Barbara Boxer: “I rise today to introduce the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2012 with Senators Hutchison, Casey, Snowe, Shaheen…”

“I rise today to introduce the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2012 with Senators Hutchison, Casey, Snowe, Shaheen, Gillibrand and Scott Brown. A companion bill was also introduced in the House of Representatives today by Representatives Carnahan, Berman and Schakowsky. This important legislation will help codify the United States National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, which was released by the Obama administration in December, 2011, to help further ongoing U.S. initiatives regarding women, peace, and security and the objectives of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, UNSCR 1325. UNSCR 1325 calls on all countries to establish national action plans aimed at promoting the inclusion of women in conflict resolution efforts and peace-building institutions, such as police services. This is essential because women and girls are disproportionately impacted by violence and armed conflict. But at the same time, we know that women are critical to helping prevent violence before it occurs and resolving crises once they begin. Furthermore, evidence shows that integrating women into peace-building processes helps promote democracy and ensure the likelihood of a peace process succeeding. With the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, the U.S.…”