<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><html  lang="en-US">
<head id="Head"><meta id="MetaDescription" name="DESCRIPTION" /><meta id="MetaKeywords" name="KEYWORDS" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" /><title>
	DOD Officials Give Report on Women Peace and Security Compliance
</title><link id="css3605" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/module.css" /><link id="css4619" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/desktopmodules/ArticleCS/styles/DOD2/style.css" /></head>
<body>
    <main>
    <div>
    <div class="aprint news">
    <div class="header">
        <img height="100" class="print-logo" alt="Site Logo" src="/Portals/7/Images/SOUTHCOM_logo_thumb.jpg?ver=SIvIeRRofyrg5ZHPpvvh6Q%3d%3d" />

        <h1 class="title">DOD Officials Give Report on Women Peace and Security Compliance</h1>
    </div>
    

    <div><b>By Jim Garamone</b> <span class="date">/ Published March 29, 2021</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text"></span>
    <p>The Women Peace and Security program fits right into the Defense Department's breadbasket because "it is a tool for smart power," Air Force Brig. Gen. Rebecca J. Sonkiss, the Joint Staff's deputy director for counter threats and international cooperation said.</p>

<p>Sonkiss was among the many luminaries discussing the ways the DOD is adopting the Women Peace and Security Act of 2017 in all it does. The virtual event was sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace, today.</p>

<p>






<!--video-->
<div class="media-inline media-inline-video media-inline-xlarge  ">
    

    
    
    <div id="wrap4970851" class="image-wrapper video video-wrap-container">
        
        
        <div class="duration">1:16:01</div>
        
        
        
        <video id='dvid4970851' class='dvidsPlayer' width='480' height='270' style="width:100%;height:100%;max-width:100%" preload='none' controls='controls=' src='https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/2103/DOD_108253489/DOD_108253489-1024x576-1769k.mp4' type='video/mp4' poster='https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/frames/video/2103/788807/720w_q95.jpg'>
            <track kind='subtitles' src='/desktopmodules/sharedlibrary/handlers/dvidscaption.ashx?PortalId=7&AssetId=video:788807&Format=srt' srclang='en'>
        </video>
        <script type="text/javascript">
            document.getElementById('dvid4970851').addEventListener('loadedmetadata', function () {
                ANALYTICSLIBRARY.init(["788807", "66"]);
                ANALYTICSLIBRARY.loadAnalyticsParam();

            }, false);
            document.getElementById('dvid4970851').addEventListener('play', function () {
                ANALYTICSLIBRARY.init(["788807", "66"]);
                ANALYTICSLIBRARY.playAnalyticsParam();

            }, false);
            document.getElementById('dvid4970851').addEventListener('ended', function () {
                ANALYTICSLIBRARY.init(["788807", "66"]);
                ANALYTICSLIBRARY.endAnalyticsParam();

            }, false);
        </script>
    </div>
    

    
    
    
    
    

    

</div>



<style>
    #cboxClose {
        position: absolute;
        top: 5px;
        right: 5px;
        display: block;
        background: url(/desktopmodules/articlecs/images/media_popup_close.png) no-repeat top center;
        width: 40px;
        height: 40px;
        text-indent: -9999px;
    }

        #cboxClose:hover {
            background-position: bottom center;
        }

    .me-plugin {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
    }
</style>
<script type="text/javascript">

    var gih = 0;
    var giw = 0;
    var pup;
    var g_isDynamic = false;

    function popupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize) {
        if ($(ibox).hasClass('dgov2popup-info')) {
            // This block is included once, so is shared by all media tokens.
            // this block is how we execute the special resize for dgov2's slideshow popup
            dgov2slideshowPopupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize);
            return;
        }

        if (!g_isDynamic)
            return;

        var isMobile = window.matchMedia('(max-width: 1200px)').matches;

        if (isMobile) {
            $.colorbox.resize({ width: "100%", height: "100%" });
            $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").width('100%');
            $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height('auto');

            $(ibox).find(".info").css('height', 'auto');
            return;
        }

        var iw = w;
        var ih = h;
        var ww = $(window).width();
        var wh = $(window).height();
        var hextra = 40;
        var wextra = 360;
        var hborder = 120;
        var wborder = 120;
        var maxw = ww - wextra - wborder;
        var maxh = wh - hextra - hborder;
        var ratio = Math.min(maxw / iw, maxh / ih);

        iw = Math.floor(iw * ratio); // use floor to avoid overflow scrollbar
        ih = Math.floor(ih * ratio);

