The Centre for Women, Peace and Security hosts conferences, workshops, roundtable discussions, seminars, and a range of open public events.
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Professor Joanna Lewis was in a discussion with four senior experts and practitioners in global conflict resolution.They explored new thinking and the challenges in international norms, culturally sensitive approaches, women, peace and security agenda, and neuro and behavioural science. Can we find synergies to strengthen approaches? What role could and should new thinking play in contemporary peacebuilding processes?
On 17 October 2024, the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling, Gender Action for Peace and Security, the LSE Middle East Centre and the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security hosted the event: “Advancing Women, Peace and Security in Palestine”.
Summer of Research Culture Event Series
WPS hosted three events to look at the key issues on the women, peace and security agenda with academics within LSE and beyond to open up future research agendas.
The first session explored issues of misogyny and gender-based violence (GBV), particularly in relation to extremism, GBV as a hate crime and the impact of online GBV in fragile settings. The second session focused on the upcoming 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and asked participants to take stock of the progress made and the implementation gaps that remain. The final session looked at the realities of the WPS agenda and included speakers from countries with some of the worst records of GBV in the world.
Afghanistan Conference Series
Over 150 delegates met at LSE’s Centre for Women, Peace and Security conference on Monday 3 June, to debate the current situation in Afghanistan and to demand the international community insists basic rights and freedoms are restored for women and girls in the country as a condition of any aid or economic investment.
Afghan women leaders, living in exile in UK and USA, shared details of the worsening conditions women and girls are forced to endure. The conference concluded that: “The Taliban is at war with half its population” and the Centre released a statement declaring that there should be no recognition or talks with the Taliban military regime unless the cruel restrictions on women and girls are lifted.
Gender Based Violence Focus Workshop with Dr Regina Mwatha
In March 2024, WPS hosted Dr Regina Mwatha from Kenyatta University in Kenya and part of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Hub to explore gender-based violence (GBV) and strategies for engaging men in its prevention. The workshop was funded by the LSE Global Research Fund, and discussions highlighted the importance of holding men accountable while also finding ways to reach even hostile individuals.
Women, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy and Peacemaking
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Centre co-hosted an event titled Women and Diplomacy: From the Interwar to the Cold War. International scholars spoke about new approaches to cultural diplomatic history and particularly on influential women and women’s rights movements throughout the 20th Century. The stories of Eleanor Dulles, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and Juliet Stuart Poyntz serve as powerful reminders of the obstacles women faced in the realm of diplomacy and international affairs.
Women's Access to Transitional Justice in Timor-Leste: Book launch
Friday 21 October
This event is a launch for Noemi Peréz's book Women's Access to Transitional Justice in Timor-Leste. This book delivers a panoramic assessment of access to transitional justice from a gender perspective, providing a deep analysis of the situation in Timor-Leste.
Visual communications and feminist methodologies in researching peace
Thursday 19th May
This panel explores filmmaking and visual communication as a feminist methodology in seeking a gender-just peace. Panellists will share their experiences of using film to centre women’s experiences in conflict and peacebuilding and discuss how it offers a participatory methodology that allows for people to speak and be heard for themselves.
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Conversations on Feminist Peace: book launch
Thursday 19 May
This event is a launch for Feminist Conversations on Peace (Bristol University Press, forthcoming July 2022). This edited collection brings together conversations across borders and boundaries which explore plural, intersectional and interdisciplinary concepts of feminist peace.
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Intersectionality in times of crisis
Wednesday 18 May
The goal of this panel is to examine the importance of intersectional considerations, from multiple perspectives, especially in times of crisis and in regard to gendered peace.
Gender Justice and the Global Backlash
Friday 13 May
The panellists will address the multiple dimensions of the gloabl backlash against gender justice, and also consider how it can and must be resisted and how academics, activists and practitioners can work together to build solidarity and entrench past gains and so ‘push back against the push back’.
Contemporary Challenges to Women, Peace and Security
Tuesday 10 May
This event explores the challenges, including women’s exclusion from high level negotiations around war and peace, though a conversation between three senior women academics and activists with decades of experience in law, politics and the prevention of violence.
The 21st Anniversary of the WPS Agenda: Progress or Regress?
26 October
In this month’s “Coming of Age of WPS: 21 in 2021” event, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE will talk with three generations of Women peacebuilders: Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, a pioneer, whose work is among the inspirational forces behind the agenda; Enass Muzamel, a humanitarian practitioner and human rights activist, spearheading civic and youth engagement; and Ahlem Nasraoui, a leader and influencer, embracing new methods and practices for peacebuilding.
