Women, Peace and Security

The end of 2017 saw a massive online campaign that addressed sexual harassment and abuse. In fact, #MeToo provided a virtual space in which people could openly express what some of them had kept to themselves sometimes for decades.

Whether it’s running businesses or participating directly in support of war efforts, in conflict-affected environments the disruption to social and normative systems caused by the conflicts means that opportunities for women and girls can expand.

Women’s participation has been recognized as fundamental for both the full realization of human rights and the possibility of sustainable peace. Yet women’s presence in politics remains low. What can be done to embolden the female youth of today to strive for equality?

Since 2012, the world has been pausing to recognize the International Day of the Girl Child to highlight the particular challenges girls face globally and the continuing efforts to find avenues toward a more equitable world in which girls can thrive without fear of oppression and exploitation.

OEF program Our Secure Future gathered women peacebuilders to discuss the role of media in celebration of International Day of Peace.

In the past week, OEF programs launched three different blog series, taking deep dives into issues of maritime security, the state of Women, Peace and Security (WPS), and leadership in the Horn of Africa. These blog series consider governance issues in each realm through local, regional, and interna...

Sexual exploitation and abuse flourish in situations of protracted conflict and post-conflict settings, even by those tasked to protect. UN Peacekeeping operations have come under fire of repeated reports of sexual misconduct- yet the UN has done little to hold them accountable. Our final post in th...

For International Women’s Day, OEF recognizes the crucial role women play in peace and security around the world.