Overview

The Women, Peace & Security framework was born out of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted in 2000. It was the first resolution to formally recognize that women’s participation and protection are essential to preventing conflict, building peace, and strengthening human security, and it called on all countries to integrate gender perspectives into their peace and security policies and operations.

For the U.S.-Japan alliance, WPS is a practical tool to integrate gender perspectives into defense cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, helping both countries strengthen whole-of-society resilience at home and across the Indo-Pacific.

Through this initiative, Sasakawa USA aims to serve as a trusted, non-governmental conduit that can convene policymakers, practitioners, and experts across sectors to break down siloes and foster sustained dialogue and networks. By highlighting and connecting the synergies between inclusive security approaches in domestic and foreign policy, we seek to facilitate the exchange of insights that strengthen resilience in communities at home and abroad. We hope that this effort within the U.S.-Japan alliance can serve as a catalyst for the development of a broader, self-sustaining ecosystem with other like-minded partner countries of shared learning, mutual support, and whole-of-society resilience.

With support and guidance from Ambassador Melanne Verveer, a Sasakawa USA Advisory Committee Member and leading voice on women’s leadership and inclusive security, the WPS Alliance Initiative focuses on three main pillars: convening experts, facilitating exchanges, and sharing analysis and resources.

Learn more about the ongoing progress and emerging opportunities for U.S.-Japan cooperation on WPS and Sasakawa USA’s WPS Alliance Initiative here.