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Women, Peace and Security and International Law
18 March
This event launched Christine Chinkin’s book on Women, Peace and Security and International Law (CUP, forthcoming). Commentators—Eyal Benvenisti, Hilary Charlesworth, Radhika Coomaraswamy, Monica Hakimi, Mary Kaldor, Karen Knop, and Keina Yoshida— will gather to discuss Professor Chinkin’s new book with the author and interested participants.
Gendered Peace: The Legacy of the Tokyo Women’s Tribunal - 10 December
Twenty years ago, the Women's International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan's Military Sexual Slavery took place in Tokyo, Japan. Join us for the streaming of a new documentary that reflects on the Tribunal. The documentary commemorates the anniversary by acknowledging the Tribunal as a significant landmark and exploring its legacy. The streaming will be followed by a panel discussion between some of those involved in the work of the Tribunal and featuring in the documentary.
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Gendered Peace: The Legacy of the Tokyo Women’s Tribunal - 8 December
Twenty years ago, the Women's International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan's Military Sexual Slavery took place in Tokyo, Japan. The documentary commemorates the anniversary by acknowledging the Tribunal as a significant landmark and exploring its legacy. The streaming was followed by a panel discussion between some of those involved in the work of the Tribunal and featuring in the documentary.
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Stories From Feminist Peace Archives and How to Find Them
Join us for this online webinar where three speakers will tell some of the fascinating stories from their archives that cover the theme of feminist peace. This event is suitable for anyone interested in finding out more about feminist peace archives, and perhaps those interested in researching these topics further and undertaking archival research.
This event is co-hosted by the LSE Library.
How Feminist Peace Can Transform Power, People, and Our Planet - 28 September
Join feminist peace activists and WILPF leaders Joy Onyesoh, Amani Beainy, Jamila Afghani, Melissa Torres and Madeleine Rees for a frank discussion and critical analysis of how feminist peace can transform the systems of power within our societies that generate inequality, violence, and environmental degredation.
Together, panelists will explore feminist analysis, stories, and alternative paths toward change that centre the lived realities and experiences of women around the world.
This event is hosted by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Citizens of the World Choir - 23 September
The Citizens of the World Choir will perform via livestream, reflecting on the concept of ‘feminist peace’.
Watch the performance
Transforming Power to Put Women at the Heart of Peacebuilding - 21 September
A new discussion paper Transforming power to put women at the heart of peacebuilding, a collection of regional-focused essays on Feminist Peace and Security will be launched on 21st September 2020. This day marks World Peace Day, and launches a series of events leading up to the Open Debates for Women Peace and Security and the 20th Anniversary of UN1325 resolution.
This event is hosted by OXFAM.
Can we Archive Memories? Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp and beyond - 17 September
“Greenham Woman Everywhere” is a project to interview the women who formed the Greenham Common Peace Camp, which was established to protest nuclear weapons being placed at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire, between 1981 – 2000. This special panel event will include a discussion from the organisers of the Greenham Woman Everywhere project alongside LSE Library archivists, where we will explore some of the issues around archiving memories such as those of Greenham Common and beyond.
This event is co-hosted by the Centre and the LSE Library.
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The Role of Academia in Realising the Promise of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda - 8 September
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.
This event is hosted by the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security in partnership 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.
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“Waging war” against “a little flu” – Masculinities & COVID-19 - 30th July
This event will explore how individual and institutional responses to the pandemic have at times been shaped by stereotypically ‘masculine’ ideas of what catastrophes look like and how they need to be managed. We will consider if and how these responses have fallen short of recognising the reality of pandemics and understanding what is needed for communities to cope.
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Where are the words? - 8 July
Join is for a presentation of the "Where are the Words? The Disappearance of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the Language of Country-Specific UN Security Council Resolutions” report, co-authored between Sarah Kenny Werner (WILPF) and Elena Stavrevska (LSE WPS).
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the time of COVID-19: A hidden pandemic? - 27 May
This seminar asks how and in what ways the global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) from the perspectives of policy making, advocacy and practice. This seminar also asks how the COVID-19 responses have impacted women, girls, and LGBTQ+ persons affected by conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV)
This event is co-hosted with the PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Security, Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre and the Women, Peace and Security Institute in Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
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The COVID-19 Crisis Response: Putting Women at the Centre - 29th April
Perhaps more than previous epidemics, COVID-19 has demonstrated that whilst outbreaks can affect anyone, women are often differentially affected – within the home, within the economy and within policy space. This seminar considers the role of women in leadership and the impact of COVID-19 on women.
This event is co-hosted with the LSE Institute of Global Affairs and is part of a series of events from the gender, peace and security academic consortium.
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Economies of Peace: Economy Formation Processes in Conflict-Affected Societies - 26th February
This event launches the book Economies of Peace: Economy Formation Processes in Conflict-Affected Societies, examining processes and outcomes of the interaction of economic reforms and socio-economic peacebuilding programmes with, and international interventions in, people’s lived realities in conflict-affected societies.
