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Women in Defense & Security

WIIS has a long history of advancing women’s leadership and promoting equality in defense and security sectors. In policy analysis, training, and institutional support, WIIS highlights the talent, skills, insights, and experience of women leaders, all of which strengthen institutional effectiveness and achieve operational goals at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels.

Security Cooperation

Through its training courses and data collection and analysis, WIIS assists security organizations, U.S. Combatant Commands, and partner nations worldwide in assessing progress in implementing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in state security sector forces.

Data Assessment Tool

The WIIS Data Assessment Tool is a monitoring and evaluation tool that measures the progress made by states or organizations in integrating the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 into their national security policies, military operations, and defense institutions.

Explore the Data Assessment Tool

Trainings and Courses

WIIS offers a network of experienced professionals who evaluate and assess existing WPS plans and programs and provides training for government agencies, including security institutions, that prioritize the operationalization of gender mainstreaming in policies and missions.

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Peacekeeping and Security

More women participating in peacekeeping operations and missions in civilian, military, and police force roles means better operational effectiveness. WIIS conducts evidence-based research affirming that women’s participation in peace and security operations is vital to conflict prevention and mitigation.

Combat Integration Initiative (CII)

In 2013, WIIS established the Combat Integration Initiative (CII) to monitor the full integration of women into the military armed services. The CII monitored, evaluated, and published data on women’s full integration into the then-newly opened combat occupations in the U.S. military.

Army Women’s Museum Archive and Exhibit

Between 2014-2015, WIIS interviewed 15 women assigned to special operations teams in Afghanistan who served in ground combat as part of the Cultural Support Team program. The interviews were donated to the Army Women’s Museum at Fort Lee, Virginia.

Combat Integration Handbook

A WIIS 2017 working conference with members from the U.S. Department of Defense resulted in the publication of a Handbook. The Army revised and updated it in 2021, with full credit given to WIIS as the originating institution.

The Atlantic Project

The Atlantic directed a documentary video of the women combat soldiers who served in Afghanistan’s all-female cultural support teams. You can view it here. 

CII Conferences

WIIS hosted a number of CII conferences over the years. CSPAN covered two. You can view them here.

The Fight to Fight Documentary

The Fight to Fight is a feature documentary film that tells the story of courageous women who became the first to integrate U.S. Army combat units in 2016.

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Resources

Realizing NATO’s Women, Peace and Security Commitment in Practice | By Katharine A.M. Wright & Diana Morais Regional & Collective Security
Advancing Women’s Role in the Security Sector in Nigeria Women in Defense & Security
Enhancing Security: Women’s Participation in the Security Forces in Latin America and the Caribbean – 2020 Country Reports Women in Defense & Security
Enhancing Security: Women’s Participation In The Security Forces In Latin America And The Caribbean: Part II – 2023 Country Reports Assessments, Monitoring, and Evaluations
The Importance of Meaningful Participation of Female Peacekeepers Women in Defense & Security
From Exception to Norm: Closing the Women, Peace, and Security Gap Through Joint Professional Military Education Women in Defense & Security
Enhancing Security: Women’s Participation in the Security Forces in Latin America and the Caribbean: Part II Assessments, Monitoring, and Evaluations
Four Critical Elements of Successful Integration Women in Defense & Security
A Review of the Implementation Plans for the Elimination of the Direct Ground Combat Assignment Rule Women in Defense & Security
Women in Combat: Learning from Cultural Support Teams Women in Defense & Security
Integration of Women into Ground Combat: Status Report Women in Defense & Security
Marine Corps Study Analysis Women in Defense & Security
All Military Jobs Should Be Open to Women, Including Those in the Marine Corps. No Exceptions. Women in Defense & Security
Combat Integration Handbook: A Leader’s Guide to Success Women in Defense & Security
Equipping and Training Modifications for Combat Arms Women Women in Defense & Security
The WIIS Gender Scorecard: Washington, DC Think Tanks- 2018 Assessments, Monitoring, and Evaluations
The WIIS Gender Scorecard: Think Tanks and Journals Spotlight on the Nuclear Security Community Arms Control & Disarmament
Enhancing Security in Latin America and the Caribbean Assessments, Monitoring, and Evaluations