GU Women & Peace

Today, on #InternationalJusticeDay, GIWPS honors the countless women and girls who have been victims of sexual and gender-based violence atrocity crimes around the world and calls on the International Criminal Court to renew and expand its gender justice efforts.

We were honored to host the fourth annual Global Women Leaders Summit, chaired by @hillaryclinton.bsky.social.

This year’s Summit brought together distinguished leaders to exchange ideas and strategies for advancing equality, democracy, and peace globally.

Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker: June Updates Our Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker combines real-time data points and original analysis to offer gender-sensitive insight into conflict dynamics across 25 countries. The WPS Conflict Track...

We're tracking the status of women & girls in global crises. Read our June updates, where we examine the impact of conflict in the Middle East and the US travel ban on women.

giwps.georgetown.edu/women-peace-...

What does the State Department's reorganization mean for Women, Peace and Security? Last week, Secretary Marco Rubio sent Congress a formal notice describing how he intends to reorganize the Department of State, and the Trump Administration followed this with a request to withhold Co...

The proposed State Dept. reorganization would sideline Women, Peace and Security—a cornerstone of US national security & leadership. The Administration must uphold the WPS Act and meet its legal obligations to protect the rights of women & girls worldwide. giwps.georgetown.edu/state-depart...

Mothers’ Call - Women Wage Peace Sign Petition We, Palestinian and Israeli women from all walks of life, are united in the human desire for a future of peace, freedom, equality, rights, and security for our children and the next gene...

We are appalled the US was the only country on the Security Council to veto a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of the hostages, and resumption of aid. We join Israeli & Palestinian women demanding a resolution of the conflict. www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/mothers-c...

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the WPS Agenda, GIWPS is launching a global survey of women supporting peace & security. This survey aims to hear about women’s priorities, concerns, & visions for the future. Amplify their voices by sharing the survey: giwps.georgetown.edu/resource/wom...

As we mark International Women's Day, amid rising global conflict and setbacks to women’s rights, the fight for gender equality has never been more crucial. We must remain committed to equality and building a more peaceful, stable, and just world for everyone.

#IWD2025

GIWPS Executive Director Melanne Verveer and Research Fellow Kristine Baekgaard explore how the decision to end Meta's fact-checking program will impact women’s well-being and safety online in this article for Lawfare.

www.lawfaremedia.org/article/meta...

Women’s Rights are Environmental Rights: Climate Change as a Human Rights Imperative at Beijing+30 “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.” Hillary Rodham Clinton’s poignant message at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing echoes louder than e...

Women have been leading the fight for human rights amid climate change & environmental degradation. As #CSW69 reviews the 1995 Beijing Declaration, we must address climate impacts through a human rights lens to advance gender equality & women’s rights. giwps.georgetown.edu/climate-chan...

UN passes resolutions condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine despite US opposition The defeats show how isolated the U.S. in its push to be more conciliatory toward Russia in brokering a deal deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

The UN passed a resolution yesterday resoundingly condemning Russia for its ongoing invasion of #Ukraine despite a lack of support from the US. We must continue to stand with Ukraine and spotlight courageous Ukrainian women & girls. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...

Amidst War and Disinformation: Ukraine's Fight for Independence and Democracy On this somber anniversary marking three years since Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine—and 11 years since the invasion of Crimea and Donbas—we reaffirm our unwavering support for U...

On this somber anniversary marking 3 years since Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, we reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine, especially for the women & girls who continue to fight for their freedom, independence, and democracy.

giwps.georgetown.edu/ukraine-thre...

U.S. funding freeze threatens Ukraine investigations of alleged Russian war crimes The Trump administration's freeze of foreign funding has begun impacting an international effort to hold Russia responsible for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, according to eight sources and a Ukrainian document seen by Reuters, halting dozens of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in aid.

The freeze in foreign aid related to the dismantling of USAID impacts critical programs in #Ukraine, including humanitarian aid, electrical repairs, & holding Russia accountable for war crimes. Funding must continue to ensure a peaceful and just recovery. www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Women in Peace Processes: Reflections from Syria, Sudan, and Yemen Wednesday, February 12, 2025 10:00am – 11:30am EST Virtual RSVP HERE In observance of Arab Women’s Day, which falls on February 1st, this event will explore the vital yet often undervalued role of wom...

Join us on 2/12 at 10am for a virtual event exploring the vital role of women peacebuilders across the Arab world. Hear from experts in Syria, Sudan, & Yemen who will discuss peace advocacy and best practices for human-centered negotiations. RSVP:
giwps.georgetown.edu/event/women-...

Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker: February Updates Our Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker combines real-time data points and original analysis to offer gender-sensitive insight into conflict dynamics. The WPS Conflict Tracker is updated monthl...

We're tracking the safety of women & girls in global conflicts. This month, we’re spotlighting women in the #DRC facing widespread sexual violence and a lack of food, clean water & medical care. Read more about our monthly WPS Conflict Tracker updates.
giwps.georgetown.edu/women-peace-...

