security, and dignity of women and girls;
- (4) support the equal access of women to [aid](/usc/22/2421e.md?p=1) distribution mechanisms and services;
- (5) collect and analyze gender data for the purpose of developing and enhancing early warning systems of conflict and violence;
- (6) adjust policies and [programs](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) to improve outcomes in gender equality and the empowerment of women; and
- (7) monitor, analyze, and evaluate the efforts related to each strategy submitted under [section 2152j–1 of this title](/usc/22/2152j–1.md) and the impact of such efforts.

# §2152j–1. United States strategy to promote the participation of women in conflict prevention and peace building

- (a) **Requirement—** Not later than one year after October 6, 2017, and again four years thereafter, the President, in consultation with the heads of the [relevant Federal departments and agencies](/usc/22/2152j–4.md?p=2), shall submit to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/22/2152j–4.md?p=1) 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](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) intends to fulfill the policy objectives in [section 2152j of this title](/usc/22/2152j.md). The strategy shall—
  - (1) support and be aligned with plans developed by other countries to improve the meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes, conflict prevention, peace building, transitional processes, and decisionmaking institutions; and
  - (2) include specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, performance metrics, timetables, and monitoring and evaluation plans to ensure the accountability and effectiveness of all policies and initiatives carried out under the strategy.
- (b) **Specific plans for departments and agencies—** Each strategy under [subsection (a)](#a) shall include a specific implementation plan from each of the [relevant Federal departments and agencies](/usc/22/2152j–4.md?p=2) that describes—
  - (1) the anticipated contributions of the department or agency, including technical, financial, and in-kind contributions, to implement the strategy; and
  - (2) the efforts of the department or agency to ensure that the policies and initiatives carried out pursuant to the strategy are designed to achieve maximum impact and long-term sustainability.
- (c) **Coordination—** The President should promote the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention, in coordination and consultation with international partners, including, as appropriate, multilateral organizations, [stakeholders](/usc/22/2152j–4.md?p=3), and other relevant [international organizations](/usc/22/4316.md?p=e-2), particularly in situations in which the direct engagement of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government is not appropriate or advisable.
- (d) **Sense of Congress—** It is the sense of Congress that the President, in implementing each strategy submitted under [subsection (a)](#a), should—
  - (1) provide technical assistance, [training](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3), and logistical support to female negotiators, mediators, peace builders, and [stakeholders](/usc/22/2152j–4.md?p=3);
  - (2) address security-related barriers to the meaningful participation of women;
  - (3) encourage increased participation of women in existing [programs](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) funded by the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government that provide [training](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3) to [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) nationals regarding law enforcement, the rule of law, or professional military education;
  - (4) support appropriate local organizations, especially women’s peace building organizations;
  - (5) support the [training](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3), education, and mobilization of men and boys as partners in support of the meaningful participation of women;
  - (6) encourage the development of transitional justice and accountability mechanisms that are inclusive of the experiences and perspectives of women and girls;
  - (7) expand and apply gender analysis, as appropriate, to improve [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) design and targeting; and
  - (8) conduct assessments that include the perspectives of women regarding new initiatives in support of peace negotiations, transitional justice and accountability, efforts to counter violent extremism, or security sector reform.

# §2152j–2. Training requirements regarding the participation of women in conflict prevention and peace building

- (a) **Foreign Service—** The Secretary of State, in conjunction with the [Administrator](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=1) of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) 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](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) 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](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3), as appropriate, in the following areas, each of which shall include a focus on women and ensuring meaningful participation by women:
  - (1) Conflict prevention, mitigation, and resolution.
  - (2) Protecting civilians from violence, exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
  - (3) International human rights law and international humanitarian law.
- (b) **Department of Defense—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of Defense shall ensure that relevant personnel receive [training](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3), as appropriate, in the following areas:
  - (1) [Training](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3) in conflict prevention, peace processes, mitigation, resolution, and security initiatives that specifically addresses the importance of meaningful participation by women.
  - (2) Gender considerations and meaningful participation by women, including [training](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3) regarding—
    - (A) international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as relevant; and
    - (B) protecting civilians from violence, exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
  - (3) Effective strategies and best practices for ensuring meaningful participation by women.

# §2152j–3. Consultation and collaboration

- (a) **In general—** The Secretary of State and the [Administrator](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=1) of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Agency for International Development may establish guidelines or take other steps to ensure overseas United States personnel of the Department of State or the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Agency for International Development, as the case may be, consult with appropriate [stakeholders](/usc/22/2152j–4.md?p=3), including local women, youth, ethnic, and religious minorities, and other politically under-represented or marginalized populations, regarding [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) 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) **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](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3) 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.

# §2152j–4. Definitions


In [sections 2152j to 2152j–4](/usc/22/2152j..2152j–4.md) of this title:

- (1) **Appropriate congressional committees—** The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
  - (A) the Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
  - (B) the Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the of the[^1] House of Representatives.
- (2) **Relevant Federal departments and agencies—** The term “relevant Federal departments and agencies” means—
  - (A) the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Agency for International Development;
  - (B) the Department of State;
  - (C) the Department of Defense;
  - (D) the Department of Homeland Security; and
  - (E) any other department or agency specified by the President for purposes of [sections 2152j to 2152j–4](/usc/22/2152j..2152j–4.md) of this title.
- (3) **Stakeholders—** The term “stakeholders” means non-governmental and private sector entities engaged in or affected by conflict prevention and stabilization, peace building, protection, security, transition initiatives, humanitarian response, or related efforts.