As we look forward to the next decade of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, this event will examine the role, contributions and potential of academic institutions – in research, advocacy, education and cross-sector engagement – in addressing the gaps that exist, determining how best to prepare and serve the next generation and contribute to the full realisation of the WPS agenda.

Twenty years ago, in adopting Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, the UN Security Council recognised the critical role that women play in preventing conflicts and building peace, and committed to upholding women’s rights in the global peace and security arena. Ten resolutions and over 80 states now support the ‘Women, Peace and Security agenda’. There is ample research, evidence and practical guidance and experience in terms of how to improve international humanitarian and security processes to ensure the participation and protection of women. Yet, in practice there are persistent and systemic obstacles to implementation and achievement of positive change. The UN has failed to align country-specific activities to its WPS objectives and the commitment of national governments is undermined by engagement in warfare, supplying arms and an overall lack of investment and funding. Women peacebuilders undertake innovative activities, learn from each other and locally effect real change. Yet these lessons and experiences are rarely translated into international policy change and local implementation at a time when conflict and violent extremism are escalating and new threats such as climate-induced disasters and a global pandemic abound.

The problems are identified, the challenges well understood, and even the solutions are provided. But systemic change in standard practices is lacking. The lessons that should be learnt from successes, failures and good practice in a range of contexts are rarely taught or addressed effectively.

The inertia in global institutions is at direct odds with the growing interest from a new generation of students and practitioners, who understand the relevance and importance of the WPS agenda to breaking the stalemate that hounds formal peace processes, relief and development efforts.

Jeni Klugman is Managing Director of Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security. Previous positions include Director of Gender and Development at the World Bank, and director and lead author of three global Human Development Reports published by the UNDP. 

Joana Ama Osei-Tutu (@joana_oseitutu) is Head of the Women, Peace and Security Institute (WPSI) at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).

Jacqui True (@JacquiTrue) is Professor of International Relations and Director of Monash University's Centre for Gender, Peace and Security. Professor True has authored more than 14 books, and over 100 articles and book chapters with her work on gender mainstreaming and global governance, violence against women, women, peace and security and feminist methdologies among the most cited in the fields of international relations and gender studies.

Torunn L. Tryggestad (@TLTryggestad) is Deputy Director at PRIO and Director of the PRIO GPS Centre.

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

The LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security (@LSE_WPS) is a leading academic space for scholars, practitioners, activists, policy-makers and students to develop strategies to promote justice, human rights and participation of women in conflict-affected situations around the world.

This event is co-hosted with the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security, Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre and the Women, Peace and Security Institute in Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEWPS

Podcast & Video

A podcast of this event is available to download from The Role of Academia in Realising the Promise of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: learning from the past to improve the future.

A video of this event is available to watch at The Role of Academia in Realising the Promise of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: learning from the past to improve the future.

Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.