Kamlager-Dove, Amb. Rao Gupta Visit Japan to Promote Women, Peace, and Security Ahead of PM Kishida's Address to Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) traveled to Japan in advance of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s upcoming state visit to Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove joined U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Amb. Geeta Rao Gupta, to engage Japanese counterparts on the U.S. and Japan’s joint commitments to the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda as a representative of the Congressional WPS Caucus. The U.S. WPS Caucus and the Japanese WPS Diet Network are the only two such WPS Caucuses in the world, and this WPS Caucus trip featuring leadership from the State Department and Congress is the first of its kind.

“It was an honor to join Ambassador Rao Gupta on this delegation to exchange WPS lessons learned and best practices with our Japanese partners, who are international leaders on women, peace, and security," said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. "I have dedicated my career to defending and championing women’s rights in the United States and have worked to elevate these issues within the U.S. foreign policy agenda through my work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It is important to connect with like-minded partners like Japan to advance WPS initiatives and discuss ways to accelerate and amplify global WPS efforts. The data shows that women’s inclusion in conflict resolution makes peace agreements more likely to succeed and that sustainable peace requires the full economic, social, and political participation of women. I look forward to working with Japan and other partners and allies to advance WPS priorities to benefit not just women but society as a whole.”

Notable engagements included meetings with Foreign Minister Yōko Kamikawa, the Diet Members’ Network for WPS, Vice Minister of Defense Kazuo Masuda, the Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike, and the Secretary of State’s 2024 International Women of Courage awardee Rina Gonoi.

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