“Upholding Gendered Peace at a Time of War: Academics and Activists Speak Out on the Shifting Places of Women in the Arab World”
Organized by Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World at the Lebanese American University (Beirut) and Women in War Think-tank (Paris) With the support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Lebanon (Rule of Law Program MENA Region) KVINFO, OIF Office de la Francophonie. Professor Valentine Moghadam, keynote speaker, contributed this review of the conference , published as an article in the Northeastern University Review
This unique conference brought together international researchers and activists united by their commitment to women’s rights. It discussed the multiple aspects of the gender dimension in the political and social upheavals that have swept the entire Middle-East and Central Asia that has amounted to a veritable war against women. Discussions included regional related issues such as the status of women in Iran, Yemen and Afghanistan, the fate of Yazidi and minority women, Kurdish female combatants and the Rojava egalitarian project, refugees, widowhood, cyberactivism and the backlash of Islamist ideology in Muslim communities in the Caucasus as well as Central and Western Europe. The exponential rise of sexual violence as a weapon of systematic oppression was at the heart of the discussions. The surge of radicalism (especially through the IS/Daesh) made it essential to review female recruitment both in the region and in the West. The future of Lebanon as well was the subject of a major debate: this pivotal country, more than any other, has been directly affected by the global consequences of regional unrest. Texts of the presentations will be posted as they come in and a video of the entire conference is now visible on a specially created Women in War You-Tube Channel



To whom it may concern, My name is Pauline Grézaud and I am currently finishing my Master degree in Political science and International relations from the University of Paris. In order to complete my studies, I am writing a research essay on Women's activism in the Syrian Revolution. As I could not attend the conference, I would like to know if there is any chance to get some kind of report of it (in English or in French)? I am particularly interested by the situation of women in Syria and the issues related to Gender, Conflict and Peace-building processes more generally. Thank you, Best regards, Pauline Grézaud
Sorry for the delay in answering your mail. Si jamais vous avez envie de postuler, vous pouvez tenter puisque la coférence aura lieu en septembre. Oui, elle sera filmée et mise en ligne par la suite- comme pour Beyrouth Cordialement
Dear Organisors, Greetings from Kigali - Rwanda. I find this conference to be very interesting and I would like to attend. I am a gender activist with a Masters in Gender and Development and I did research on Women Perpetrators of the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994. Please let me know if possible. All the best, Dimitrie
Check the subject carefully as this is about what happens after genocide. The conference has been delayed so yes, you may submit a proposal