Considerations for Congress
Members may take into account the following issues and questions as they conduct oversight of and consider U.S. policy addressing both the status of women in MENA countries and broader security and policy priorities in the region.
Resources and priorities. In a context of competing domestic and foreign policy priorities and finite resources, to what extent, if any, should U.S. foreign policy, foreign assistance, and military cooperation be directed to address gender imbalances in the MENA region? If so, how can this be done most effectively? Are there specific countries or lines of effort that should be prioritized over others, and, if so, for what reasons? How has USCENTCOM implemented the Women, Peace, and Security Act and what resources has it allocated to support the goals of the act?
Foreign aid. What is the impact of U.S. efforts to advance the WPS Act on the safety and well-being of women in the MENA region and on the promotion of broader security and the resolution of conflict? What is the impact of U.S. efforts to support women’s economic and legal empowerment in the MENA region?
Unintended consequences. Do some types of aid or cooperation with MENA governments on security issues inadvertently contribute to harming women’s rights or well-being? Are there ways to mitigate against such damage?
Conditionality. What are the pros and cons of conditioning U.S. financial support for and security cooperation with authoritarian states on respect for women’s rights and gender equality? What metrics would be appropriate for gauging progress made by these regimes?
Effectiveness. How do the Departments of State and Defense and USAID seek to measure program effectiveness? Which types of policy approaches and foreign assistance programs appear to have been the most effective in improving conditions for women? What have been the effects of U.S. programs in specific MENA countries?
Congressional mandates. What are the benefits and drawbacks of using legislation to mandate the incorporation of gender elements into broader foreign policy initiatives, foreign assistance programs, and military cooperation activities?
Best practices. To what extent, if any, are U.S. government agencies sharing best practices among themselves and with other international actors? Would congressional efforts to encourage women’s participation in peace negotiations in Afghanistan be applicable to MENA conflicts such as those in Syria, Yemen, and Libya?
Cultural sensitivities and resistance to change. How can U.S. and international assistance and programs be structured to maximize local ownership of initiatives for women and girls and minimize the perception of outside interference?
Coordination with international efforts. What programs and initiatives do other governments and regional and multilateral organizations have for addressing gender issues in the MENA region? Are there gender issues in the region that would be most efficiently or effectively addressed through multilateral organizations, as opposed to unilateral U.S. efforts? How well coordinated are global efforts, and what opportunities are there for greater coordination and/or burden-sharing?
COVID-19. Are there ways to target U.S. policy and/or foreign assistance that might help mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women?
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