        //        console.log(iw + " " + ih + " --- " + (iw + wextra) + " " + (ih + hextra))

        $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").width(iw);
        $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height(ih);

        $(ibox).find(".info").height(ih);

        if (doResize)
            $.colorbox.resize({ width: iw + wextra, height: ih + hextra });
    }

    $(window).resize(function () {
        if (g_isDynamic && pup !== undefined)
            popupResize(pup, giw, gih, true);
    });

    $(window).load(function () {
            $(".popup").click(function () {
                giw = $(this).data('width');
                gih = $(this).data('height');
                pup = $($(this).attr('href'));
                g_isDynamic = $(this).data('dynamic') === 1 ? true : false;

                popupResize(pup, giw, gih, false);

                var w = "768px";
                var isMobile = $(window).width() < 768 ? true : false;
                w = "auto";
                if (isMobile)
                    w = "100%";

                const isDgov2Slideshow = $(this).attr("data-isdgov2slideshow") != undefined;
                const isDGOV2 = false;
                const slideNumber = parseInt($(this).attr('data-slide-number'));
                const slideIndex = slideNumber - 1;
                //console.log("slideNumber for popup", slideNumber)
                const popupThis = this;
                $(this).colorbox({
                    className: 'inline-popup', fixed: true, transition: "none", opacity: .9, inline: true, width: w, height: 'auto', maxWidth:"80%", maxHeight:"100%", close: isDgov2Slideshow || isDGOV2 ? "<i class='fas fa-times' />" : "X", onClosed: function () {
                    },
                    onComplete: function () {
                        var popupHeight = jQuery(this.href.substring(this.href.lastIndexOf("#"))).outerHeight(true);
                        if (jQuery("#colorbox").height() < popupHeight) {
                            jQuery("#colorbox").height(popupHeight);
                        }
                        if (g_isDynamic) {
                            if (!isMobile) {
                                bodyScrollLock.disableBodyScroll(this);
                            }
                        }
                   
                        // for popup having data-isdgov2slideshow attr (see above)
                        if (isDgov2Slideshow) {
                            const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-2554862';
                            const ssSelector = '#dgov2slideshowId-2554862';
                            dgov2slideshowPopupInit({
                                numSlides: 0,
                            startingSlideIndex: slideIndex,
                                popupSelector: popSelector,
                                slideshowSelector: ssSelector,
                                slideshowMediaId: 2554862,
                        });
                giw = $(popupThis).data('width');
                gih = $(popupThis).data('height');
                pup = $($(popupThis).attr('href'));
                popupResize(pup, giw, gih, true);
            }
            $(window).resize();
        },
        onClosed: function () {
        pup = undefined;
        if (g_isDynamic)
            bodyScrollLock.enableBodyScroll(this);

        if (isDgov2Slideshow) {
            const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-2554862';
            const ssSelector = '#dgov2slideshowId-2554862';
            dgov2slideshowPopupDestroy({
                popupSelector: popSelector,
                slideshowSelector: ssSelector,
            });
        }
    }
    });

    });

    
    $(".popup-slideshow").colorbox({
        inline: true,
        onComplete: function () {
            SlideshowInit();
            $.colorbox.resize();
            // stop scrollbar from flashing
            $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow", "");
            $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow-y", "hidden");
        },
        onClosed: function () {
            $('.slideshow-gallery').trigger('slideTo', 0);
        }
    });
    
    });
</script>





</p>

<p>Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks put it in perspective in her remarks helping open the conference. "Around the world, the advancement of women is linked to the advancement of good governance," she said. "And good governance often leads to a more stable and less turbulent world, which directly impacts our work at the Department of Defense. Our work on women peace and security is critical not just for U.S. national security, but equally importantly, for the safety, equality and opportunity of women and girls around the world."</p>

<p>Women are underrepresented in the security sector, and that gives a skewed picture of the needs, wants and fears of a society. "By understanding the security needs of the entire population during conflict, the DOD enhances its operational effectiveness and mitigates disproportionate harm against vulnerable populations that can adversely affect long term stability," Sonkiss said.</p>

<p>


<!--image-->



<div class="media-inline media-inline-xlarge   " style="max-width:600px">
    
    
    
    <a href="#pop4970911" class="popup" data-width="1620" data-height="1080">
        <div class="image-wrapper">
            <div class="overlay"></div>
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610740/600/400/0/200225-A-AM616-1116.JPG" alt="Mauritanian woman soldier speaks with women in colorful dresses outside a clinic." class="img-responsive" />
        </div>
    </a>
    
    
    
        
        
