Government

We all want to live in peaceful, secure and vibrant communities. However, we have blind spots that lead to inequity, poverty, conflict, lack of accountability and atrocities that get overlooked like rape, injustice, human trafficking and murder. Overlooking the contributions of women as 50 percent of the world’s population, is a strategic handicap.

Within the last 20-years, empirical analysis by the U.N. and NATO highlight that women’s participation in early warning and prevention, peace building, peacekeeping, and post conflict recovery processes is associated with far better outcomes. Having women meaningfully participate (defined as at least 30% in positions of authority) in all levels of influence leads to more stable, secure and prosperous communities. Unfortunately, 30% is rarely achieved and underrepresentation in areas of influence continue to prevail. Take the U.S. for example, the only areas we tend to have this type of equity is in healthcare, educational attainment, and judiciary roles.

Whether looking at this from a local or global perspective, people want access to a good education, fair and open elections, policy and legislation that addresses all, infrastructure that is up-to-date, neighborhoods that promote success and involvement, economic opportunity, good healthcare, clean food, air and water, police we can trust and a judicial system that is fair for all. We all want to live in safe communities. This is the basis of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1325) Women, Peace and Security (WPS) which was the first time women were recognized as being disproportionately affected by conflict and disaster, therefore, they have the most equities in participating in the processes and it recognized the role women play in society.

T he original Resolution created in the year 2000 encompasses four pillars: 1) the role of women in conflict prevention, 2) their participation in peacebuilding, 3) the protection of their rights during and after conflict, and 4) their specific needs during recovery. Over 10 subsequent resolutions, further stressed the need to ensure women’s full, equal and effective participation and addressed issues such as the contribution of civil society to peacemaking or the influence of women in the rise of terrorism and violent extremism.

They also address conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) recognizing sexual violence can be a threat to international peace and security, when it is used as a tactic of war, mainly (but not exclusively) directed against women. Rape and sexual violence, which used to be seen as inevitable side effects of armed conflict, are now treated as possible crimes against humanity. Nearly 20 years later, however, and despite many global and regional commitments and initiatives, the number of women and gender experts involved in formal peacemaking processes remains low.

You may hear the WPS community use terms such as Gender Perspective (GP) and Gender Advisor (GENAD). The term gender refers to the historically and culturally developed characteristics, roles and norms attributed to men and women in society according to their sex. In conflict, men and women are impacted differently, and a differential approach to the way peacemaking is

carried out is needed, responding to men and women’s different security and peacebuilding needs. Men have long been considered the only relevant actors in armed conflict and its resolution. However, women are also greatly affected and involved in conflict, be it as relatives, caretakers, politicians, peace activists or combatants. Including women in peace processes adds a broader range of perspectives and increases inclusivity and diversity.

This enhances the ability of peacemakers to address a broader range of stakeholders and their concerns, which can contribute to more sustainable peace. Gender Perspective is a tool used to increase operational effectiveness and positively influence the environment by identifying an often overlooked populous, recognizing their specific needs, and providing the appropriate comprehensive response in order to gain valuable insight through greater situational awareness, prevent conflict and speed up recovery efforts. It is crucial to understanding modern conflict and human cost. Unlike wars of the past where 95% of victims were soldiers, today the ratio has inverted with non-combatant civilians now accounting for the vast majority of victims. More women and children die post-conflict due to the breakdown of infrastructure.

A GENAD advises on the implementation and integration of a GP including, but not limited to, operations/missions, crisis/conflict analysis, concepts, doctrine, procedures, education and training. The DoD GENAD ensures the incorporation of security dimensions and military contributions to UNSCR 1325 WPS, related Resolutions and a gender perspective into Command decision making, functions and processes. The GENAD looks at intelligence differently and highlights areas of interest whereas most focus on the men with guns. New global security threats by non-state actors have demonstrated an increased urgency to integrate a GP crucial to obtaining a broader understanding of the environment into the armed forces.

Our adversaries operate in environments of unrest and use the local populous as forms of currency to fund their attacks. Women, girls and boys are kidnapped, raped and used as recruitment tools to grow their ranks. Thus, the integration of a gender perspective is not only an operational necessity and crucial to the fulfillment of human rights, it is also a legal obligation.

