Global GBV Prevention (E.O. 13623)

Summary

Creates a government-wide plan to stop and react to violence against women and girls around the world by coordinating the work of different agencies.

What problem does this solve?

Violence against women and girls harms their safety and human rights, and also hurts the health, economy, and security of their countries. This order creates a coordinated, multi-year strategy for the U.S. government to help prevent and respond to this violence worldwide.

What does this order do?

Establishes a national strategy on global gender-based violence

Creates an official, multi-year U.S. government strategy to more effectively prevent and respond to violence against women and girls around the world.

Creates an interagency working group

Forms a new working group to coordinate the implementation of the strategy across many different government departments and agencies.

Requires better coordination with outside groups

Directs government agencies to work more closely with other governments, international organizations, the private sector, and community groups to fight gender-based violence.

Integrates violence prevention into existing work

Requires agencies to make gender-based violence prevention a part of their existing foreign policy and foreign aid programs, such as global health and anti-trafficking efforts.

Improves data collection and research

Promotes better research and data collection to understand the causes of gender-based violence and to measure whether prevention programs are working effectively.

Who does this affect?

Women and girls in foreign countries
U.S. government agencies involved in foreign policy
International aid and civil society organizations

What is the real world impact?

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Makes women's safety a foreign policy priority

Elevates the issue of gender-based violence to a core part of U.S. foreign policy, linking women's safety to national security, economic stability, and democratic growth.

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Improves government coordination

Creates a single working group to ensure that various U.S. departments and agencies work together efficiently on this issue, avoiding duplicated efforts and sharing successful methods.

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Promotes U.S. values abroad

Demonstrates a U.S. commitment to human rights and gender equality on the global stage. Some may view this as an attempt to influence the internal social policies of other nations.

When does this start?

This order became effective on August 10, 2012, and established several deadlines for future actions.

First working group meeting

The new Interagency Working Group must hold its first meeting within 120 days of August 10, 2012.

Progress report submission

The Working Group must submit a progress report on the strategy's implementation within 18 months of the order's date.

Final evaluation submission

A final evaluation of the strategy's implementation must be completed by the Working Group within 3 years of the order's date.

Strategy update

The Working Group must update or revise the strategy within 180 days of completing its final evaluation.