Carolyn Kenney is a senior policy analyst for the Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative on the National Security and International Policy team at American Progress. Most recently, Kenney served as the deputy director for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) in the International Humanitarian Policy Directorate at the U.S. Department of Defense, where she earned the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. In this role, Kenney was lead author and coordinator of the department’s first-ever WPS implementation plan. She also helped oversee the WPS program at the strategic level, which included developing departmentwide policies on WPS, coordinating with the interagency, organizing regular outreach to stakeholders inside and outside government, and helping oversee the program’s $8.5 million budget. Prior to joining American Progress, Kenney worked at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, International Crisis Group, and Human Rights Watch. Kenney received her Master of Arts in international human rights from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and her Bachelor of Arts in international affairs from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Seeking Accountability and Justice for Crimes Committed in Ukraine
The international community’s message must be clear: Russia’s acts of aggression and any human rights violations against the Ukrainian people will not go unpunished.
Fact Sheet: Recommendations for Advancing Gender Equality at Home and Abroad by Leveraging Women, Peace, and Security
The Gender Policy Council should include the following recommendations in its governmentwide strategy to ensure it can fully leverage and expand the U.S. government’s existing women, peace, and security mandate and architecture.
Advancing Gender Equality at Home and Abroad by Leveraging Women, Peace, and Security
To achieve even greater gains in gender equity and equality around the world, the Gender Policy Council should leverage and expand the U.S. government’s existing women, peace, and security mandate and architecture.
The Biden administration’s efforts to restore U.S. leadership on the global stage will ultimately be determined by what actions the United States takes domestically on climate.
Repairing the damage done to global human rights under President Trump will require a forceful and expansive human rights agenda from the next administration.
Understanding and Combating Russian and Chinese Influence Operations
Examining similarities and differences between Russian and Chinese malign foreign influence operations is key to developing shared strategies for combating them.
The Rise of Far-Right Populism Threatens Global Democracy and Security
The stunning gains by openly illiberal candidates and parties and the decline in support for democracy should be a huge wake up call for liberal democratic leaders.
Trump’s ‘Long History’ of Financial Dealings with the Saudis Complicates the Khashoggi Affair
Authors Carolyn Kenney and Jeremy Venook detail President Trump's complicated financial history with the Saudi government and explain why these conflicts of interest pose a threat to U.S. national security.
America Loses a UN Ambassador—And Is Better Off for It
With the sudden resignation of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, author Carolyn Kenney discusses the need for a successor who does more than merely pay lip service to human rights issues.
By Undermining the ICC, Bolton Is Compromising America’s Values
National Security Adviser John Bolton has again taken unnecessary aim at the International Criminal Court—an institution that is critical to securing justice for victims and establishing accountability for perpetrators of the world’s most heinous crimes.
