Global Women’s Issues: Background and Selected U.S. Efforts

Global Women’s Issues: Background and Selected U.S. Efforts

Updated July 15, 2024
Global Women’s Issues: Background and Selected U.S. Efforts
For several decades, Congress has considered or enacted
and the executive branch have increasingly recognized a
legislation aimed at improving the rights and status of
growing body of research linking gender equality to the
women and girls worldwide. These efforts, which may
overall stability, prosperity, and security of societies.
address a range of global issues such as women’s health,
education, and security, are often grouped under the broad
Selected Legislation and Trends. U.S. policymakers have
policy umbrella of “global women’s issues.”
considered women’s issues from global, regional, and
country-specific perspectives, ranging from issuing high-
Background
level policy statements to providing assistance to other
Many U.S. and international policymakers have
governments, civil society, and international organizations.
increasingly recognized gender inequality as a human rights
Some have also sought to incorporate women’s issues into
and development issue caused by long-standing unequal
foreign policy on a broad level. In Congress, for example,
power relationships between men and women. This
the “Percy Amendment,” enacted as part of the Foreign
imbalance is reflected in pervasive stereotypes, attitudes,
Assistance Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-189), requires that foreign
and behaviors that perpetuate a cycle of discrimination in
assistance funds work to integrate women into the national
many societies, with significant consequences for women’s
economies of developing countries. Since FY2014, State-
socio-economic status and security. Often, women do not
Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Appropriations Acts have
have equal decisionmaking power with men and cannot
required that funds from such acts promote gender equality
independently make choices that affect their overall well-
in diplomatic and development efforts. (Most recently, see
being, including regarding household issues, marital status,
Section 7059 of the FY2024 SFOPS Appropriations Act
health, education, livelihood, and civic participation.
(Division F of P.L. 118-47.)
These inequalities often negatively affect the rights and
In the executive branch, successive Presidents have
status of women in many parts of the world. While
supported different aspects of global women’s issues; in
representing more than half of the global population,
some cases issuing executive orders or memoranda. In
women account for 39% of the global workforce and earn
March 2021, the Biden Administration issued an executive
less for similar work than men. Many women also lack
order creating the White House Gender Policy Council to
basic legal protections. For example, in over 70 countries
address gender issues in domestic and foreign policy. In
women hold no property or inheritance rights, and in more
October 2021, the Administration published a National
than 40 countries women have no legal protection against
Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, which aims to
domestic violence. Globally, 60% of food insecure
elevate and promote gender issues in planning, budgeting,
populations are women and girls.
and policy development at both domestic and global levels.
Selected International Efforts
Legislation on global women’s issues has at times reached
Governments have sought to address gender equality in
an impasse due to long-standing abortion and family
international fora. For example, the United Nations (U.N.)
planning-related debates. Some policymakers contend that
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
previously enacted abortion and family planning restrictions
Discrimination against Women (1979), ratified by 189
should be included in certain gender-related legislation to
countries, specifically addresses the rights of women. (The
ensure the restrictions apply to those bills. Others argue that
United States has not ratified the treaty due to sovereignty
the restrictions do not need to be included because they are
concerns.) At the Fourth U.N. World Conference on
already law or because the bills are unrelated to abortion or
Women (1995), governments, including the United States,
family planning.
committed to eliminating discrimination against women and
affirmed “women’s rights are human rights.” In addition,
Agency Roles. The Department of State and U.S. Agency
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace,
for International Development (USAID) play key roles in
and Security (2000) urged governments to ensure the
coordinating U.S. efforts to address women’s issues, with
increased representation of women in conflict prevention,
the names and priorities of relevant offices often changing
management, and resolution. (The Council has since
between Administrations. The State Department’s Office of
adopted several follow-up resolutions.)
Global Women’s Issues is led by an Ambassador-at-Large
who reports to the Secretary of State and is tasked with
U.S. Policy
coordinating and raising awareness of women’s issues.
U.S. efforts to address global women’s issues have shifted
President Obama created the position in 2009.) The origin
over time, often reflecting world events, domestic political
of the office dates back to 1994, when Congress declared
conditions, and the priorities of individual policymakers.
that the department should designate a senior advisor to
During the past two decades, many Members of Congress
promote international women’s human rights (P.L. 103-
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Global Women’s Issues: Background and Selected U.S. Efforts
236). The USAID Gender Equality and Women’s
of these deaths. Funding for USAID maternal and child
Empowerment Hub was established in 1974 as the Office of
health programs that address these issues rose from $295
