WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), the leading national women’s organization advancing policy that enhances people’s freedom, opportunities, and well-being, announced the launch of its Center for American Safety and Security (CASS). The Center will spark vital discussions on national security, public safety, and foreign policy with a dynamic, woman-led approach.
Importantly, the Center for American Safety and Security launch coincides with the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 and three years since the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal that left eleven Marines, a soldier, and a Navy corpsman dead. IWF’s Center for American Safety and Security will inform society about the consequences of foreign and national security policies that weaken America’s strength, advocating for strategic initiatives that prioritize the nation’s well-being and sovereignty.
The Center will also expose the negative impacts of ideologically driven policies on military effectiveness and national security, offering a platform for those directly affected to share their experiences.
IWF’s Center for American Safety and Security will be led by experienced policy expert and combat veteran Meaghan Mobbs. Mobbs is a West Point graduate and former paratrooper who holds a master’s in forensic psychology from George Washington University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Columbia University. Mobbs’s insights on national security, foreign policy, and defense are informed by her eclectic background and expertise in psychology. She has testified before Congress on a myriad of issues including the military recruitment crisis and religious freedom.
“As the world becomes increasingly unstable, it is vital for women to have a platform where they can engage with, analyze, and navigate the complexities of global issues and national security. When foreign policy fails, it is often women and girls who suffer the most,” said Mobbs.
“CASS will unapologetically advance the rights and protections of women and girls globally by highlighting and calling attention to distinct forms of violence and persecution faced by women. This requires a clear commitment to defining a woman as an adult female human and emphasizing the biological realities that underpin the unique challenges women face worldwide. We believe you cannot defend what you cannot define. We will work to raise awareness around violations of women’s rights, at home and abroad. Together, these efforts will ensure that we not only understand the definition of a woman but also possess the moral courage and fortitude to protect them.”
Under Mobbs’s leadership, CASS policy objectives will be driven by Independent Women’s Forum senior fellows and visiting fellows, including:
- Ellie Cohanim, the former U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism during the Trump administration;
- Dr. Qanta Ahmed, a British American Muslim physician, journalist, and member of the Council on Foreign Relations;
- Aleksandra Gadzala-Tirziu, founder of the geopolitical risk firm Magpie Advisory and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council;
- Rebecca Burgess, senior fellow at the Yorktown Institute and acting director of the Classics in Strategy and Diplomacy project; and
- Karina Lipsman, an expert in international diplomacy, geo-political strategy, conflict resolution, cyber, space, defense operations, and implementation of U.S. global defense systems.
Earlier this year, IWF launched a two-part video and petition “Our Girls” campaign — ‘Why Is There Silence?’ and ‘Where Are The #BringBackOurGirls Voices Now?’ — featuring leading voices including Riley Gaines, Tulsi Gabbard, Meghan McCain, and Sage Steele, to expose the hypocrisy of prominent world leaders and feminist women’s organizations in the wake of the atrocities committed against Israeli women and girls by Hamas on October 7th.
With the help of IWF’s Center for American Safety and Security, the latest IW Features documentary, which will be released today to kickoff the launch of the center, tells the story of an Afghan family who fled the country after the Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021, shedding a light on the grim realities facing Afghan women in the wake of the American withdrawal.
The Center for American Safety and Security will continue to build upon efforts to stop selective outrage and to clearly and articulately stand with all women.
Direct media inquiries and booking requests to [email protected].
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Independent Women’s Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.
Strengthening national security, promoting personal safety, and championing liberty for women and girls around the world.