Challenging the Arms Trade - 20th February
The arms trade fuels war, exacerbates regional tensions, gives succour to human right abusers and squanders resources. It is supported by governments and the arms companies. This talk, co-hosted with the LSE Library will look at the arms trade, with a focus on the UK, over the past four decades and see how opposition to it has been growing.
Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp: foreign relations law from the ground up - 24 September
Professor Karen Knop on What can we learn from the Greenham Women's situated struggle and the legal ecosystem it generated about the nature of foreign relations law, where it ‘takes place’ and what a feminist vision might look like.
Image credit: Ceridwen CC BY-SA 2.0
The Protection of Refugees Living in Camps: The Gap between Law and Practice - 6 February
Speakers: Elizabeth Donnelly, Beth Gardiner Smith, Rebecca Chapman, Mark Scott, Ian Shaw. Chair: Stephanie Harrison QC.Read the Protecting Women and Girls in Refugee Camps report
Women and Weapons -13 December
Speakers: Ray Acheson, Renata Dwan (pictured), Rebecca Johnson, Anna Stavrianakis. Chair: Christine Chinkin. Play audio recording
From Pillars to Practice: Pushing the Boundaries of ‘Women, Peace and Security' - 29 November
Speakers: Toni Haastrup,Henri Myrttinen. Aisling Swaine, Jacqui True. Chair: Bela Kapur. Play audio recording
#AidToo: Where do we go from here?- 15 October
Speakers: Lesley Agams (pictured), Shaista Aziz, Aiko Holvikivi, Armine Ishkanian. Chair: Marsha Henry. Play audio recording
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Strengthening legal responses in Somalia - 19 June
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Speakers: Deqa Yasin; Antonia Mulvey Chair: Christine Chinkin. Read the Minister's speech
Countering Violence, Countering Extremism: The Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Service of Countering Violent Extremism - 27 April
Speaker: Laura J. Shepherd. Chair: Paul Kirby
From Transitional To Transformative: justice for conflict-related violence against women - 23 April
Speakers: Christine Bell; Aisling Swaine. Chair: Christine Chinkin
Play audio recording
Measuring progress on women's inclusion, justice and security - 30 November
Speakers: Gary L Darmstadt, Jeni Klugman, Anita Raj, Frances Stewart; Chair: Paul Kirby. Play audio recording.
Gender Equality: How can the UN lead? - 7 November
Speakers: Jane Connors, Aoife O'Donoghue, Rosalyn Park, Navi Pillay; Chair: Christine Chinkin. Play audio recording.
Feminist social mobilisation in the negotiation and construction of peace in Colombia - 18 October
Speaker: Erika Rodríguez Gómez; Chair: Lisa Gormley. Watch event recording.
Chile: promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean - 28 September
Speaker: Marcela Vergara; Chair: Marsha Henry. Watch event recording.
Engaging Communities in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: Women, Peace and Security in practice in Pakistan - 1 August
Speaker: Mossarat Qadeem; Chair: Zeynep Kaya. Watch event recording.
International Law and New Wars - 20 June
Speakers: Christine Chinkin, Mary Kaldor, Javier Solana; Chair: Toby Dodge. Play audio recording.
Film Screening: Under the Shadow - 6 June
Speakers: Sofia Candeias, Fiona Lloyd-Davies and Vava Tampa; Chair: Joanne Neenan.
Women, Peace and Security in the Global Arena - 5 June
Speakers: Nana Bemma Nti, Christine Chinkin, Jeni Klugman, Jacqui True and Torunn L Tryggestad; Chair: Paul Kirby. Play audio recording.
Butterfly Politics - 18 May
Speaker: Catharine A MacKinnon; Chair: Christine Chinkin. Play audio recording.
After Rape: violence, justice and social harmony in Uganda - 9 May
Speakers: Holly Porter, Adam Branch; Chair: Professor Tim Allen. Co-hosted with Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa, the Department of International Development, the Justice and Security Research Programme and the International African Institute.
Tightening the Purse Strings: What countering terrorism financing costs gender equality and security - 8 May
Speakers: Isabelle Geuskens, Jayne Huckerby, Zarina Khan; Chair: Zeynep Kaya. Play audio recording
Sexual Violence in War - 27 January
Speaker: Elisabeth Jean Wood.
Combatting and Preventing Violence against Women: from CEDAW to Istanbul and beyond - 12 January
Speaker: Dubravka Šimonović; Chair: Christine Chinkin. Play audio recording.
