Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

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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.

06/27/2025

It was an honor to host the fourth annual Global Women Leaders Summit, which was chaired by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton.

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

Together, we launched the Women Changemakers Initiative—a cross-border, intergenerational platform to promote collective action and foster meaningful connections for women leading at all levels.

Thank you to Patricia Espinosa, María Fernanda Espinosa, Dalia Grybauskaité, Monica Juma, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Helen Clark, Sanna Marin, Yoko Kamikawa, Francia Márquez, Michelle Bachelet, Julia Gillard, Mary Robinson, Melanne Verveer, Monica McWilliams, Celinda Lake, Lucina Di Meco, Laura Alonso, Zanetor Agyeman - Rawlings, Anna Basman, Aya Chebbi, Sinem Dedetaş, Anna Julia Donath, Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram, Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi, Joanah Mamombe, Nour Salam, Trisha Shetty, and Marinika Tepic for joining us, for sharing their critical insights, and for their unwavering commitment to building more resilient, inclusive, and democratic societies.

06/20/2025

“I am not only a refugee but also a resilient woman, a dreamer, and a contributor to the world around me.”

On , Sudanese women leaders have a message for the world.

Violent clashes that began in April 2023 have driven nearly 13 million people from their homes in Sudan, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis today. This crisis disproportionately affects women and girls, who face greater risks of gender-based and sexual violence, exploitation, and trafficking, and don’t have access to proper healthcare and reproductive services on top of a lack of basic services while displaced. Despite these circumstances, women who are displaced due to conflict continue to lead peacebuilding efforts and contribute to their communities in so many ways, including by running businesses, teaching, leading humanitarian efforts, and serving in support groups.

Click the link in our bio to see what Sudanese women leaders displaced by the crisis want you to know.

05/05/2025

Ahead of the 25th Anniversary of the Women, Peace & Security (WPS) Agenda, GIWPS is launching a global survey of women supporting peace and security in conflict-affected countries.

The WPS Agenda has driven progress over the past two decades, but many challenges remain. As conflicts persist around the world, this survey aims to hear directly from women about their priorities, concerns, and visions for the future so that the international community can better support and amplify their work.

The online survey is anonymous and available in Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (Cyrillic and Latin), Burmese, Dari, English, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian/Bahasa, Pashto, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Thai, Ukrainian, Urdu.

It is open to any woman who is engaged in peace and security issues, particularly those operating in conflict-affected areas.

We encourage you to share this survey widely within your networks, especially with women leaders, grassroots organizers, human rights defenders, civil society groups, and local peacebuilders.

For more information, click the link in our bio.

This research is made possible through the generous support of the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C.

04/30/2025

The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) strongly condemns Secretary Hegseth’s announcement that he will remove Women, Peace and Security (WPS) as a policy priority for the Department of Defense.

WPS makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. GIWPS research shows that women’s representation in peace processes leads to longer-lasting peace. Furthermore, the level of security in a country is linked to women’s status. It is in America’s best interest—and that of our troops—to have more stability and peace abroad, and therefore to promote the WPS agenda.

Secretary Hegseth’s claim that WPS is a liberal or “woke” issue is not based in fact. The WPS framework is over 25 years old, and the United States’ WPS Act was co-sponsored by Secretary Marco Rubio and signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017. Congress has a critical role to play to ensure the Defense Department’s compliance with the WPS Act.

04/08/2025

On Friday, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) co-hosted an event, "The Power of Sisterhood," at Ukraine House in Washington DC, with the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA, Ukraine House, the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA), and the Ukrainian Women’s Fund. The event honored the leadership of Ukrainian women in diplomacy and commemorated the 100th anniversary of UNWLA—one of the oldest Ukrainian organizations in the US dedicated to preserving Ukrainian culture.

During the event, we released our "10-Point Compact for Ukraine’s Just and Sustainable Peace," which was developed by the Women Leaders Coalition for the Future of Ukraine. The compact was composed during a recent GIWPS convening of Ukrainian civil society leaders in Warsaw, where the discussions focused on the role of Ukrainian women's leadership in peace negotiations and post-war recovery.

