SECURITY FOR ALL. Applying the Women, Peace and Security Lens to the COVID-19 Pandemic Response in the US

The COVID-19 pandemic does not respect borders or power. Armies, weapons, and fortifications will not destroy it. COVID-19 is a national security threat of a different kind. The United States and countries around the world need to reexamine what it takes for people to be safe. 

It is time for the US government to look to lessons from women’s organizations within and outside of our country to implement policies and practices that will lead to more efficient preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, and build more resilient communities. This brief offers a set of WPS-grounded analyses and recommendations to the US Congress to support a more effective pandemic response and recovery for all American people.