The Jack Gordon Institute for Public Policy's Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Forum bridges the gap between theory and practice to advance WPS through research excellence, cross-sector collaboration, and professional education to address evolving security challenges. As a consortium of dedicated scholars and practitioners, we engage in a rigorous exploration of gender-inclusive policies and practices while ensuring tangible implementation from the strategic to operational levels.
Women, Peace and Security Forum Webinars
- Policy
U.S. Strategy and National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2023): The full text of the U.S. Strategy and National Action Plan. White House website.
Fact Sheet: Release of the 2023 Women, Peace and Security Strategy and National Action Plan: Provides a summary of the 2023 strategy. White House website.
UN Documents on Women, Peace and Security: Features resolutions and documents from the Security Council on Women, Peace and Security. Security Council Report.
Global Norms and Standards on Women, Peace and Security by UN Women: Discusses global norms and standards, including Women, Peace and Security resolutions. UN Women’s website.
Department of Defense Women, Peace and Security Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan (2020): The DoD’s framework outlines efforts to integrate WPS principles across policies and programs, including allocating resources to establish policies and programs that advance implementation of WPS, and hiring and training personnel to integrate WPS into relevant training curriculum and professional military education. Department of Defense website
Department of State’s Plan to Implement the U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace and Security (2019): This plan focuses on improving the effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy and assistance efforts by integrating the needs and perspectives of women and empowering them to participate in decision-making processes related to international peace and security. Department of State’s Women, Peace and Security page.
USAID’s Updated U.S. Strategy and National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2019): USAID’s approach to WPS is organized around five lines of effort: Participation, Protection, Relief, Response, and Recovery, Integration and Institutionalization, and Partnerships. The strategy establishes a roadmap to support women and girls’ integral role in global peace and security. USAID website.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Strategy on Women, Peace and Security (2019): The DHS strategy on WPS focuses on increasing women’s preparedness and ability to participate in efforts promoting stable and lasting peace, improving protection and access to assistance, and ensuring sustainable efforts in WPS. DHS website.
National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security: A comprehensive list of National Action Plans from various countries. Peacewomen.org.
The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, known as the Convention of Belém do Pará. OAS site.
- Reports
Women, Peace and Security Monthly Forecast by the Security Council Reports: Includes updates on UN collaboration on WPS. Security Council Report website.
Facts and Figures: Women, Peace and Security by UN Women: Provides an overview of national and regional strategies for advancing women’s peace and security. UN Women’s website.
WIIS Report: Women’s Participation in the Security Forces in Latin America and the Caribbean (2021 and 2023).
Women, Peace and Security in Action: Exploring the Implementation and Challenges (2023): An analysis from RAND Corporation on the global efforts to integrate women into peace and security processes. RAND Corporation.
Integrating Gender Perspective in Cognitive Warfare (2023): This report is divided into three sections which draw from cognitive psychology, neurobiology, as well as gender and security studies. NATO.
Gender-Responsive Approaches to Foreign Policy and the 2030 Agenda: Feminist Foreign Policies (2023): A policy brief by UN Women on aligning foreign policy with gender-responsive approaches to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN Women.
Understanding the Role of Women in Organized Crime (2023): This OSCE report delves into the multifaceted roles of women in organized crime, highlighting both involvement and victimization. OSCE.
How Women, Peace and Security Could Improve Integrated Deterrence (2023): This piece from the Newlines Institute examines the potential for the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda to enhance integrated deterrence strategies. Newlines Institute.
Gendering Cybersecurity through Women, Peace and Security: Gender and Human Rights in National-level – Approaches to Cybersecurity (2023). Reliefweb link.
Fact Sheets for 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report (2023): The U.S. State Department provides fact sheets on human trafficking trends and anti-trafficking efforts in 2023. U.S. State Department.
Best Practices for Promoting Gender Equality in Conventional Arms Control: Survey Results (2023). UNIDIR.
Gendered Implementation of the Global Fragility Act: A Case for Haiti (2023). WIIS.
