Women, Peace and Security

• This course ran in September 2016.
• Keep in touch via social media or our mailing list to find out when new courses are scheduled.

Building on decades of civil society advocacy for women’s human rights, in 2000, the United Nations Security Council issued UNSCR 1325, the first of eight resolutions aimed at improving the participation of women in peacebuilding and prevention of conflict and addressing conflict-related sexual violence. The UK-led Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative drew further attention to the problems of accountability and impunity and the need to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. Yet, despite this global attention and goodwill, and some success, in 2015 the UN’s review of progress identified significant and persistent challenges in ensuring women’s human rights and their full and equal participation in matters of peace and security. Progress has been made but significant and damaging global problems persist. 

This original expert-led course will provide a critical examination of peace and security issues affecting women. Through lectures, case studies and discussion sessions, participants will explore the international legal and policy framework aimed at promoting justice, human rights and participation for women in conflict-affected situations. Participants will examine women’s lived experiences and learn from academic experts, leading activists and advocates, and each other.

Content and participants 

• The social, political and economic context: what we know (and what we don’t know) about women in war and conflict-affected areas, including: sexual and gender-based violence; access to land and property; loss of family members and documentation; displacement; migration; seeking asylum and refuge.
• The global ‘Women, Peace and Security’ agenda: history, evolution and critiques, including examination of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions; the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the 2015 Global Study of UNSCR 1325.
• The international legal framework: using International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law in promoting and protecting women’s human rights in conflict environments.
• Participation, Protection, Prevention, Relief and Recovery: in-depth examination of the four pillars of the UN Women, Peace and Security agenda including: participation in peace negotiation and peacekeeping; definitions of and responsibility for protection; increasing accountability and ending impunity for conflict-related sexual violence; delivering medical and psycho-social care for survivors.

Over the two days, participants considered key questions: 

What is different about what happens to women and girls in conflict? What do we understand by gender-based violence? Who commits the violence and against whom? What is being done about men and boys, as survivors, perpetrators and agents of change? Are women more peaceful than men? What can women bring to peace processes? Who is responsible for protection? What is the role and impact of civil society in implementing global and national initiatives? Why does sexual violence occur in conflict? 

Who should take the course?           

This two–day intensive course is designed for mid-career professionals from any sector who are working in a relevant area. We particularly welcome participants from military policy and operations, peace and security governance, post conflict reconstruction, WPS and PSVI development and implementation, gender mainstreaming, and advocacy and activism in women’s human rights.

Speakers

Speakers on the September 2016 Intensive:

Fees

Fees for the September 2016 course were as follows:

• Standard individual rate: £1100 
• Concessionary rate for Charities and NGOs: £800 
• Additionally, the Centre offered subsidised places, at £500, in support of those who would otherwise have been unable to take the course.

Interested? Keep in touch via social media or our mailing list to find out when new courses are scheduled.