Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

Home
United States
Washington D.C., DC
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

Led by Amb. Melanne Verveer, GIWPS studies the impact of women’s participation in peace & security.

Women’s contributions to peace, security and development have, for far too long, been neglected in both research and practice. Often treated as the “perpetual victim”, women are relegated to the sidelines in formal and informal processes of peace-building, state-building and economic recovery. And yet, women’s participation, inclusion and leadership are integral components of building sustainable

and peaceful societies. There is an urgent need to capture, evaluate and disseminate information on the impact of women in conflict and post-conflict settings. In response to this situation, The Institute for Women, Peace and Security seeks to:
• Collect quantitative and qualitative data;
• Conduct evidence-based and evaluative research;
• Disseminate a constant stream of sharp analysis on the role and impact
of women in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacemaking, humanitarian emergencies, political transitions and post-conflict
reconstruction;
• Convene thought leaders, political leaders, activists and practitioners, and to
• Train and mentor students and future leaders. In doing so, the Institute will serve as a repository of knowledge and inform the building of best practices for gender mainstreaming through a worldwide network of students, scholars, practitioners and policymakers. We envision a world where women’s contributions to peace are better reported, understood, valued and promoted.

08/14/2026

Five years ago, the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan. Since then, they have worked to eliminate women and girls from public life. The country continues to be the worst country in the world for women, according to our latest Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index, with a list of over 160 decrees targeting women. This state-led structural violence against women is so extreme, it amounts to gender apartheid.

Yet, Afghan women and girls continue to fight for freedom and resist oppression—as they have for decades. The women and girls of Afghanistan have not given up, and neither should the international community. The world cannot normalize the Taliban or this horrific treatment of half the country’s population.

Today, as we do every day, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) is proud to stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan and support their vision for a free, peaceful, and equitable future.

🔗 Read more from GIWPS and Afghan women in our network using the link in our bio.

07/30/2026

Are you a Georgetown University student interested in taking a course at the intersection of gender, international security, and diplomacy this fall?

These courses are designed to equip students with the practical policy tools, critical research methods, and real-world expertise needed to navigate gender issues, international relations, and diplomacy in an ever-changing global arena.

Be sure to secure your spot before courses fill up!

Explore a full list of our courses and more student opportunities using the link in our bio.

06/25/2026

It was an honor to host this year’s Global Women Leaders Summit, which was chaired by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The event brought together a distinguished cohort of women leaders from the highest levels of public service alongside a new generation of political and civic leaders from around the world to provide a unique space for peer-to-peer mentorship, cross-generational collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, experiences, and lessons learned.

We worked together to develop recommendations and collective action that center women leaders as architects of a safe and secure digital future, inclusive climate action, and a world order that delivers for all.

05/21/2026

🎓 Celebrating Our Gender, Peace and Security Certificate Graduates 🎓

The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) congratulates Georgetown University’s graduating class, especially the 12 alumni who earned our graduate certificate in Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) this academic year.

We are also pleased to announce the winners of our annual student writing awards, which bring together emerging voices from universities across the Washington, DC consortium to explore today’s most pressing global challenges through a gender lens.

👉 Use the link in our bio to meet this year’s GPS graduates and writing award winners, and learn how they are advancing the future of Women, Peace and Security through research, advocacy, and policy leadership.

05/14/2026

We are honored to announce that the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security has been awarded the Francesca Tardioli International Award from .sapienza and

GIWPS was recognized for our “significant and special contribution to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.”

This award holds special meaning. It is named in memory of the late H.E. Francesca Tardioli, a trailblazing Italian diplomat and a steadfast champion of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Ambassador Tardioli’s career was defined by her commitment to multilateralism and her belief that sustainable peace is only possible when women are at the center of mediation and conflict resolution.

At GIWPS, our mission has always been to bridge the gap between evidence-based research and global policy. From our work on the to our advocacy for women in peace processes from Afghanistan to Ukraine, we remain dedicated to the vision that Ambassador Tardioli championed.

As GIWPS Associate Professor and Gender Certificate Coordinator S Ayse Kadayifci- Orellana said when she accepted the award on behalf of GIWPS: “This award is not only about what has been achieved; it is about what must still be done. We dedicate this award to the women across the world who—often without recognition and under extraordinarily difficult circumstances—continue to hold communities together.”

We are grateful to our incredible staff who make this work possible: Melanne Verveer Carla Koppell Jessica Smith Allida Black Haleema Hasan Rachel George Vicka Heidt S Ayse Kadayifci- Orellana Anna Tuohey Kelly J. Shannon Emma Guyette Kimberly Brody Hart Gihan Elhadidy Ana Lejava Tamara Bah Sarah Rutherford Michelle Snyder Brady Alexandra Gopin Colleen McMahon Rebecca Radle Helen Rocker Melissa Pasos Shields Riya Ou and our many talented fellows and student assistants.

Diplomacy FrancescaTardioli GenderEquality

05/12/2026

We are thrilled to announce that GIWPS Executive Director Melanne Verveer has once again been recognized in ’s list of the 500 Most Influential People of 2026.

This annual list honors the experts and advocates driving critical policy debates in the nation’s capital. Amb. Verveer was recognized for her unparalleled leadership in international affairs, specifically for her career-long dedication to placing women at the center of peace and security.

In a year of shifting global priorities, Amb. Verveer has remained a steadfast advocate for women on the frontlines of conflict. Her work ensures that gender equality isn’t just a talking point, but a strategic imperative for global stability.

Congratulations to everyone recognized this year, and to the thousands of advocates in Washington and beyond whose vital work happens behind the scenes.

Read the full list using the link in our bio.

05/11/2026

The situation for women and girls in Afghanistan today is the worst in the world.

Since the Taliban regained control, they have issued over 100 edicts aimed at erasing half the population from public life. At GIWPS, we rank Afghanistan #181 out of 181 countries for women’s wellbeing on our .

However, complexity must not be mistaken for futility. In a new interview, GIWPS Executive Director Ambassador Melanne Verveer and GIWPS Policy Director Kimberly Hart outline why the international community cannot look away—and what must be done.
The article highlights 5 concrete recommendations to push back against the systematic oppression of Afghan women and girls:

1️⃣ Deliver Principled Humanitarian Aid: Provide life-saving assistance directly to the Afghan people with strict guardrails to prevent it from benefiting the Taliban.

2️⃣ Invest in Innovative Education & Employment: Support “below the radar” alternatives like online schools, home-based learning, and virtual employment opportunities for Afghan women.

3️⃣ Demand Legal Accountability: Establish “gender apartheid” as a crime against humanity and use international courts and universal jurisdiction to hold the Taliban regime accountable.

4️⃣ Prioritize Women’s Participation: Make the full and meaningful inclusion of Afghan women a non-negotiable prerequisite for any formal peace talks or negotiations.

5️⃣ Maintain Non-Recognition: Refuse to normalize a regime that violates fundamental human rights. Non-recognition of the Taliban is essential to maintaining international pressure.

Afghan women are continuing to resist with incredible bravery every day. We must match their courage with our unwavering commitment.

Full interview linked in bio.

Address

Washington D.C., DC

Telephone

+12025251980

Website

http://giwps.georgetown.edu/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security:

Want your university to be the top-listed University in Washington D.C.?