Security is a basic human right – yet every day millions live without security in their daily lives, whether they are gathering firewood, going to work or playing with their children, because those who are charged with protecting them are not adequately trained to recognize and respond to their needs. Reports from around the world confirm that women and children are the most violated, targeted and have the least access to security during and after conflicts.
Working with security actors (peacekeepers, police, armed forces, paramilitary groups, prison personnel, border guards, etc.) to support their awareness and training is a primary focus of the V Annual Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice (IPJ) Women PeaceMakers Conference, entitled “
Crafting Human Security in an Insecure World.”
From September 24th to 26th, at the University of San Diego, experts and human rights advocates will gather with women and men coming from, or working in, conflict situations around to the world to exchange experiences and address this global problem. Speakers include past participants of the Women PeaceMakers program, non-governmental and international organization representatives, and international military peacekeeping personnel, among others.
The conference is co-convened by IPJ, the Global Justice Center, the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW), the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
“Every day, we read of massive human rights violations as women and girls are subjected to forced rape, incest, and abducted for forced labor both in and out of refugee camps,” said Dee Aker, interim Executive Director of the IPJ. “This is true on every continent. Those charged to protect are often not prepared or give the cultural excuse for these acts. International attention, training and law do make a difference; however the public must be aware of the depth of the problem to demand real action that can promote human security.”
Successful strategies for overcoming cycles of conflict and exploitation will be highlighted and expanded, and delegates will be engaged in research, policy-making, peace-building and peace-keeping related to ending cycles of conflict through gender inclusive peacebuilding; protecting civilians in armed conflict from violence, including sexual violence; and enforcing justice over impunity at all stages of conflict transformation.
“The security sector can play an active and vital role in protecting and promoting sustainable peace and human security. Ineffective and discriminatory security sector institutions are unable to adequately respond to human rights violations, armed conflict, corruption, or violence against civilians, especially the most vulnerable, which undermines democratic governance and sustainable development,“ stated Nicola Popovic, Gender, Peace and Security Programme Officer at UN-INSTRAW.
The conference begins on September 24th with a Distinguished Lecture Series at 7 p.m., featuring the Honorable Louise Arbour, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
For more information on the conference and the Women PeaceMakers program,
click here
Download the
Conference Agenda
Download the “
Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit,” a comprehensive tool to strengthen the security sector’s response to violence against women and other gender-based crimes, published by DCAF, OSCE/ODIHR and UN-INSTRAW.
About The University of San Diego
The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice is part of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. The institute is dedicated to fostering peace, cultivating justice and creating a safer world through education, research, and peacemaking activities.
About UN-INSTRAW
The United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women is devoted to applied research, training and knowledge management in partnership with governments, the United Nations Agencies, civil society and academia to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment.
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