    
</div>


<!--popup-->

<div style="display:none">
    
    <div class="media-inline-popup" id="pop4970911">
        <div class="media-inline-img-container"><img src="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610740/1920/1080/0/200225-A-AM616-1116.JPG" alt="Mauritanian woman soldier speaks with women in colorful dresses outside a clinic." class="img-responsive" /></div>
        <div class="info">
            <span class="title">
                Clinic Care
            </span>
            <div class="caption" style="max-width:1620px">
                A Mauritanian Civil Affairs Team member Staff Sgt. Hawa Abou Ly, speaks with women waiting to check in at a local clinic to receive medication at a medical civil actions program in Nouakchott, Mauritania, last year.
            </div>

            <div class="bottom">

                <div class="social">
                    <span class="subhead">SHARE IMAGE:</span>
                    <div class="a2a_kit a2a_default_style social-inner" data-a2a-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2002610740/" data-a2a-title="Clinic Care" data-a2a-media="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610740/1920/1080/0/200225-A-AM616-1116.JPG" data-page-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/2554862/dod-officials-give-report-on-women-peace-and-security-compliance/">
                        <a class="a2a_button_facebook social-link" aria-label="Share on Facebook">
                            <span class="fa fa-facebook"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_x social-link" aria-label="Share on X">
                            <span class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_email social-link" aria-label="Share by emailing content">
                            <span class="fa fa-envelope"></span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js"></script>
                </div>

                <div class="action">
                    <div class="action-item download-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_download.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610740/-1/-1/0/200225-A-AM616-1116.JPG" title="Clinic Care" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Download Image</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="action-item detail-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_link.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2002610740/" title="Clinic Care" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Image Details</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item photographer">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_photographer.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>Photo By: Army Staff Sgt. Sidney Sale</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item virin">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_info.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>VIRIN: 200225-A-AM616-1116</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    
    
</div>

















</p>

<p>Part of the program is to model an inclusive military. Women must be in meaningful security jobs, Hicks said. "While we have made progress ... we know that there [is] much more work to be done in the years ahead, including within our own forces as we seek to model and employ the WPS principles we work with partner nations to uphold," she said. "That is why I recently stood up the Deputy's Workforce Council, which will bring high-level sustained leadership focus to topics that include diversity, equity and inclusion."</p>

<p>Security cooperation is key to the program. The 2017 law came from the United Nations Women Peace and Security resolution passed in 2000. All nations should abide by this resolution, and DOD reaches out to allies and partners to include the voices of women in their security debates. </p>

<p>"Professional military forces have legitimacy to their populations," Navy Adm. Craig Faller, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, told the conference. "You can have the best combat power, the best gear, be the best marksmen or communicators and lose because you don't gain legitimacy with our populations." </p>

<p>


<!--image-->



<div class="media-inline media-inline-xlarge   " style="max-width:600px">
    
    
    
    <a href="#pop4970910" class="popup" data-width="1620" data-height="1080">
        <div class="image-wrapper">
            <div class="overlay"></div>
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610741/600/400/0/201211-O-VI420-0008C.JPG" alt="Navy admiral sits with partner nation military leaders." class="img-responsive" />
        </div>
    </a>
    
    
    
        
        
    
</div>


<!--popup-->

<div style="display:none">
    
    <div class="media-inline-popup" id="pop4970910">
        <div class="media-inline-img-container"><img src="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610741/1920/1080/0/201211-O-VI420-0008C.JPG" alt="Navy admiral sits with partner nation military leaders." class="img-responsive" /></div>
        <div class="info">
            <span class="title">
                Adm. Craig Faller
            </span>
            <div class="caption" style="max-width:1620px">
                Navy Adm. Craig Faller, the U.S. Southern Command commander, attends Army Day in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in 2020.
            </div>

            <div class="bottom">

                <div class="social">
                    <span class="subhead">SHARE IMAGE:</span>
                    <div class="a2a_kit a2a_default_style social-inner" data-a2a-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2002610741/" data-a2a-title="Adm. Craig Faller" data-a2a-media="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610741/1920/1080/0/201211-O-VI420-0008C.JPG" data-page-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/2554862/dod-officials-give-report-on-women-peace-and-security-compliance/">
                        <a class="a2a_button_facebook social-link" aria-label="Share on Facebook">
                            <span class="fa fa-facebook"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_x social-link" aria-label="Share on X">
                            <span class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_email social-link" aria-label="Share by emailing content">
                            <span class="fa fa-envelope"></span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js"></script>
                </div>

