About the Women and Foreign Policy Program

About the Program

The Women and Foreign Policy program analyzes how addressing gender equality advances U.S. foreign policy objectives, including prosperity, stability, and security. Major financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, have concluded that women’s participation in the economy reduces poverty and stimulates economic growth. Research demonstrates that women’s political participation strengthens democracy and leads to greater policy focus on education, social welfare, and gender equality. Higher levels of gender equality are also associated with lower risk of conflict and higher incidence of sustainable peace. Furthermore, investment in women’s health and education leads to a vast range of improved outcomes on issues such as child survival, maternal mortality, child marriage, and HIV/AIDS. Yet leaders often fail to take proactive steps to ensure the full participation of women in the economy, government, and social well being.

In the twenty-first century, no country can get ahead without harnessing the full potential of all its citizens. Eliminating gender inequality is not only a human rights issue—it is a strategic imperative that advances U.S. interests in global prosperity and stability. The Women and Foreign Policy program informs policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about the relationship between gender equality and U.S. foreign policy objectives, through scholarship, briefings, congressional testimony, meetings, and the Women Around the World blog.