Washington, DC – Today, Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) welcomed Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko to the U.S. Capitol to discuss the WPS Caucus’s priorities for the coming year and Japan’s work to further the WPS agenda. In addition to Minister Kamikawa, the members were joined by Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. YAMADA Shigeo; Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta; and Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Melanne Verveer.

“We know that when women and girls are economically empowered, educated, free from violence, given the opportunities to thrive, and are in the room and listened to when decisions are made, their communities and the world are safer, more secure, and more prosperous,” said the Co-Chairs. “Sadly, women and girls bear the brunt of conflicts all over the world. We thank Foreign Minister Kamikawa and her delegation for making the trip to discuss the importance of the WPS agenda and for her tireless work and commitment to our shared goals.”

During the meeting, Rep. Frankel emphasized the WPS Caucus’s commitment to empowering women economically, ensuring education opportunities, advocating for efforts to tackle gender-based and sexual violence during warfare, as well as promoting women’s participation in decision-making at all levels of government and civil society.

Foreign Minister Kamikawa, a lifelong champion for women in Japan, reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to the WPS agenda and to addressing key issues impacting women at home and abroad. The group discussed the disproportionate challenges women and girls face in conflict-affected areas, including displacement, loss of family members, and exposure to gender-based and sexual violence.

For more photos from the meeting, click here.

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