"Ukrainian women’s leadership will be essential for a just end of the war and for a sustainable peace," said our Executive Director Ambassador Melanne Verveer in her powerful remarks. Ambassador Verveer underscored the historical dimensions of the women's movement in the US, Ukraine, and globally—as well as their close collaboration. She provided a retrospective on the commitment of the US in support of women's leadership in democracy building in Ukraine and reminded the audience of Ukrainian women's leadership during the revolution of dignity and in responding to the current full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Dr. Alla Shvets, a renowned researcher of the Ukrainian women’s movement, provided keynote remarks. During her discussion with Irena Chalupa, President of the Washington DC Branch of UNWLA, Dr. Shvets shared compelling stories of Ukrainian women who played pivotal roles in the foundation of Ukrainian sovereignty.

"Ukrainian women know how to use their political rights for the good of their nation," she said.

The event opened with virtual remarks from Tetiana Sybiha, Head of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and co-founder of the Association of Diplomatic Spouses of Ukraine. She provided insights into the ongoing efforts of the Academy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring attention to the vital yet often under-recognized contributions of Ukrainian women in the field of diplomacy.

Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to Washington, also noted that “the victory of Ukraine will have a female face.” On behalf of the audience, Ambassador Verveer saluted Markarova as "the most effective, articulate, and hardworking ambassador Ukraine has sent to Washington since its independence."

Several current and former ambassadors attended the event, including Ambassador John Tefft, who served as US ambassador to Ukraine from 2009-2013.

It was an honor to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Ukrainian women and support their ongoing struggle for peace, security, and a better future.

03/21/2025

We had the privilege of joining diplomats, civil society representatives, academics, and private sector leaders in New York for the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women ( ). This critical gathering highlighted the pressing global challenges to women’s rights and democratic norms. As rollbacks on women’s rights and pushback on democratic values intensify worldwide, it is more important than ever to amplify women’s voices and strengthen the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

We hosted a series of impactful events focusing on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Ukraine, gender apartheid in Afghanistan, addressing climate change in the UN Security Council, and commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, which affirmed that women’s rights are human rights.

Read more about our efforts and calls to action from our partners by clicking the link in our bio.

1. “Ukraine is Not Silent” was a powerful gathering of prominent Ukrainian and international voices to spotlight Ukraine’s unwavering resilience in the fight against CRSV and launch the published work of interviews from CRSV survivors, and legal, medical, and political experts working with survivors in Ukraine.

2. We brought together Ukrainian women leaders with high-level UN officials for a dinner discussion on “Honoring Survivors & Advancing Justice.”

3. We launched two important new reports on gender, climate, and security with support from the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C.

4. At the UN Headquarters, we co-hosted a high-level event emphasizing the importance of women’s participation in fostering stability, peace, and security in Afghanistan.

5. We marked the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, where 189 nations adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—the most comprehensive agenda for gender equality in history—and recognized that women’s rights are human rights.

03/13/2025

Today, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security launched two policy briefs on climate and security at a high-level event co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN and the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C. This launch event, held on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, marks a significant step in advancing the intersection of gender, climate, and security—a priority theme for the Danish Government during its presidency of the UN Security Council this month.

“Denmark is committed to advancing both the WPS Agenda and the Climate Peace and Security Agenda. We believe these agendas should not be handled in silos,” said Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations. “Climate change and gender inequality are more intertwined than we often acknowledge.”

“Advancing Gender, Climate, and Security in the UN Security Council: A Blueprint for Action,” authored by Jess Keller, presents actionable recommendations for UN Member States and stakeholders to drive progress on these interconnected challenges.
“Practical Guidance for Integrating Climate into WPS National Action Plans,” co-authored by Christina Vetter and Dr. Jessica Smith, provides insights on how National Action Plans (NAPs) on Women, Peace, and Security can better address climate-related security risks.

Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, emphasized the timeliness of the new reports.“Today, climate change is recognized as a serious security issue. It is critical for the UN Security Council to focus on climate change as integral to the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.”

Use the link in our bio to access the reports!