There are over 82 countries around the world have policies or action plans on WPS. Most outline pillars relating to women’s

participation, protection and prevention of conflict. However, very few have budgets, roles and responsibilities outlined or accountability measures. There are some countries that have incorporated a GP into military and security operations successfully for over a decade but for the most part, many written are no more than words on paper without real action.

I am proud to say that the United States created the first comprehension WPS legislation in the world. Congress passed the Women, Peace, and Security Act

of 2017 (WPS Act), which President Trump signed into law in October of that year. It called on the United States to be a global leader in promoting the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention, management, resolution, and post conflict relief and recovery. The WPS Act identified the DoD as one of four Federal Departments and Agencies responsible for the implementation of national legislation in coordination with the Department of State, USAID, and the Department of Homeland Security.

In June of 2020 the Department of Defense released the Women, Peace, and Security Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan as part of a national effort to promote the meaningful contributions of women in national security around the world. By recognizing the diverse roles women play across the spectrum of conflict - and by incorporating their perspectives throughout plans and operations - DoD is better equipped to promote our security, confront near-peer competitors, and defeat our adversaries. This is a big deal. We have a budget and law that makes implementing a gender perspective into all training, plans, operations and policies mandatory. It will take time and Directives will be issued but it the U.S. is working towards greater equity both inside our military forces and within communities we operate within. More than 100 years of women in military and security services showcases the positive impact of meaningful contributions in resolving conflict, disaster recovery efforts, and promoting long-term security. Men and women experience conflict differently. Therefore, security forces that reflect the diversity of conflict-affected populations are better suited to identify unique security concerns. This is critical for establishing trust within local populations, gathering intelligence and information, and establishing early warning systems to detect and deter outbreaks of violence. Leveraging inclusivity and diversity throughout the ranks enhances decision-making space, accelerates multi-national integration of operations, and delivers forces capable of winning against any adversary.

I was trained as a GENAD in Sweden at a NATO school and had the opportunity to work on a team over the past three years at the Pentagon helping to shape the recently passed U.S. legislation. I have had many General officers ask me, ‘So what?’ ‘How does it actually work and give me examples?’ ‘Is this about sexual harassment and equal opportunity?’ Having been in a combat arms position, which is rare for a women in the military, I could always equate WPS to strategic and tactical terms they could understand.

The humanitarian speak works for DoS and USAID but for the military, they want to know how it fits within our national strategy and how does this make us a better Force. Without security, it is pretty hard to get aid to local populations and it is sure not easy to conduct fair elections and create policy that benefit women and minorities (in global terms, this is usually religious and ethnic minorities).

I would be armed with several pages of examples that highlight how paying attention to the needs of women and children reduced our risk and led to less violence. Examples of women talking to women and how we are seen as friends versus a male soldier seen as an armed enemy. Examples of why women, boys and girls were disproportionately affected by natural disasters over men, case in point, tsunami’s, women are often not taught to swim, are at home with the kids with no communication devices while the men have learned to swim, climb trees and fish with the radio.

In the aftermath, men had access to health care whereas many women did not. Explaining how implementing a woman in a team or educating the all-male patrols to look at sex disaggregated data to form a whole picture of the operational environment. For example, if no women go through a checkpoint or are in a local market yet all of a sudden, they are not present, they probably know something we should. Wouldn’t it be great if we had relationships with the women in the villages instead

of the male hierarchy who have their own agendas usually not geared towards peace?

Now, the very name, Women, Peace, and Security put me as a GENAD at a disadvantage when speaking because my audience, 99% men, always chalked it up to a women’s issue when in fact it was a strategic issue. My international classmates prepared me for this as they too had to go through the process of educating senior leaders and staffers on what exactly a gender perspective is. In terms of sexual harassment and equal opportunity, I would tactfully point leaders to the person who handles that as I was focusing on situational awareness and avoiding blind spots as a strategic imperative. This is where education begins.

Now that we have funds and national law, we can focus on a cultural shift within the military and security sectors to view women as operational assets in a different way. Our adversaries are utilizing women’s strengths, why aren’t we? Strength does not always equate to brute muscles and kicking down doors. It’s about the strength of the team, the Force. Leveraging talent and capabilities of each individual and what they bring to that team at every level. Diversity in every sector has been proven to produce better results. I like to call it balance. It is not us versus them. It is about broadening our thought and coming up with new approaches to old problems. Conflict is as old problem. Incorporating women leads to greater peace, speedier recoveries and more stability. WPS is a simple, inexpensive solution in which the principles for what it stands for can apply to any community as we all want safe, secure and equitable places to call home and work in.

