WPS report launch. Robin Boot, Andrew Parsons
LSE’s Centre for Women, Peace and Security (LSE WPS) has announced a new project to investigate gender-based violence in conflict–affected societies.
The ESRC-funded project, ‘Strategic Network on Gender Violence Across War and Peace’, will bring together researchers, practitioners and activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Lebanon, and Sri Lanka. Examining these countries, which have their own distinctive conflict-affected situations, the project will identify research needs, build inter-disciplinary relationships, and advance discussion on gender-based violence.
The new project was launched by the Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security, Professor Christine Chinkin and Visiting Professor in Practice, Madeleine Rees, at an LSE event on Tuesday 14 March. The launch event was attended by Centre staff, Visiting Fellows, Visiting Professors in Practice, and guests from policy-making and civil society.
This event also marked the publication of the LSE WPS 2016 Report which outlines the wide range of teaching, research and engagement activities undertaken by the Centre in the past year. Notable developments have included high level workshops and expert group meetings with UN bodies, NGOs and policy makers, and the successful launch of the postgraduate and professional education programmes.
Commenting on the new project, Professor Chinkin said:
“This project exemplifies the approach of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security in bringing together diverse stakeholders to engage in interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral discussion to advance women’s human rights and gender equality. With this new project we aim to improve understanding of the multiple and related forms of gender violence as they exist across war and peace and then use this knowledge to inform academic, policy, practitioner and activist attempts to mitigate gendered violence in all of its forms.”
Earlier on Tuesday 14 March, Angelina Jolie - UNHCR Special Envoy and co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence initiative, and Visiting Professor in Practice - led a postgraduate women, peace and security class. In addition to the class, Ms Jolie met staff and visiting fellows to discuss ongoing work, and attended the launch of the LSE WPS 2016 Report.