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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Lexie Van Buskirk

December 28, 2017

Hack It! Leverage The US WPS Act To Support Peace In Mali

Try out our micro-hacks on the US WPS Act for yourself by applying them to the Mali peace process!

A young woman reads the official informational flyer of the Peace Caravan in Gao, Mali. August, 2013. UN Photo/Marco Dormino.

Lexie Van Buskirk

December 15, 2017

Women, Peace and Security: There's an Act for That! (Part III)

As of October 2017, the United States has domestic legislation that mandates women’s full and equal participation in peace and security issues. Learn how to hack this new law to support WPS more broadly.

Lexie Van Buskirk

December 11, 2017

Women, Peace and Security: There's an Act for That! (Part II)

As of October 2017, the United States has domestic legislation that mandates women’s full and equal participation in peace and security issues. In the second installment of this three-part series, we highlight how the Act will boost gender equality.

Lexie Van Buskirk

December 04, 2017

Women, Peace and Security: There's an Act for That! (Part I)

As of October 2017, the United States has domestic legislation that mandates women’s full and equal participation in peace and security issues. In the first of this three-part series, we highlight the events that led to the new Act's passing.

November 27, 2017

Three Things We Are Grateful for in Women, Peace and Security

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, OSF highlights three major accomplishments to be grateful for in the Women, Peace and Security movement this year.

Bert Koenders (right), Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Côte d’Ivoire, and Margot Wallström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict 11/24/2011, UN Photo/Patricia Esteve

Lexie Van Buskirk

November 20, 2017

In Yemen, Engaging Women is Key to Creating Peace

While the war in Yemen continues, Yemeni women are critically involved in bringing peace to the fragile state, an example of Women, Peace and Security work in action.

Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chairperson of Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in Yemen, 30 May 2017. UN Photo/Manuel Elias.

Lexie Van Buskirk

November 10, 2017

WPS In Action: Countering Jihad in Pakistan

This November, OSF will be participating in the International Civil Society Action Network’s (ICAN) Annual Forum in Rabat, Morocco.

Lexie Van Buskirk

November 08, 2017

WPS In Action: An Interview With Mossarat Qadeem

This November, OSF will be participating in the International Civil Society Action Network’s (ICAN) Annual Forum in Rabat, Morocco.

November 06, 2017

Gender Equality in Coastal Sub-Saharan Africa

Threats to maritime governance include a lack of good governance ashore. Guest writer Kelsey Soeth of Oceans Beyond Piracy discusses the relationship between the participation of women and the fisheries sector in particular in sub-Saharan Africa.

A woman in Berbera, Somaliland. Several initiatives in Somalia promote women’s economic empowerment through fisheries projects. Photo: Jean-Pierre Larroque.

October 30, 2017

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: Reflections on CEDAW and Women’s Civil Society in Davao City, Philippines

Researcher Kelsey Coolidge reflects on the work of women in the Philippines who are at the forefront of securing human rights and security on local, grassroots levels.

President Corazon Aquino in 1986. Photo: IRRI Images

Lexie Van Buskirk

October 24, 2017

Hack It! A Gender Perspective on the Small Island Developing States

With our most recent set of WPS micro-hacks in mind, we ask what might security mean for the women, men, girls, and boys living in the Small Island Developing States?

Dessima M. Williams, then Permanent Representative of Grenada to the UN, holds a press conference with Al Binger (off camera), Advisor to the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) group on Climate Change, to discuss their position ahead of the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, November 2011. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.

October 19, 2017

Back To Basics: The Micro-Hack (Part III)

In our third installment in our Back to Basics series, we think about security in light of the anniversary of the passing of UN Security Council 1325.

October 12, 2017

BACK TO BASICS: THE MICRO HACK (PART II)

In the second of our Back to Basics series, we cover three more micro-hacks you can apply to your work.

Lexie Van Buskirk

October 10, 2017

Hack It! A Gender Perspective on Maritime Security

Try hacking it yourself! Use our latest micro-hacks to apply a gender perspective to a policy brief on reviving the AU's maritime security from the Institute for Security Studies.

October 06, 2017

Back to Basics: The Micro Hack

In the first of three new installments in our Back to Basics series, we will cover seven simple WPS micro hacks that will change the way you do your work.

October 01, 2017

Women, Peace and Security Timeline: 1945-2017

Tracing the history of Women, Peace and Security from 1945 to 2017

Brigitte Tawk, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the UN, attends a meeting of the Security Council on post-conflict peacebuilding - Credit: UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

September 30, 2017

Civil Society as an Ally in Countering Violent Extremism

Civil society is often better-placed, has specialized expertise, and a nuanced understanding of local dynamics to help identify and address conditions relating to the escalation of political violence. We discuss three ways women in civil society promote security and prevent violent extremism.

Photo caption: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe Delegates listen during opening remarks on the first day of a civil society conference organized by the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

September 22, 2017

Notes From the Field - Academic Experts Weigh In

When you first started looking at Feminism and International Relations, what trends and connections did you see?