WASHINGTON D.C. — In early June 2017, a legislative bill titled “S.1141- Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017” was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Cause. The purpose of S.1141 is to ensure that the United States promotes the meaningful participation of women in mediation and negotiation processes seeking to prevent, mitigate, or resolve violent conflict. The bill, S.1141, was introduced by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). S.1141 was read twice in front of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Around the world, women remain underrepresented in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace building efforts. Globally, there are 38 states…
Author: Paige Wilson
Paige Wilson
Paige lives in Frisco, TX. Her academic interests include women and children’s rights, special need’s rights, and politics. Paige spent Thanksgiving in Japan!
WASHINGTON D.C. — On May 17, 2017, the House of Representatives passed the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act, also called the Syrian Sanctions Bill. The Syrian Sanctions Bill was introduced by Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA). The Syrian Sanctions Bill seeks to impose sanctions on supporters of Syria’s Assad regime, encourage negotiations to end ongoing atrocities and support the prosecution of war criminals. The Syrian Sanctions Bill is designed to increase costs faced by al-Assad and his outside backers by targeting the economic sectors that allow Assad to murder with impunity. The bill causes foreign…
NAIROBI — In June 2017, Angelina Jolie visited Nairobi, capital of Kenya, and met with 200 refugee girls, who are unaccompanied or separated from their parents and are now living in the Heshima Kenya Safe House. The young women are participating in a girls’ empowerment project. The girls fled extreme violence or persecution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi and Rwanda. Almost all have suffered sexual and gender-based violence, robbing them of their childhoods. Many have given birth after being raped or are currently pregnant. The UNHCR reports that Kenya hosts some 491,000 refugees,…
SEATTLE — One term thrown around lately between politicians is “failed state.” While many Americans follow politics, sometimes politicians use terms not everyone knows about. It is important to know what a failed state is and why it failed. Failed State Definition A failed state is unable to perform the two functions of the nation: it has no authority over its territory and citizens and cannot protect its borders. A failed state is incapable of fulfilling the administrative duties required to control people and resources; it also can only provide minimal public services. Its citizens and the international community no…
PYONGYANG — North Korea is one of the most secretive countries in the world. Most cannot imagine what a day is like for the average North Korean citizen. Forty percent of the country’s population, about 24 million people, live below the poverty line. Most workers earn $2 to $3 per month. The standard of living has deteriorated to extreme levels of deprivation while the average life expectancy has fallen by five years since the early 1980s. Despite these statistics, many still do not know why North Korea is poor. Food Shortages One reason explaining why North Korea is poor lies in…