Women in Development. Led by a senior coordinator, it
million in FY2001 to $915 million in FY2024. Social
provides gender expertise, training, and technical
inequities also leave this population more susceptible to
assistance. Over the years, some policymakers have
HIV infection. From 2015 through 2022, the President’s
proposed codifying these offices and leadership positions.
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) HIV
prevention programs reached over 2.9 million girls.
Key Global Policy Issues
Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). Research has found
Gender-Based Violence (GBV). GBV generally refers to
that when women participate in peace processes women are
any harmful threat or act directed at an individual or group
more likely to build coalitions, support marginalized
based on their gender. Women are particularly susceptible,
groups, and promote national reconciliation. The Women,
which affects their ability to contribute to their
Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-68) promotes
communities. GBV occurs in all regions and economic
women’s participation in conflict prevention, management,
classes and is often underreported. In 2016, the Obama
and resolution; calls for a U.S. WPS strategy; and requires
Administration issued a U.S. GBV strategy, which the
gender training. Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden
Biden Administration updated in 2022. In FY2024,
issued WPS strategies in 2016, 2019, and 2023,
Congress appropriated $250 million for GBV responses.
respectively. For FY2024, Congress appropriated $150
million for WPS programs.
Women in Humanitarian and Conflict Settings.
Humanitarian and displacement crises, particularly in
Women’s Leadership. Women remain underrepresented at
conflict, often disproportionately affect women, who may
all levels of decisionmaking. Causes include discriminatory
lack access to food, health, and other services, and are
laws and practices, gender stereotypes, low education
vulnerable to exploitation (including GBV) that may
levels, lack of health care access, and the disproportionate
exacerbate other challenges. Congress has supported
effects of poverty. The United States supports programs to
women and girls, through humanitarian assistance and
improve women’s leadership through training, advocacy,
legislation targeting specific concerns, such as preventing
and capacity building. For FY2024, Congress appropriated
child marriage in displaced populations.
not less than $50 million for programs to promote women’s
leadership, including political participation.
Congressional Considerations
Integration into U.S. Foreign Assistance and Policy.
Women’s Economic Empowerment. Evidence suggests
Some Members may consider whether women’s issues can
that gender inequality is a barrier to economic opportunities
be more effectively addressed as discrete subjects, or as
for women. The United States has long supported programs
considerations within broader development assistance and
to increase such opportunities for women. The Women’s
strategies. While some may argue for an integrated strategy,
Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018
others may be concerned that such an approach could divert
(P.L. 115-428) aims to reduce gender disparity in economic
funds and attention from specific sectors they prioritize,
opportunity and codify gender analysis in USAID
such as health or education.
programs. In January 2023, President Biden published the
first-ever U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic
Oversight of Existing Activities. Congress may continue
Security. Previously, President Trump created the Women’s
to monitor executive branch implementation of gender-
Global Development and Prosperity Initiative in 2019,
related legislation and programs, as well as the status of
which President Biden restructured as the Gender Equity
U.S. policies and strategies addressing global women’s
and Equality Action (GEEA) Fund. Congress appropriated
issues. For example, the House and Senate reports
up to $200 million to the fund in FY2024.
accompanying the FY2024 SFOPS Act require the
Administration to report to Congress on issues related to
Girls’ Education. Over 132 million girls are out of school
adolescent girls, funding for the GEEA Fund, and U.S.
worldwide, while those who attend school often have lower
efforts to address violence against women in humanitarian
completion rates and learning levels than boys. Barriers to
crises.
education include poverty, child marriage, conflict, and
violence. U.S. activities support safe and quality education
Funding and Program Coordination. The State
for both girls and boys, while recognizing the importance of
Department and USAID track some gender programming
gender parity in education for girls. In 2017, Congress
broadly; however, the U.S. government does not
passed the Reinforcing Education Accountability in
comprehensively monitor funding for specific types of
Development Act (P.L. 115-56), which aims to strengthen
women’s issues. Some policymakers contend that current
educational systems, including by removing education
efforts are adequate, while others argue that they may
barriers for girls. For FY2024, Congress appropriated $150
hinder U.S. efforts to assess its global gender programs.
million for the education of girls in conflict areas.
Luisa Blanchfield, Coordinator, Specialist in
Health. Inadequate access to quality health care contributes
International Relations
to almost 800 pregnancy-related deaths daily worldwide,
Rhoda Margesson, Specialist in International
with 95% of these deaths in low- and middle-income
Humanitarian Policy
countries. Malnutrition—which can raise the risk of
stunting, eclampsia, and obstetric fistula—is another driver
Tiaji Salaam-Blyther, Specialist in Global Health
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Global Women’s Issues: Background and Selected U.S. Efforts

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