Working on Gender Equality in Fragile Contexts - 6 December
Speakers: Bele Grau; Diana Koester; Corrie Sissons; Rainatou Sow; Discussant: Hannah Bond; Introduction: Christine Chinkin; Chair: Caroline Sweetman. Download Audio I Download Video.
Women's Human Rights and Access to Justice for Gender-Based Violence: A view from legal practice in the UK - 10 November
Speakers: Karon Monaghan, Pragna Patel and Harriet Wistrich; Chair: Lisa Gormley. Play audio recording.
Social Transformation in Post Conflict Nepal: A gender perspective - 8 November
Speakers: Punam Yadav, Marsha Henry and David N. Gellner; Chair: Christine Chinkin. Play audio recording (Note: varying sound levels during Q&A session).
Women and the Reform of the Security Sector in the D.R.Congo: Using UNSCR 1325 to ensure women’s participation in decision-making - 1 November
Speakers: Eve Bazaiba, Furaha Mussanzi, Sophia Pickles; Chair: Marsha Henry.
Tackling Sexual Violence in Conflict: An integrated approach - 31 October
Speakers: Baroness Anelay, Brita Fernandez Schmidt, Antoinette Uwimana; Chair: Christine Chinkin. Video.
The Spectral Wound: Sexual violence, public memories and the Bangladesh war of 1971 - 13 October
Speaker: Nayanika Mookherjee; Discussants: Erica Hall, Kolbassia Haoussou, Naila Kabeer, Denisa Kostovicova; Chair: Marsha Henry.
Women’s Participation and Decision Making in the Democratic Republic of Congo: The Rien San Les Femmes movement - 9 September
Speaker: Solange Lwashiga Furaha, national spokesperson of Rien Sans Les Femmes (Nothing Without Women).
Prosecuting Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: What have we learnt? - 16 June
Conference in which prosecutors, advocates and practitioners reflected on lessons learned from international, regional and hybrid tribunals, highlighting specific experience from local jurisdictions.
Rape as a Practice of War: Towards a typology of political violence - 19 May
Speaker: Elisabeth Jean Wood. Co-hosted with the Conflict Research Group at LSE and the Conflict, Security and Development Research Group at Kings College London.
Women, Peace and Security Conversations: Exploring hierarchies of wartime sexual violence - 10 May
Speaker: Olivera Simić; Chair: Marsha Henry.
Women, Peace and Security Post-2015: Concepts, criticisms and challenges - 9 & 10 March
Workshop with support from the British International Studies Assocation Gendering IR Working Group and UNSW Australia. The workshop coincided with the publication of a special issue of International Affairs The Futures of Women, Peace and Security.
Tackling Violence Against Women: International and regional approaches - 4 February
Workshop bringing together stakeholders to exchange knowledge and feed into the discussions of the CEDAW Committee Working Group in charge of updating General Recommendation No.19. Download the agenda (PDF).
Violence Against Women and Islam: Dispelling stereotypes and telling truths - 4 February
Speaker: Commissioner Khariroh Ali; Chair: Jane Gordon. In partnership with Sisters For Change. Download presentation slides (PDF).
Women, Peace and Security Conversations: Charlesworth and Chinkin re-examine the boundaries of international law - 15 December
Speakers: Professor Hilary Charlesworth, Professor Christine Chinkin. Chair: Gina Heathcote. Play audio recording.
Stigma and Justice: Addressing the needs of survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones - 3 December
Speakers: Baroness Joyce Anelay, Erica Hall, Hilary Stauffer, Beini Ye; Chair: Professor Christine Chinkin. Download the report (PDF).
The Politics of Gender Justice at the International Criminal Court: Legacies and legitimacy - 26 November
Speaker: Louise Chappell; Chair: Devika Hovell. Play audio recording.
Towards a Feminist Foreign Policy - 9 November
Speakers: Christine Chinkin, Zainab Salbi, Margot Wallström; Chair: Erik Berglof. In partnership with the Institute of Global Affairs. Event recording: Play I Download Audio I Download Video.
Women, Peace and Security Conversations: Exploring issues old and new with Cynthia Enloe - 15 October
Speakers: Marsha Henry, Cynthia Enloe. Play audio recording.
CEDAW Today: Evolution and challenges in a conflict-affected world - 14 October
Speakers: Jane Connors, Lilian Hofmeister; Chair: Professor Christine Chinkin. In partnership with the Austrian Embassy in London. Play audio recording.
Women, Peace and Security: Tackling the cycle of violence against women - 8 October
Speaker: Professor Christine Chinkin; Chair: Marsha Henry. Event recording: Play | Download Audio I Download Video.
Dealing with Wartime Rape in Kosovo: Women's silence and voices - 18 June
Speakers: Professor Anna De Lellio, Denisa Kostovicova; Chair: Professor Christine Chinkin.