"Institutionalization of WPS principles enhances our operational effectiveness..."

Women, Peace and Security

U.S. Northern Command's (USNORTHCOM) Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Program is part of an international effort to promote the meaningful contributions of women in the defense and security sectors at home and around the world. USNORTHCOM seeks to institutionalize WPS across USNORTHCOM missions and functions to improve operational effectiveness, promote opportunities for the meaningful participation of women in decision-making across the command, and ensure safety, security and human rights for all.

OUR APPROACH (PDF)

Our Program
Our Framework
WPS History
WPS Today
WPS Resources

Our Program

USNORTHCOM’s WPS approach is anchored in two decades of practice, in U.S. national law, U.S. strategy, and DoD and USNORTHCOM commander’s implementation guidance. WPS is founded upon abundant evidence showing that women’s safety and security is directly linked to a country’s stability, and that persistent barriers to women’s advancement in defense undermines organizational effectiveness and national security. WPS provides unique opportunities, both throughout USNORTHCOM and with our partners, to reinforce women’s empowerment, meaningful participation in decision-making, protection from violence, and access to resources. It is both a values-based approach, and also a practical one. When USNORTHCOM and our partners advance the principles of WPS, we not only strengthen our security and defense institutions and interoperability, evidence shows it also leads to more stable and resilient societies.

Our Strategic Framework

Implementation of the WPS program is a USNORTHCOM priority. WPS at USNORTHCOM is guided by the following WPS mission, vision and end states which are implemented internally within the command and externally with partner nation militaries.

Mission – USNORTHCOM integrates WPS principles into its strategies, plans and operations to better defend the homeland, strengthen partnerships, and provide flexible response to civil authorities.

Vision – Institutionalization of WPS principles enhances the operational effectiveness of USNORTHCOM and our partner militaries.

End States

Exemplify a diverse, resilient, flexible organization
Ensure the safety, security, and human rights of women/girls, especially during conflict and crisis

History of WPS

In 2000, the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the first resolution to address the disproportionate and unique effects of armed conflict on women and girls.

In 2011, the United States published the first U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, in accordance with Executive Order 13595.

In 2017, the president signed into law the Women, Peace and Security Act (Public Law 115-68), making this the first legislation of its kind in the world to acknowledge the multifaceted roles of women throughout the conflict spectrum and call on the U.S. government to promote the meaningful participation and protection of women globally.

In June 2019, the U.S. government released the U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace and Security, making the U.S. the first country in the world with both a comprehensive law and whole-of-government strategy on WPS. The strategy compelled the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State, and Department of Homeland Security to develop WPS implementation plans.

The requisite DoD Women, peace, and Security Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan was signed June 2020.

A graphic illustrating the history of WPS implementation.

WPS Today

Although Women, Peace, and Security is two decades old, as a government and a military, our understanding of the scope and value to our organizations and operational effectiveness of gender integration into everything we do, continues to expand and evolve.

Data, analysis and new tools for understanding the value of addressing (and the detrimental impact of ignoring) gender dynamics are being developed and tested across our defense and security efforts. For example, practical lessons on the value of applying gender analysis and perspective in operations were gained in stabilization operations, such as in the form of female or mixed-gender engagement teams in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in peacekeeping operations such as in Haiti. UN data shows that increasing female representation within a peacekeeping formation to 30 percent or higher had a civilizing effect on peacekeeping forces and helped mitigate instances of sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by peacekeeping troops.

Today, in the era of emerging, diverse, and often concurrent security threats – such as cyberattacks, violent extremism, terrorism, climate change, natural disasters, global pandemics, and strategic competition – it is necessary to harness the strengths and perspectives of our entire population to successfully address these challenges and mitigate their effects.

No military commander would ever choose to make a decision with only 50 percent of the information. WPS is about the force multiplying effect of women and the ability to employ the full scope of our human capital to address the complex challenges of today, and those of tomorrow

WPS Resources

Non-Governmental Organizations
North Atlantic Treaty Organization -
UN Women -
United Nations Peacemaker -
UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs -
United States Institute of Peace -
International Peace Institute -
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom -
Working Group on Women, Peace and Security -
The WomanStats Project -

WPS News

May 5, 2023

WHINSEC conducts WPS symposium

WHINSEC conducts its sixth-annual Women, Peace, and Security symposium.

May 5, 2023

USNORTHCOM hosts WPS Barrier Analysis Focus Group

In its continuing effort to expand and evolve the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) program, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) hosted a series of WPS barrier analysis focus groups for command members from Feb. 28 to Mar. 3, 2023, at the North American Aerospace Command and USNORTHCOM headquarters on Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.