Labeled "Europe's last dictator," Aleksandr Lukashenko engaged in a sham election in Belarus, essentially reappointing himself. His efforts to suppress democracy have left many imprisoned, exiled, or silenced. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continues to lead the pursuit of a democratic Belarus.

Exclusive: Trump administration canceling flights for nearly 1,660 Afghan refugees, say U.S official, advocate Nearly 1,660 Afghans cleared by the U.S. government to resettle in the U.S., including family members of active duty U.S. military personnel, are having their flights canceled under President Donald Trump's order suspending U.S. refugee programs, a U.S. official and a leading refugee resettlement advocate said on Monday.

The suspension of the USRAP leaves thousands of Afghan allies at risk of further persecution due to their service to the US. Abandoning those cleared for resettlement is a moral & strategic failure. The US must resume all Afghan resettlement programs.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

We stand with our partners @sihanetwork.bsky.social, who are facing egregious online attacks by platforms linked to the Rapid Support Forces.

Conflicts to Watch in 2025: Women, Peace and Security in a More Volatile World Women’s rights are increasingly their own battlefield, with many countries imposing greater restrictions on women’s hard-won freedoms. If current trends persist, gender equality won’t be achieved unti...

GIWPS released its list of conflicts to watch in 2025.

Unlike other forecasting lists, our analysis centers women throughout its country analysis. Read our assessment of risks and opportunities for women's status and safety.

giwps.georgetown.edu/conflicts-to...

Malala Yousafzai urges Muslim leaders to back gender apartheid legal push | CNN Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai urged Muslim leaders on Sunday to back efforts to make gender apartheid a crime under international law, and called on them to speak out against Afghanistan’s...

“In Afghanistan an entire generation of girls will be robbed of its future."

We echo calls from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai to codify gender apartheid, so that no girl is denied her fundamental right to education.

www.cnn.com/2025/01/13/a...

Genocide Determination in Sudan and Imposing Accountability Measures - United States Department of State On April 15, 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a conflict of unmitigated brutality that has resulted in the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe, le...

We applaud the State Department's determination that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed #genocide in #Sudan.

www.state.gov/genocide-det...

Opinion | A long time under the snow for the women of Afghanistan Especially for girls, hope is difficult to come by. But it has not been extinguished.

"It’s easy to say there’s not much hope to be found in Afghanistan today. And there’s not. But hope is not extinct. It exists only in small bursts, in hidden places...It exists in the relentless spirit of girls on winter rooftops." -Shabana Basij-Rasikh

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

What Will Happen to Women in Syria? The Answer Still Isn't Clear For years, Syrian women have fought to be heard in international negotiations. They aren’t about to give up ground now.

Syrian women have fought to be heard in international negotiations. They aren’t about to give up ground now.

Read the latest from Dr. Xanthe Scharff in The Persistent.

www.thepersistent.com/women-syrias...

End of Year Reflections This year has been a particularly challenging time for women around the world. Afghan women have been systematically stripped of their human rights by the Taliban. They are barred from schooling, from...

From all of us at GIWPS, we want to thank you for your commitment to our common cause. Happy holidays, and may there be peace on earth 🕊️🌍

Read more about our contributions to peacebuilding and advancing women’s leadership in 2024: giwps.georgetown.edu/end-of-year-...

Iran: UN experts call for Hijab and Chastity law to be repealed GENEVA  – UN experts* today expressed concern about a new law in Iran that imposes a series of new penalties on women and girls who fail to wear a hijab.They called on the Government of Iran to immedi...

We condemn the Iranian regime's latest effort to further restrict the rights of women & girls. The "Chastity and Hijab" law is yet another manifestation of Iran's effort to systematically oppress women and girls. This law should be immediately repealed. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Ukraine Parliament Adopts Bill on Legal Status of CRSV Survivors Ukraine’s parliament has taken a critically important step towards providing survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) with interim reparations, by adopting a law to codify the definition o...

Ukraine's parliament took a vital step in supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) today by adopting a law to define CRSV in national legislation. The law addresses urgent needs & long-term recovery for survivors and their families.
www.hrw.org/news/2024/12...

We hosted a roundtable with Oleksandra Matviichuk on the critical need to support Ukraine's security amid Russia's ongoing aggression. We were grateful to have Ukraine's Ambassador Oksana Markarova, former US Ambassador John Tefft, and Ambassador of Lichtenstein Georg Sparber join the discussion.

Pathways to Justice and Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

Our latest report, "Pathways to Justice and Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence," highlights the devastating impact of CRSV & offers recommendations to ensure accountability, support survivors, & advance justice. @GermanyinUSA. Read more: giwps.georgetown.edu/resource/pat...

👋 Here to remind folks that women are critical to achieving sustainable peace. Follow us on BlueSky for updates on our latest research, analysis, and events.