The course will run again in 2020 with more information to follow shortly. You can follow the Centre on Twitter @LSE_WPS to receive timely updates.
The below information is from the previous course but can be read to give a general overview of the course. Information on speakers and fees will be updated in due course.
Over the two days, participants will consider 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?
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 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.
The two-day intensive course covers:
- 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.
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.
- Standard individual rate: £1250
- Concessionary rate for charities and NGOs: £850
Dr Louise Arimatsu, Distinguished Policy Fellow, Centre for Women, Peace and Security. Profile page.
Professor Christine Chinkin FBA CMG Professorial Research Fellow and founding Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security. Profile page.
Dr Marsha Henry, Interim Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security and Associate Professor at the LSE Department of Gender Studies. Profile page.
Quhramaana Kakar, founder of Women for Peace and Participation and Visiting Fellow, Fellow in the Centre for Women, Peace and Security. Profile page.
Bela Kapur, independent expert on women, peace and security, and Visiting Senior Fellow in the Centre for Women, Peace and Security. Profile page.
Dr Milli Lake is Assistant Professor of International Security at the London School of Economics' Department of International Relations. Profile page.
Dr Holly Porter is a Research Fellow in the Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa, Department of International Development at LSE. Profile page .
Mossarat Qadeem, Co-founder of PAIMAN Alumni Trust and Activist in Residence at the Centre for Women, Peace and Security. Profile page.
The course provided a great deal of knowledge and space for discussion in only two days. I have been able to bring what I have learned into multilateral negotiations on matters related to international peace and security.
Mary Pierre-Wade, Second Secretary, Joint Delegation of Canada to NATO
The course exceeded my expectations, opened a window of engagement and collaboration and plugged me into a ready-made network of experts and practitioners.
Annie McGee, Protection and Participation Team Leader, Conflict Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Absolutely exceptional - the most interesting course with robust content that was so rich and informative.
Brilliant academic sessions giving a lot of food for thought.
All the 'in practice' sessions were very useful to better understand the theory and the concepts.
Great content, great structure. The course flowed really well.