Statement of the U.S. Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security on the Implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Act

November 7, 2025

U.S. Civil Society Working Group on WPS

The bipartisan Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Act of 2017, signed into law by President Trump, sets forth a peace and security framework that seeks to address the unique and disproportionate impacts of conflict on women, and recognizes the critical role they play in preventing, addressing, resolving, and recovering from conflict. The passage of the WPS Act was a significant achievement, making the United States the first and only country to codify WPS and adopt a whole-of-government strategic approach to achieve more effective security and diplomacy outcomes through the inclusion and support of women. At a time when active conflicts are at an all-time high, it is more important than ever that Congress provide close oversight over implementation of laws that seek to prevent and resolve violence and advance peace and security, including the WPS Act.

Among other requirements, the WPS Act mandates regular reporting to Congress to inform both elected officials and the American people of progress implementing the law. Yet, for the first time since its enactment, the U.S. Government has failed to submit the requisite report to Congress, due by October 31, 2025. The failure to deliver this report is deeply concerning—it is a breach of the legal requirements and signals a dramatic deprioritization of this bipartisan framework and reduced U.S. leadership on issues central to U.S. and global peace and security.

Congress must urgently and regularly exercise its oversight authority over implementation of the WPS Act through all available channels, including hearings and briefings, and call on the Administration to immediately submit the mandated WPS report.

Signatories:

Alliance for Peacebuilding

Amnesty International USA

Center for Civil Society and Democracy in Syria

D.C. Student Consortium on Women, Peace and Security

For Girls GLocal Leadership (4GGL)

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security

International Center for Research on Women

International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)

New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy

Outright International

Saferworld

The Athena Initiative: Advancing Human Security in International Affairs

Women for Women International

Women In International Security (WIIS)

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation

Women’s Refugee Commission

*The U.S. Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security (CSWG) is a non-partisan network of nearly 70 civil society organizations with expertise on the impacts of conflict on women and girls and their participation in peacebuilding. Established in 2010, the CSWG supports the effective implementation of the WPS Act of 2017 and the advancement of the broader WPS Agenda.