                <div class="action">
                    <div class="action-item download-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_download.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610741/-1/-1/0/201211-O-VI420-0008C.JPG" title="Adm. Craig Faller" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Download Image</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="action-item detail-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_link.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2002610741/" title="Adm. Craig Faller" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Image Details</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item photographer">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_photographer.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>Photo By: Maria Pinel, Army</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item virin">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_info.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>VIRIN: 201211-O-VI420-0008C</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    
    
</div>

















</p>

<p>To the admiral, professionalism equals profound respect for human rights, respect for the laws of armed conflict and respect for the rule of law. These are key to everything Southcom does and that means the inclusion of women and diversity, he said. "And again while we're not perfect, we've made progress and we continue to," he said. "So that professionalism conversation is carried on with each and every one of our counterparts."</p>

<p>U.S. Strategic Command is — among other missions — responsible for the American nuclear deterrent. The command is bringing education to the forefront  to "operationalize" the women peace and security principles in all operations, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, the deputy commander. The command is building a base of eminently qualified personnel across all mission sets. "We're hopeful this course will help us improve our critical thinking and enable a more diverse decision-making for our day-to-day engagements," he said.</p>

<p>


<!--image-->



<div class="media-inline media-inline-xlarge   " style="max-width:600px">
    
    
    
    <a href="#pop4970912" class="popup" data-width="1620" data-height="1080">
        <div class="image-wrapper">
            <div class="overlay"></div>
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610744/600/400/0/200609-F-TM624-0210.JPG" alt="A young Air Force colonel shows the results of a wet down after her final flight aboard the blue and white aircraft behind her." class="img-responsive" />
        </div>
    </a>
    
    
    
        
        
    
</div>


<!--popup-->

<div style="display:none">
    
    <div class="media-inline-popup" id="pop4970912">
        <div class="media-inline-img-container"><img src="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610744/1920/1080/0/200609-F-TM624-0210.JPG" alt="A young Air Force colonel shows the results of a wet down after her final flight aboard the blue and white aircraft behind her." class="img-responsive" /></div>
        <div class="info">
            <span class="title">
                Col. Rebecca Sonkiss
            </span>
            <div class="caption" style="max-width:1620px">
                Then-Air Force Col. Rebecca Sonkiss shows the effects of a final-flight hose down at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., last year. Now a brigadier general and assigned to the Pentagon, Sonkiss called the Women Peace and Security Act an example of "smart power."
            </div>

            <div class="bottom">

                <div class="social">
                    <span class="subhead">SHARE IMAGE:</span>
                    <div class="a2a_kit a2a_default_style social-inner" data-a2a-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2002610744/" data-a2a-title="Col. Rebecca Sonkiss" data-a2a-media="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610744/1920/1080/0/200609-F-TM624-0210.JPG" data-page-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/2554862/dod-officials-give-report-on-women-peace-and-security-compliance/">
                        <a class="a2a_button_facebook social-link" aria-label="Share on Facebook">
                            <span class="fa fa-facebook"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_x social-link" aria-label="Share on X">
                            <span class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_email social-link" aria-label="Share by emailing content">
                            <span class="fa fa-envelope"></span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js"></script>
                </div>

                <div class="action">
                    <div class="action-item download-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_download.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/29/2002610744/-1/-1/0/200609-F-TM624-0210.JPG" title="Col. Rebecca Sonkiss" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Download Image</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="action-item detail-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_link.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2002610744/" title="Col. Rebecca Sonkiss" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Image Details</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item photographer">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_photographer.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>Photo By: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item virin">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_info.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>VIRIN: 200609-F-TM624-0210</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    
    
</div>

















</p>

<p>The bottom line is that every qualified person is needed for the department's many missions. "I'm exceptionally proud of what the women and men of the department do every day to champion women peace and security principles all across the globe," Hicks said. "Because as President Biden puts it, they are often how the world encounters America. Ultimately, as we take care of our people and join forces with our allies and partners to promote women's empowerment and gender equality around the world, we ensure that the department can perform its number one job effectively: Defending our nation."</p>

<p>
<div class="ast-biglink">

    <a class="btn btn-primary nlink print-hide" href="https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/womens-history-month/" title="Spotlight: Women's History Month" >Spotlight: Women's History Month <i class="fa fa-external-link fa-external-link-alt"></i></a>
    <span class="print-show">Spotlight: Women's History Month: <a class="nlink" href="https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/womens-history-month/">https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/womens-history-month/</a></span>

    
</div>



</p>
<br />
</div>

    </div>
    </main>
</body>
</html>