PETITION: Tell Congress: Pass the Women, Peace, and Security Act.

Today 90% of casualties in armed conflicts are civilians, an overwhelming majority of whom are women and children often subjected to sexual violence, abduction for sexual slavery and for fighting, and forced displacement as strategic tactics of war. Tell Congress to support the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2014 to empower women as equal partners in preventing conflict and building peace!
Why is this important?

Outcries of political and public outrage and condemnation have been expressed over the recent abduction of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by an armed militant group that threatens to sell the kidnapped school girls into slavery. We cannot help but share in the anguish that the mothers and fathers of these young girls are experiencing. From Rwanda, Bosnia, and South Sudan to the recent kidnapping of hundreds of school girls by armed militants in northeastern Nigeria, women and girls disproportionately experience the brutality of today's armed conflicts.

Today 90% of casualties in armed conflicts are civilians, an overwhelming majority of whom are women and children. [1] Sexual violence, abduction for sexual slavery and for fighting, and forced displacement have emerged as strategic tactics of war. [2] Yet, the voices and concerns of women who endure violence during conflict -- and who carry much of the burden of rebuilding communities after conflict -- are routinely absent in efforts to end violence and secure peace. Women represent only 4% of signatories of major peace accords in the last 20 years. [3]

“The only way to reduce the number of conflicts around the world, to eliminate rape as a weapon of war, to combat the culture of impunity for sexual violence, to build sustainable peace – is to draw on the full contributions of both men and women in every aspect of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace building."

-U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Rodham Clinton (October 2010)

In recent history, peace agreements have fallen apart at a startling rate, returning societies to war before they've wholly recovered from strife. Almost 60% of armed conflicts re-erupt within five years. [4] Research and experience increasingly point to one major explanation: the failure to include a broad range of stakeholders, especially women, in peace processes. [5]

Peace accords negotiated only between armed combatants who fought in the war rarely translate to comprehensive, just and lasting peace. When included, women expand peace and conflict negotiations to include unmet human and environmental needs, including healthcare, education, and food security. Women's in-depth knowledge of local community needs enables them to bridge political, economic, and cultural divides to build coalitions and negotiate peace. [6] Women have a vital role in promoting peaceful solutions to violent conflict, and establishing rule of law, human rights, and the democratic process. They must be afforded a seat at the table!

The Women, Peace, and Security “WPS” Act (S. 1942 /H.R. 2874) introduced in the U.S. Congress seeks to address the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls and promote female leadership in conflict prevention, resolution, and peace building through implementation of the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (U.S. NAP). This bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09).

If enacted, the Women, Peace, and Security “WPS” Act (S. 1942 /H.R. 2874) will promote women's meaningful inclusion and participation in peace and security processes in order to prevent, mitigate, or resolve violent conflict; and enable Congress to exercise oversight over full implementation of the U.S. National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security that was introduced by executive order in December 2011.

We can no longer tolerate the systemic violence against civilians -- gender-based violence; forced displacement; and abduction for sexual slavery and forced fighting -- that characterizes modern day warfare.