Building Partnership Capacity at the Ministerial Level to Improve Gender Equality
Abstract
This paper addresses whether the United States can build institutional capacity at the ministerial level through security cooperation activities in order to improve and advance gender equality. It considers this through an analysis of U.S. national interests; the role of culture in a society; and the Whole of Government approach championed by the U.S. policy and security community. This analysis is crucial as the U.S. military transitions to increased security cooperation missions in a post OIF/OEF operating environment characterized by a decrease in funding and resources. Policymakers and military leaders stress that the U.S. must work through partners to strengthen their own institutions, address economic issues, and develop competent military and security forces in order to deter conflict. The effects of conflict disproportionately affect women and children more than men, most often in the developing world. Building capacity that contributes to improving women's rights and opportunities may possibly accomplish two goals-lifting women into better roles and positions across their countries and directly usurping conflict outright, or ensuring it will be less catastrophic to women. This study utilizes the experience of the Republic of Liberia as a case study to examine the primary and secondary research questions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA610953
Entities
People
- Geoffrey J. Heiple
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College