03/12/2025

We were honored to co-host a panel discussion, “Ukraine is Not Silent,” at the Ukrainian Institute of America to kick off the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women ( ). This impactful event brought together prominent Ukrainian and international voices to shed light on Ukraine’s unwavering resilience in the fight against conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

“It’s about women representing Ukraine—our dignity, our resilience, our unbreakable spirit,” said Founder of the NGO Нумо, Сестри Liudmyla Huseinova when asked what key message CRSV survivors would want to share with the world.

The event was hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister's Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, the Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy of Ukraine and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN. It was co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Lithuania to the UN, the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, Ukrainian Women’s Fund, the Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union, and the Ukrainian Institute of America.

We continue to stand in solidarity with the brave women of Ukraine and their fight for justice, dignity, and peace.

03/08/2025

Around the world, conflicts are raging and women’s rights are being rolled back. On this year’s International Women’s Day ( ), advancing women’s rights is more important than ever.

Women have always played a crucial role in preventing conflict, building peace, and tackling global threats like climate change and violent extremism. Their contributions are essential in growing economies and shaping a better future for all. Yet, gender equality is still far from achieved. At the current rate, full parity is 134 years away, according to the World Economic Forum.

comes at a pivotal moment and coincides with the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which reaffirmed the importance of women in conflict resolution, and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, which paved the way for recognizing women’s rights as human rights.

As we celebrate these milestones, and in the face of increased challenges, we must use this moment as an opportunity to recommit to progressing women’s rights—which will lead to a more stable, peaceful, and just world for all.

02/27/2025

This month, we had the privilege of convening Ukrainian women leaders for the Women Leaders Coalition for the Future of Ukraine Summit in Warsaw, in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the British Embassy Kyiv.

The summit brought together leaders from Ukraine’s public, private, and non-profit sectors for meaningful discussions on the critical role women play in shaping a resilient and secure future for their country. Participants included Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna, prominent parliamentarians, and key public and private figures.

Over four days, we hosted a series of thought-provoking sessions, including a welcome dinner organized by the Polish Confederation Lewiatan (Konfederacja Lewiatan). Discussions ranged from increasing women's participation in decision-making to setting key priorities for post-conflict recovery.

We were honored to welcome Former President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, a member of our Global Women Leaders Network, along with international experts Monica McWilliams and Avila Kilmurray from Northern Ireland, who shared valuable insights from their own experiences in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

We remain committed to supporting this courageous and influential group of Ukrainian women leaders, providing an international platform for thought exchange, strategy development, and collective advocacy—ensuring they have the resources and recognition needed to shape Ukraine’s future.

01/17/2025

We hosted a special commemoration yesterday of the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which launched the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.

Together with the Embassy of Japan and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, we convened high-level representatives from countries that have demonstrated leadership and innovation in advancing the WPS Agenda. The event addressed ongoing and emerging WPS threats and highlighted best practices for WPS implementation, particularly for women’s inclusion in peace processes.

The event culminated with Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, H.E. Yoko Kamikawa, receiving the 2025 Trailblazer Award from Amb. Melanne Verveer on behalf of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.

Visit our website to watch a replay of the event.

12/20/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we want to thank you for your commitment to our common cause.

This has been a particularly challenging time for women. Conflicts rage around the globe, taking the greatest toll on women and their families. But this is not the full story. Women are also on the frontlines working to resolve conflicts, protect human rights, and advance economic opportunity. They are leaders and changemakers with whom we are privileged to work.

This year, we launched the first-ever Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker, convened women leaders from Sudan, Ukraine and Afghanistan to inform policymakers, inaugurated a new Middle East and North Africa Women Peacebuilders Initiative, published new research on conflict-related sexual violence, climate change and more, presented at high-level global conferences, and hosted Nobel Peace Prize winners.

Next year—2025—will mark 25 years since the UN Security Council adopted the landmark resolution on Women, Peace and Security, which recognized the critical role women play in peacebuilding. We look forward to working with you to leverage this milestone year in ways that advance progress for women and a better world.

From all of us at GIWPS, thank you, happy holidays, and may there be peace on earth 🕊️🌍

To read more about our work this year, click on the link in our bio.

Address

Washington D.C., DC

Telephone

+12025251980

Website

http://giwps.georgetown.edu/

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