Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, research shows that when women have a seat at the table, the prospect that peace negotiations will succeed rises significantly.

The Women, Peace, and Security Act enacted into law last year requires the Department of Defense to leverage the unique roles women bring to the table in peace building, conflict resolution, and military operations.

This amendment would build on this law by allocating additional funding for full-time gender advisers, training foreign security forces on how to include women in their security efforts, and research on women's contributions to security at the National Defense University.

Mr. Chair, according to Womankind World, which is a global women's rights organization, women and girls suffer disproportionately during violent conflict. Sexual violence is often used as an instrument of war. Although men and boys also may be abused, it is this way that women and girls are primarily targeted. For example, during Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war, an estimated 250,000 women experienced sexual violence.

The destabilizing effect of conflict on families and communities can mean other forms of violence increasing in intensity, including domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking. Refugee women and girls are especially vulnerable.

Although they are disproportionately affected by conflict, women seem to be sidelined from formal conflict resolution and peace processes, meaning that postconflict recovery and reconciliation programs often overlook women's specific needs.

Over the last two decades, women accounted for just 9 percent of negotiators at peace tables. Out of 585 peace agreements from 1990 to 2010, only 92 contained any reference to women.

Despite that, women play an essential role in building peace in local communities. However, of course, women face multiple barriers. Even so, evidence shows that formal peace agreements that include women's perspectives are most likely to last.

Mr. Chair, we have an opportunity to make women's voices heard and to make the world a safer place. I urge adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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