Women, Peace, & Security
Women, Peace and Security initiatives are an integral component of efforts to enhance African partner capability by enabling U.S. security cooperation to better leverage the contributions of both men and women.
WATCH: U.S. Africa Command and partner voices on Women, Peace, and Security
- Part I: Ambassador Andrew Young
- Part II: Lt. Col. Chelsea Payne
- Part III: Rear Adm. Heidi Berg
- Part IV: Ms. Sheila Roquitte
- Part V: Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher
- Chidi Blyden, deputy assistant secretary of defense for african affairs
The Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 was signed into U.S. law in October of that year. However, since 2011 U.S. Africa Command has worked to integrate the Women, Peace, and Security mandate in its activities with African security forces.
Before then annual training courses sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and conducted for African partners had consistently seen all male participants. Consequently, U.S. Africa Command saw the need to develop specific training opportunities just for women from African militaries. Beyond such skilled areas as communications and intelligence, the command has co-hosted workshops and seminars on gender integration, the role of women in peacekeeping operations, and responding to gender-based violence.