Applying a gender perspective to life opens your eyes and allows you to see what others often miss. Don’t just pay attention to the obvious because it is the things that people ignore that cause problems. Apply WPS to your home life, work life and view how our system operates. Is it equitable? Do we have adequate representation in order to produce better results? If the answer is no, and you are not at the table, you are on the menu and you know what happens when you are on the menu. You get eaten.

For more on WPS see:

Statement from Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman on the Release of the Women, Peace, and Security

Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2217307/statement-from-chief-pentagon-spokespersonjonathan-hoffman-on-the-release-of-t/

Women’s Perspectives Important in new DoD Strategy Push

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/ Article/1910884/womens-perspectives-important-in-new-dod-strategy-push/

UN Women

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-peace-security

NATO

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_91091.htm

Erica G. Courtney CEO - 2020Vet, Zulu Time U.S. Army Reservist

The Black Bill of Rights, A Journey By: Jasper James

In 2018, Sacramento PD killed Stephon Clark, an unarmed Black man standing in his grandmother’s backyard. The community was thrown into a too familiar tailspin. This was not the first time Sacramento endured violent injustice, but this event, in particular, created a social earthquake that was felt around the world.

As co-owner of a Sacramento-based crisis communications firm, I found myself at the front lines in multiple capacities while also navigating being Black, and managing my own mourning. For two years, I became obsessed with understanding why the police keep getting away with killing unarmed, innocent Black people. I began to study the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights and learned about qualified immunity. I discovered the defined leniencies embedded in police union contracts and studied how the justice system works differently for different people. While studying, I continued following the money, focusing on each election cycle. I interviewed lawyers, spoke to lobbying professionals, policy wonks, and thought leaders of all kinds in our community, and nationwide. Most importantly, I spoke to the families of those who were taken from us by law enforcement.

My personal journey of creating a Black Bill of Rights was inspired by the countless personal conversations I had with these families. No trials, no jury, no due process; the families of those executed told me their stories and I listened.

Throughout this process, I developed a historical perspective that helped me to understand something significant. It became clear to me that despite slaves being freed, and Black people gaining the right to protection on paper, behind closed doors, deals were still being made the likes of which every generation of Black people from the 1700s to the present day has had to contend with. From the start, those with power, what I understand as the ruling class, have been utilizing loopholes to thwart justice for Black Americans.

Behind the smiles and promises of politicians claiming progress, are the architects of policies responsible for allowing the killing of Black people in our communities to continue unabated. They hold the keys. For the most part, America has never had Black people's best interests in mind. In fact, to this day as we walk in our own backyards, and we lay in our beds our leaders bet against us every time.

That is why I am convinced that this moment in our history, filled with civil unrest is not just about passing legislation. That's definitely part of it, but this moment was telling me that it was much more than that. This is the moment that Black people can put White supremacy on notice. After 400 years of breaking social contracts, it stands to reason, if the ruling class can't figure out how to care about Black people, then we must do what we have always done, and care for ourselves.

Theoretically speaking, our reparations could start right here with the swift and sweeping justice reform that can be accessed via the Black Bill of Rights.

The Black Bill of Rights is designed to exist as a living framework that can be codified into laws in all 50 states and that can serve as a template in other areas where systemic racism has led to persistent injustice. It is designed to provide a roadmap to Black sovereignty in the justice system. The Articles provide a framework for communities already doing the hard work of reform and a guideline to hold law enforcement and their policies regarding the internal investigation and administration functions accountable.

The Black Bill of Rights framework as it stands provides a remedy for how Black individuals in the United States can move towards having a viable influence in regards to all aspects of policing, fairly and ethically, once and for all.

To read the Black Bill of Rights with examples of the legislative measures that have already been passed in the United States, visit www.activismarticulated.com

Sign the Petition: www.change.org/BlackBillofRights

Jasper James

Co-Founder of Activism Articulated, a crisis/PR firm located in Sacramento CA. Mx. James is an active member of the ACLU Sacramento Chapter Board, Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Sacramento Stonewall Democratic Club (PAC).