,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #afec ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #h1 #bjai,ms4 ,frankel 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,chabot1 ,mr4 ,keating1 ,mr4 ,wilson of ,south ,carolina1 ,ms4 ,spanberger1 ,mr4 ,zeldin1 ,ms4 ,meng1 ,ms4 ,houlahan1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 and ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to ensure that the ,united ,states recognizes women's varied roles in all aspects of violent extremism and terrorism and promotes their meaningful participation as full partners in all efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,women and ,countering ,violent ,extremism ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,women play diverse roles in violent extremist organizations1 including as victims1 perpetrators1 and preventers4 7#b7 ,extremist groups benefit strategically and financially from the subjugation of women4 ,terrorist groups violate the rights of women and girls1 from sexual enslavement and forced marriages to limiting their access to education and public life4 ,violent extremist groups have used women and girls as rewards for new recruits and as part of their recruitment efforts4 ,according to the #bjaf ,u4,s4 ,state ,department's ,country ,reports on ,terrorism1 ,in #bjae and #bjaf1 ,,isis abducted1 systematically raped1 and abused thousands of women and children in ,iraq and ,syria1 some as young as eight years of age4 ,women and children were sold and enslaved1 distributed to ,,isis fighters as spoils of war1 forced into marriage and domestic servitude1 or subjected to physical and sexual abuse44 ,in northern ,nigeria1 ,boko ,haram has kidnapped and subjected thousands of women and girls to physical abuse1 forced labor1 forced marriage and sexual abuse4 7#c7 ,as perpetrators of violent extremism and terrorism1 women adopt all roles1 including as informants1 facilitators1 recruiters1 and suicide bombers4 ,empowering women may diminish their support for violent extremist organizations by increasing their sense of agency4 7#d7 ,seeing women as partners empowers them to detect early signs of radicalization1 intervening before individuals become violent and delegitimizing violent extremist narratives4 ,analysis by the ,council on ,foreign ,relations concluded that1 ,anti-terrorism messages are disseminated quite effectively throughout families and communities by women1 who can challenge extremist narratives in homes1 schools and social environments1 and have particular influence among youth populations44 7#e7 ,extremist groups take strategic advantage of the relative absence of women in police and military forces4 ,as security officials1 women provide distinct insights1 information1 and analyses that can be mission-critical in keeping the peace4 ,they may have access to populations and sites that men do not1 allowing them to gather critical intelligence about potential security threats4 7#f7 ,research has demonstrated a relationship between the security of women and the security of states4 ,according to a ,texas ,a,m study1 less empowerment for women in the household correlates with less stability nationwide1 measured by political instability1 lack of freedoms1 autocracy1 corruption1 and internal conflict4 ,countries where women are less empowered at the household level are also more likely to produce foreign fighters going to territory controlled by terrorist organizations4 7#g7 ,counterterrorism policy has not been as effective at understanding how women can improve security efforts4 ,according to the ,june #bjaf ,u4,s4 ,national ,action ,plan on ,women1 ,peace and ,security1 ,a narrow understanding of women's roles in ,,cve countering violent extremism limits policy options and perpetuates strategic blind spots1 such as failing to recognize women's agency as potential mitigators and perpetrators of violence44 7#h7 ,according to a #bjae ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development study of women's participation in violent extremism1 there has been a marked gap in ,,cve countering violent extremism programming1 which has focused mostly on male participation1 without a commensurate reflection on and response to female-specific drivers and recruitment strategies44 7#i7 ,the ,department of ,state ,,usaid ,joint ,strategy on ,countering ,violent ,extremism1 dated ,may #bjaf1 notes that women can play a critical role in identifying and addressing drivers of violent extremism in their families1 communities1 and broader society2 and commits to supporting programs that engage women as key stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism in their communities4 ,women are on the front lines of observing and countering extremist violence1 including as police officers engaging with local communities to prevent violent extremism1 imams and other religious leaders preaching religious tolerance1 and as those countering efforts to radicalize their husbands1 children1 and communities4 7#aj7 ,the ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security ,act of #bjag 7,public ,law #aae-fh7 established that ,women in conflict-affected regions have achieved significant success in moderating violent extremism and countering terrorism44 7#aa7 ,the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjag 7,public ,law #aae-ca7 required the creation of a comprehensive1 inter-agency ,united ,states ,government strategy to support women and girls at risk from extremism and conflict4 ,congress has also allocated #de1jjj1jjj to support women and girls at risk from extremism and conflict4 #c4 ,statement of policy ,it shall be the policy of the ,united ,states to recognize women's varied roles in all aspects of violent extremism and terrorism1 including as victims1 perpetrators1 and preventers1 and to promote the meaningful participation of women as full partners in all efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism4 #d4 ,authorization of assistance to women-led and women's empowerment organizations ,the ,president is authorized to provide assistance to non-,united ,states-based women-led and women's empowerment organizations in foreign countries working on countering violent extremism and terrorism in such countries1 including for the following purposes3 7#a7 ,supporting capacity-building efforts of such organizations and of women preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism1 including in the use of conflict analysis tools and methodologies4 7#b7 ,ensuring representation of women in working groups and initiatives discussing countering violent extremism and terrorism policies1 strategies1 and analyses1 and seeking the input of such working groups and initiatives in the design of countering violent extremism and terrorism programs1 including policies and programs led by the security sector4 7#c7 ,supporting projects that advance efforts to prevent or counter violent extremism and terrorism4 7#d7 ,encouraging national1 regional1 and local platforms for information exchange between female activists from countries facing violent extremism or terrorism so they can share experiences and learn best practices4 #e4 ,women1 peace1 and security strategy 7a7 ,in general ,subsection 7a7 of section #e of the ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security ,act of #bjag 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baeb;j-#a2 ,public ,law #aae-fh7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking and after the semicolon