2020 started with a threat of a new regional war in the Middle East, the continuing spread of authoritarian regimes with identity-driving extremist ideologies, a gridlocked multilateral system and an assault on international human rights norms and processes.

At the UN it is hard to ignore the cognitive dissonance of a discredited Security Council and seeming fatigue at the wave of crises facing the world on the one hand, and on the other, the perfunctory conferences on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Action, women peace and security and other visionary agendas.

How does this flailing of the global peace and security architecture impact people, especially the civilians living daily with the threat of violence and oppression.  Two decades after the adoption of the watershed UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security (WPS), Sanam Naraghi Anderlini will discuss the role, experiences and ongoing contributions of women, particularly national and transnational women's movements in tackling some of the world's most intractable security threats and conflicts. 

Drawing on over two decades of research, advocacy and practical work with the United Nations, civil society organisations across countries affected by war and violent extremism globally, she will reflect on how and why gendered analysis is essential to understanding emerging threats, and the strategic and practical ways in which locally rooted women's peace and security movements are harnessing the power of cultural indigenous practices and together with the promise of the global WPS agenda to raise uncomfortable truths, challenge conventional wisdoms, and offer solutions that are urgently needed

On the 5th anniversary of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security, take a look ahead with the new Director.

Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini (@sanambna) is the Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security.

The Centre for Women, Peace and Security (@LSE_WPS) is an academic space for scholars, practitioners, activists and policy makers to develop strategies to promote justice, human rights and participation of women in conflict affected areas.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEWPS

This event forms part of the “Shape the World” series, held in the run up to the LSE Festival, a week-long series of events taking place from Monday 2 to Saturday 7 March 2020, free to attend and open to all, exploring how social sciences can make the world a better place. Tickets will be available from 12noon on Monday 10 February. Browse the full programme. 

LSESU RAG - the fundraising arm of the Students' Union are this academic year raising money for 3 charities, one local, The Felix Project, one national, Refugee Action, and one international, Doctors without Borders. Students from RAG will be collecting funds for their charities outside LSE’s public events during RAG week. Please give what you can to support three worthwhile causes.