Sept. 30, 2021

Female engagement team continues to evaluate female evacuees needs at Fort Bliss’ Doña Ana Complex

Afghan evacuee women at Fort Bliss’ Doña Ana Complex in New Mexico meet weekly with female leaders to address their concerns and ease their transition into American life.

Partner News

May 10, 2023

Department of the Air Force - Women, Peace and Security

Disclaimer: Partner news external links contained herein are made available for the purpose of peer review and discussion. The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NORAD and USNORTHCOM, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

WPS Photos

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WPS Video

Video by Daisuke Sato

Zama Pulse 08.28

U.S. Army Garrison - Japan

Sept. 4, 2020 | 5:03

Zama Pulse 20.08.20

Anchor: Hello, and welcome to the first episode of the newly rebooted “Zama Pulse,” the show that brings you news highlights and important Camp Zama community updates. I’m Sgt. Raquel Birk. Our last episode of the “Pulse” was in 2018, but we’re so glad to be back again!
COVID-19 is still a serious global health threat, and we all need to continue to do our part to stop the spread by washing our hands, wearing a face covering, and maintaining social distance. COVID-related travel restrictions were updated last month with additional off-limits areas including the Kawasaki District and the portion of Yokohama district east of Highway 16, and Shizuoka Prefecture beyond 150 kilometers of Camp Zama. The entirety of Yamanashi Prefecture is allowed for travel.
If you are planning to travel to or beyond these areas, you need to get an exception to policy. These restrictions are subject to change, so please visit the U.S. Army Garrison Japan Facebook page for more details, and continue to follow US ARMY JAPAN’S General Order No. 1.

Anchor: The end of the summer season means the beginning of the school year. However, because Camp Zama is currently under Health Protection Condition Charlie, all of our schools will conduct classes via remote learning. If the HPCON is lowered to Bravo or Bravo Plus, classes will be conducted in the classroom with appropriate social-distancing measures. Students who have opted for VIRTUAL learning will not be affected by this change. Here is a short video from the new principal of Zama Middle High School, Mr. Henry LeFebre (LUH-FEE-BRAY), with more details on this year’s unique schooling situation.

PSA: Henry LeFebre, Principal, Zama Middle High School.

The same guidelines will be in place for Arnn Elementary School students. Grab-and-Go meals will still be available during HPCON Charlie, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. for breakfast at Arnn, and 10 to 11:30 a.m. for lunch at Arnn and Zama Middle High School. Students will pick up their meals based on their home location, not the school they attend. For more information or questions, please visit each school’s respective Facebook page.

Anchor (If the system already is back): A major change has gone into effect at the U.S. Post Office on Camp Zama. Hand-written customs forms for outgoing parcels are no longer accepted. We recently spoke with Karina Moloy, the supervisory postal officer at the Camp Zama Post Office, who explained the new process for filling out customs forms online, and how this change will affect post office customers on U.S. Army Japan installations.

Interview: Karina Moloy, Supervisory Postal Officer at Camp Zama Post Office

Anchor: If you have questions about filling out a customs form online, visit the U.S. Army Garrison Japan Facebook page to view a step-by-step video. (Lower Third).

Anchor (If the system is not back yet): A major change originally scheduled to go into effect on August 13th at the U.S. Post Office on Camp Zama has been delayed until further notice. It was on that date that hand-written customs forms for outgoing parcels were to no longer be accepted. If you would like to know the process for filling out customs forms online for when the change finally goes into effect, visit the U.S. Army Garrison Japan Facebook page to view a step-by-step video. (Lower Third).

Anchor: Have you recently gone shopping off post and noticed you were charged a fee for plastic bags when you purchased your items? This change has been in effect since July 1st at all retail stores in Japan, including convenience stores and grocery stores. The fee differs based on the size of the bag. The change is meant to encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags in an effort to reduce waste. If you are planning to shop off post, don’t forget to bring a few with you!

Anchor: And finally, we’d like to congratulate Staff Sergeant Bianca Pollard, assigned to U.S. Army Japan G1, on her recent induction into USARJ chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. The Audie Murphy Club was first established at Fort Hood, Texas, in 1986 as a way to recognize NCOs who have acted in a manner consistent with the actions of Audie Murphy, one of the most decorated American combat Soldiers of World War II.

Interview: SSG Bianca Pollard, Audie Murphy Club Inductee

Anchor: Staff Sgt. Pollard will soon have the distinction of being one of the few Audie Murphy Club members in the rank of warrant officer after she completes seven weeks of upcoming training at the Warrant Officer Candidate School in Fort Rucker, Alabama.

That’s it for this month’s edition of the Zama Pulse. I’m Sgt. Raquel Birk, and we’ll see you next month!