Women's Equality Day and a U.S. Plan for Peace

A recent article in the New York Daily News touted that,

“The 2012 London Olympic Games have already been christened the "women's games." Women seemed to dominate the television programming, the personal interest stories and more importantly for America, the medal count. Female athletes contributed 55% of America's total medals and 66% of the golds. Without women pulling more than their fair share, America would probably have finished a distant second behind China in the medal count. Make no mistake, Title IX won the Olympics for America”.

America’s women have benefitted in a myriad of ways from the 1972 Title IX landmark legislation  which opened up opportunities for women’s access to sports, education and leadership. Athletic advances of women are only one aspect of U.S. women coming into their own in our colleges and universities, in the workplace, in boardrooms, and at the ballot box. While it is easy to take those advancements for granted we must remember that women had to fight for those precious rights we enjoy today.

On August 26, 1920, women were granted the right to vote when the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed. Thanks to the late Congresswoman Bella Abzug and her 1971 U.S. Congressional Resolution, we celebrate “Women’s Equality Day” on August 26 each year to commemorate this achievement and call attention to the continuing efforts towards full women’s equality.

 Bella Abzug was a formidable champion promoting both women’s empowerment and peace. She had her start in 1961 helping lead Women Strike for Peace, calling for an end to the atmospheric nuclear tests. She would have been first in line to sponsor the Women Peace and Security Act of 2012 that has recently been introduced in Congress.

 This Act is designed to support the implementation of the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, which was launched by executive order last December. With the leadership of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, America joined the ranks of more than 30 countries in developing its National Action Plan to promote the essential role of women when it comes to securing peace. All of this started with a movement of women that has risen up across the globe and been developing through the United Nations.

 It is well documented that women are uniquely and disproportionately victimized by war and violence. Yet it has also been shown that women are uniquely effective agents for securing lasting and just peace. We have seen dismal failure when it comes to peace agreements. More than half fall apart within the first ten years, and women made up only 2.4 percent of all signatories to the 21 major peace agreements established over the past 20 years. Coincidence?

 It’s time for a change. Creating sustainable peace elsewhere is essential for our national security. We cannot afford to continue the perpetual war sacrifices of blood and treasure that we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 Secretary of State Clinton has eloquently stated: “When women participate in peace processes, they focus discussion on issues like human rights, justice, national reconciliation, and economic renewal that are critical to making peace, but often are overlooked in formal negotiations. They build coalitions across ethnic and sectarian lines, and they speak up for other marginalized groups. They act as mediators and help to foster compromise.”

 Women need to be at the table in determining how development aid and resources will be best used in preventing, enduring and recovering from conflict and war.

In the days following the 9/11 attacks, women in our local area from the Arabic community contacted our then female Mayor Madeline Cain, to  discuss their fears and concerns regarding potential backlash against Arab-American community members and business owners. The Mayor immediately met with them and in concert with the women and her Administration, the mayor created a pro-active plan to keep the peace and monitor any issues.

The pattern of women offering innovative solutions is also evident worldwide, and bringing these to the peace table has improved outcomes. In Afghanistan, with among the worst infant and maternal mortality rates in the world, training and providing midwives has been essential in improving conditions.

Northern Ireland women negotiators of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement secured involvement of youth and victims of violence in the reconciliation process and accelerated the release and reintegration of political prisoners.

Somalia’s Asha Haji Elmi led a group of women to the Somali Peace and Reconciliation conference in Eldoret, Kenya in 2002, which prompted the Somali government to adopt a quota of 12 percent of the 275 seats of their parliament be held by women.

With the WPS Act, Congress can participate in recognizing and promoting the invaluable role women play in preventing, mediating, and resolving violent conflict and building peaceful communities. We can be a part of fostering a U.S. approach that will build lasting sustainable peace for everyone, and will enhance our national security. To celebrate this Women’s Equality Day, I ask Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, and U.S. Representative Marcie Kaptur to consider cosponsorship of the Women Peace and Security Act of 2012. And I’ll take a moment to thank Bella Abzug and those early 20th century women who fought for my right to participate in public life, I am forever grateful.

Nickie J. Antonio is a State Representative in Ohio and an active member of the Women Legislator’s Lobby – a program of Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND).