Opinions & Insights

Blog pieces written by OSF and guest authors

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Where's the Money? Exploring the Budget Gaps in Women, Peace and Security Initiatives

This analysis looks at the crucial role of funding in shaping the national Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agendas. By examining nations with varying levels of financial commitment and exploring the concept of gender budgeting, this article aims to explore how targeted financial strategies could potentially affect policy-making and WPS implementation strategies.

August 28,2024

In the Shadows of Conflict: The Role of Sudanese Women in Building Peace and Stability

In light of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, Our Secure Future intern Luz Velazquez discusses the contributions made by Sudanese women in advocating for peace and the necessity of including their voices in the formal peace negotiations.

June 25,2024

Tech's Gender Blindspots: How to Create a Safer Digital Future

Technology has become an integral part of everyone’s daily lives. However, the digital ecosystem is not immune to the gender inequalities that persist in society.

May 24,2024

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October 30, 2020

The Curb-cut Effect in Peace and Security: Why Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Benefits Everyone

First blog from our new team member, George Wong! What similarities are there between curb cut-outs and WPS? How does this affect security? Read more to find out!

Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese

October 22, 2020

Part Two: Rethinking Successful Leadership Traits- Watch the Women

Leaders must find a balance of empathy with assertiveness. How does equally valuing those traits help the next generation counter emerging security threats?

October 22, 2020

Season Two: Seeking Peace

In collaboration with GIWPS and UN Women, we’re excited to announce season 2 of the Seeking Peace podcast!

Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese

September 18, 2020

Part One: Rethinking Successful Leadership Traits- Watch the Women

What traits determine who is a good leader? How will those traits evolve with emerging security threats like climate change and global pandemics?

September 08, 2020

Rule of Law and Civil Society Engagement: Complementary Strategies in the Philippines

The Philippines government has created a valuable feedback loop with local civil society that has positively impacted the Blue Economy and gender programming.

September 01, 2020

Developing a Strong Blue Economy: Lessons from Kenya

Kenya has worked to develop a strong Blue Economy, through the employment of women, to counteract the radicalizing effects of poverty along the Mombasa coast.

August 25, 2020

Gender Mainstreaming Success: Lessons from Jamaica

There are explicit interconnections between Women, Peace and Security, and the maritime domain in Jamaica. A decision taken in the 1970s to admit women to the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) has ushered in a culture of women officers at every level of command.

Photo courtesy of the International Maritime Organization, Women in the Maritime Industry, April 24, 2013.

August 20, 2020

COVID-19 and SGBV: Two Deadly Pandemics

While COVID-19 continues to affect the globe and national security of most nations, rape and femicide are a chronic pandemic of a different kind.

Oluwadamilola Akintewe

August 12, 2020

Guest Blog: Why Rape and Femicide Across Africa is More Deadly Than COVID-19

While COVID-19 continues to affect the globe and national security of most nations, rape and femicide are a chronic pandemic of a different kind.

Anti-femicide demonstration in Cape Town, South Africa following the death of Uyinene Mrwetyana, Sept. 2019.

July 30, 2020

Distinguished Partners for Women, Peace and Security: Association of War Affected Women

Feature of Association of War Affected Women from Sri Lanka, Distinguished Partner for Women, Peace and Security award recipient.

July 23, 2020

Distinguished Partners for Women, Peace and Security: Iraqi Al-Firdaws Society

The Distinguished Partners for Women, Peace and Security Award was established in 2019 to honor women’s organizations on the frontlines of addressing the root causes of conflict, including poverty, disease, gender-based violence, illiteracy, injustice and marginalization.

July 16, 2020

Global Women’s Groups Honored in Memory of Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean

Grassroots women-led groups given the 2020 Distinguished Partners for Women, Peace and Security Award in honor of Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean.

July 09, 2020

Raising Women's Voices: The Status of Women is the Status of the Future

Raising Women’s Voices is a series of blogs and videos highlighting the work of women peacebuilders from around the globe.

July 02, 2020

Male Allies for Gender Equality

Male leaders discuss their work cultivating other men to advocate for Women, Peace and Security within multilateral institutions, government and civil society.

Women make the diference for peace & security

July 02, 2020

Gender Equality in Peace and Security: The Role of Male Leadership

Ambassador Donald Steinberg’s prepared remarks as a panelist at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security Event Gender Equality in Peace and Security: The Role of Male Leadership.

June 22, 2020

Mobilizing Men as Partners for Change

The Women, Peace and Security agenda, as laid out by UN Security Council Resolution 1325, presents many opportunities to transform the peace and security sector. First and foremost, to make formal peacemaking and peacebuilding processes and structures more inclusive, effective, and responsive to the...

June 16, 2020

Raising Women’s Voices: When You Belong, You Protect

This Raising Women’s Voices video blog highlights the work of Sally Mboumien, one of OSF's Distinguished Partners for WPS.

June 09, 2020

The “New Normal” Means a New Definition of Security

Finding some sense of normalcy doesn’t mean going back to traditional views of national security. It is time to formalize a new vision of how we view security.