at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#c7 include a section on countering violent extremism and terrorism that addresses-- 7,a7 women's contributions to preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism1 including through their community1 religious1 and security roles2 7,b7 preventing1 detecting1 and countering women's involvement in violent extremism and terrorism1 including their roles as informants1 facilitators1 recruiters1 and suicide bombers2 7,c7 how violent extremist and terrorist groups target women and infringe on their rights and safety1 and on the broader relationship between gender-based violence and extremism and terrorism2 7,d7 the gender dimensions of disarmament1 demobilization1 and reintegration activities1 including women's positive engagement and participation in such efforts and the disarmament of women combatants2 and 7,e7 such other considerations as are determined appropriate by the ,president4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by subsection 7a7 of this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this section and apply beginning with the first ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security ,strategy that is required to be submitted pursuant to section #e of the ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security ,act of #bjag after such date of enactment4 #f4 ,women and girls at risk from violent extremism and conflict strategy ,paragraph 7#b7 of section #gjei7;e7 of the ,department of ,state1 ,foreign ,operations1 and ,related ,programs ,appropriations ,act1 #bjag 7division ,j of ,public ,law #aae-ca2 relating to the strategy to support women and girls who are at risk from extremism and conflict7 is amended by inserting and every four years thereafter after ,act4 #g4 ,training for ,united ,states ,government officials ,section #f of the ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security ,act of #bjag 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baeb;j-#b2 ,public ,law #aae-fh7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#d7 ,preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism4 2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7b77#a71 by inserting preventing and countering violent extremism1 after resolution14 #h4 ,training provided by the ,united ,states ,government 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state shall seek to increase the participation of women receiving training under the ,department of ,state's ,anti-,terrorism ,assistance 7,,ata7 programs1 with the goal of doubling by the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this ,act the total number of women receiving such training as of such date of enactment4 7b7 ,antiterrorism assistance ,section #egb of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdi;aa-#a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking and after the semicolon at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#d7 to encourage foreign countries to include women participating in such activities4 4 #i4 ,research 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,defense1 ,secretary of ,state1 and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security and the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 shall conduct research on gender and countering violent extremism and terrorism1 such as on the following3 7#a7 ,the root and proximate causes of women's and men's participation in terrorist and violent extremist organizations4 7#b7 ,how both violent extremism and countering violent extremism differently impact women and girls versus men and boys4 7#c7 ,ways to engage women and girls who are vulnerable to extremist and terrorist behavior4 7#d7 ,ways women and girls can assist in identifying individuals of concern4 7#e7 ,the intersection of violent extremism and terrorism and the following3 7,a7 ,gender-based violence4 7,b7 ,women's empowerment at the household level1 such as property and inheritance rights1 bride-price and dowry1 and the level of societal sanction for the killing or harming of women4 7,c7 ,adolescent girls' empowerment1 such as the level of early1 child1 and forced marriage1 and of girls' access to secondary education4 7#f7 ,best practices to support women preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism4 7b7 ,utilization ,the ,secretary of ,defense1 ,secretary of ,state1 and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall utilize the results of research required under subsection 7a7 to inform programming1 including by updating relevant country1 regional1 and inter-agency strategies1 projects1 and activities1 of the ,department of ,defense1 the ,department of ,state1 and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 respectively4 7c7 ,submission to ,congress ,not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 ,secretary of ,state1 and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the results of research required under subsection 7a74 #aj4 ,annual country reports on terrorism ,section #adj of the ,foreign ,relations ,authorization ,act1 ,fiscal ,years #aihh and #aihi 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef;f7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsections 7c7 through 7e7 as subsections 7d7 through 7f71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7b7 the following new subsection3 7c7 ,gender analysis 7#a7 ,in general ,the report required under subsection 7a7 of this section shall include1 for not fewer than five foreign countries considered in such report1 a gender analysis of the conflict drivers1 power dynamics1 and impacts that are relevant to violent extremism in each such country1 such as the following3 7,a7 ,terrorist recruitment practices4 7,b7 ,drivers of radicalization4 7,c7 ,women's participation1 status1 and agency in their homes1 communities1 and society1 including whether such women experience subordination1 exclusion or gender-based violence4 7,d7 ,access to resources and services4 7#b7 ,selection criteria ,foreign countries shall be selected for purposes of the gender analysis required under paragraph 7#a7 on the basis of the following3 7,a7 ,low levels of gender equality in such country4 7,b7 ,access necessary to conduct such a gender analysis in such country4 7,c7 ,engagement or attempted engagement of organizations1 including organizations led by women1 to empower women to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism in such country4 7,d7 ,other criteria as determined by the ,secretary of ,state4 4 #aa4 ,report to ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in conjunction with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall provide a briefing and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of this ,act4 7b7 ,public availability ,the report required under subsection 7a7 shall be posted and made available on a text-based1 searchable1 and publicly available internet website4 #ab4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,countering violent extremism ,the term countering violent extremism means proactive actions to counter efforts by violent extremists to radicalize1 recruit1 and mobilize followers to violence and to address specific factors that facilitate violent extremist recruitment and radicalization to violence4 7#c7 ,terrorism ,the term terrorism has the meaning given such term in subsection 7d7 of section #adj of the ,foreign ,relations ,authorization ,act1 ,fiscal ,years #aihh and #aihi 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef;f74