Integrating Gender Perspective in Cognitive Warfare (2023). Nato Site.
U.S. Women, Peace and Security Congressional Report (2022): This report provides insights into various initiatives and programs related to Women, Peace and Security from the U.S. Department of State. Department of State’s website.
DACOWITS 2022 Report (2022): The Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services’ report covering recommendations and findings related to women’s military service. DACOWITS.
Women, Peace and Security 2020–2021 Annual Report by UN Women (2021): Showcases UN Women’s work on Women, Peace and Security throughout 2020 and 2021. UN Women’s website.
The Women, Peace and Security Agenda: Progress and Prospects (2021): CNA analysis on the advancements and ongoing challenges within the Women, Peace and Security agenda. CNA Reports.
Understanding Gender and Violent Extremism (2021): Two reports by CNA exploring the relationship between gender dynamics and violent extremism. CNA Reports.
Women in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (2021). UN Women.
Charting a New Course: Women, Peace and Security, and the Maritime Domain (2020). Our Secure Future Webpage.
Women’s Rights in Review (2020): UN Women’s appraisal of the progress on women’s rights in the 25 years since the Beijing Declaration. UN Women.
Beijing+25: Accelerating Progress for Women and Girls (2020): A Rockefeller Foundation report reflecting on the progress since the Beijing Platform for Action and outlining future directions. Rockefeller Foundation.
Gender, Climate, and Security: Sustaining Inclusive Peace on the Frontlines of Climate Change (2020): Explores the intersections of gender, climate, and security, and their collective impact on peace and stability. UN Women.
Just the Facts: A Selected Annotated Bibliography to Support Evidence-Based Policymaking on Women, Peace and Security (2019).
Gender and Security Toolkit (2019): A toolkit developed by UN Women and ASEAN, aimed at integrating gender perspectives into security and defense. ASEAN WPS Resources.
Gender and Security Toolkit by UN Women (2019): A collection of resources by UN Women, designed to enhance gender mainstreaming in security sector reform. UN Women.
UN Women Sourcebook on Women, Peace and Security (2012): A comprehensive resource from ASEAN on the WPS agenda, offering guidance and best practices. ASEAN WPS Resources.
- Podcast Links
She Talks Peace: A podcast discussing women’s rights, education, and nurturing change for peace, featuring experiences from ASEAN countries. GIWPS site.
She Stands for Peace: The series explores the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa, with insights from policymakers to grassroots peacebuilders. Linktree.
Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security & Conflict Transformation (WCAPS): Devoted to women of color, this platform encourages dialogue and strategies for engaging in policy discussions internationally. WCAPS.
InterAmerica Defense College (IADC) Podcast: CIDCAST, Season 2 dedicated to WPS. CIDCAST.
The Smart Women, Smart Power: Weekly podcast features powerful, in-depth conversations with women leaders from around the globe who are experts in foreign policy, national security, international business, and international development. CSIS.
Breaking Barriers Podcast: SOUTHCOM’s WPS podcast with episodes in English and Spanish.
Women Building Peace: Podcast produced by the BBC World Service and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. GIWPS site.
Women of the Military Podcast: Highlights stories of women veterans. Apple site.
Portuguese:
Mulheres no Mapa. Spotify.
- Video Library
Women, Peace and Security” The U.S. strategy on women, peace and security provides the Defense Department with an internationally recognized path to pursuing long-term security and stability while also demonstrating our commitment to dignity, human rights and equality under the law. Watch here.
What is ‘Women, Peace and Security? This explainer video talks about the UN’s efforts in this area, providing insights into the initiative. Watch here
“Women, Peace & Security Explained”: A short explainer video that provides an overview of the Women, Peace & Security agenda. Watch here
“Women, Peace and Security – Protection”: This video discusses the impact of war and conflict on women and children and the role of the United Nations Security Council in protection. Watch here
“Women, Peace and Security – Prevention”: Focused on the significant role women play in NATO to help resolve and prevent conflicts. Watch here
“Side by Side — Women, Peace and Security” – Australian Civil-Military Centre and UN Women, exploring how these concepts are interconnected. Watch here
Women, Peace and Security Response to COVID-19. Watch here.
