Women, Peace, and Security After Europe’s Refugee ‘Crisis’

In this podcast, Gabriele Canavan and Taitum Caggiano interview Dr. Aiko Holvikivi and Dr. Audrey Reeves who recently published an article titled “Women, Peace and Security After Europe’s Refugee Crisis,” and they are here to tell us more about the nexus between the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and the refugee security regime. For background, the United Nations’ Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1325 is often considered a watershed moment for WPS activists seeking gender equity within responses to conflict, as it was the first SCR to address women and gendered issues within conflict and post-conflict settings. UNSCR 1325, subsequent SCRs (1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106, 2122, 2242, 2467, 2493), and National and Regional Actions Plans (NAPs, RAPs) on WPS all comprise the WPS agenda. The WPS agenda has famously drawn international attention to gendered issues in conflict, such as conflict-related sexual violence and male-dominated decision-making spaces. With their experience in both policy and academia, Dr. Holvikivi and Dr. Reeves will be exploring the potential for a refugee inclusive WPS agenda.