- Books
Women, Peace and Security: An Introduction (Joan Johnson-Freese, 2nd edition, 2024) – link
Feminist Foreign Policy in Theory and in PracticeAn Introduction (Stephenie Foster, Susan A. Markham, 2023) – link
Women vs. Women: The Case For Cooperation (Joan Johnson-Freese, 2022) – link
Narrating the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (Laura J. Sheperd, 2021 – link
Twenty Years, Twenty Stories: Women, Peace and Security in the Western Hemisphere (Fabiana Pepera and Duilia Turner, 2020) – link
The First Political Order (Valerie D. Hudson, et al, 2020) – link
The Gender and Security Agenda Strategies for the 21st Century (Chantal de Jonge Oudraat and Michael E. Brown, 2020) – link
Violence against Women (Jacqui True, 2020) – link
Insurgent Women: Female Combatants in Civil Wars (Jessica Trisko Darden, Alexis Henshaw, and Ora Szekely, 2019) – link
New Directions in Women, Peace and Security (Soumita Basu, Paul Kirby, and Laura Shepherd, 2020) – link
The Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace and Security (Sara E. Davies and Jacqui True, 2019) – link
Women and Gender Perspectives in the Military: An International Comparison (Robert Egnell and Mayesha Alam, 2019) – link
Armed Conflict, Women and Climate Change (Jody M. Prescott, 2018). link
Gender, War, and Conflict (Laura Sjoberg, 2014) – link
Sex and World Peace (Valerie M. Hudson, Bonnie Ballif-Spanvill, Mary Caprioli, and Chad F. Emmett, 2014) – link
- Article and News
Current News
WPS in the Military News Roundup by the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute
Why is WPS a National Security Issue
- Anticipating Instability: The Untapped Potential of Women, Peace, and Security by Valerie Hudson and Brenda Oppermann
- S. Defense: the question of women’s roles in conflict
- Kelly, L. (2022). Emerging trends within the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. K4D Emerging Issues Report 49. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies. DOI: 10.19088/K4D.2022.019 (28 Pages)
- Security Council Resolution 1325 at 20: What Next for the Women Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda? (2020) (6 pages)
Gender and Conflict
- Anticipating Instability: The Untapped Potential of Women, Peace, and Security
- S. Defense: the question of women’s roles in conflict Brenda Oppermann
- Gang Violence and the WPS Agenda: Analyzing Gendered Realities in Central America and the Caribbean
- Beyond munitions: A gender analysis for Ukrainian security assistance. Cori Fleser (2020)
- Hawks, Doves and Canaries: Women and Conflict
- Bigio and R. Vogelstein, “Women and Terrorism: Hidden Threats, Forgotten Partners,” Discussion Paper, May 2019. (44 pages)
Gender, Climate Change and National Security
Women in Media & Strategic Messaging
- Women Warriors: The ongoing story of integrating and diversifying the American armed forces. Lori Robinsonand Michael E. O’Hanlon (May 2020)
Women in Peace Building
- Reframing Women’s Roles in Peace Processes: Beyond the Negotiating Table by Dayal, Anjali & Christien, Agathe (9 pages)
Leadership
Spanish
- El papel de las mujeres en los acuerdos de paz en Colombia: la agenda internacional Anabel Garrido Ortolá 1 (2020) (21 pages)
- Eliminar la violencia contra las mujeres en américa latina y el caribe: objetivo imprescindible para el desarrollo sostenible, la igualdad y la paz Francisco Cos-Montiel 25 de septiembre de 2019 (13 pages)
- Asesores de género en las operaciones de mantenimiento de la paz de las Naciones Unidas: un instrumento de la agenda de mujer, paz y seguridad (2019, 50 pages… we can take extracts)
- La integración de género en las Fuerzas ArmadasCondicionamientos y perspectivas (2018), (14 Pages)
- Additional Resources
- Consortium Network and Collaborations