Georgetown Launches First Conflict Tracker with Gender Focus

Breadcrumbs

New York, March 11, 2024 – Armed conflict is on the rise around the world, increasing women’s exposure to combat and the importance of their participation in conflict resolution.

A new Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker, launched today by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, will offer unprecedented gender-sensitive insights into today’s conflicts.

“We know women are critical to achieving peace,” said Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. “The new WPS Conflict Tracker is a resource for identifying risks and opportunities for protecting women from violence and including women in conflict prevention, resolution, and recovery efforts.”

The WPS Conflict Tracker brings together real-time data points and original analysis for 25 countries that are at risk of, currently experiencing, or transitioning from armed conflict. Selected countries reflect current events while ensuring geographic coverage and diversity of conflict dynamics. 

Future updates to the WPS Conflict Tracker will include in-depth country profiles, insights from women peacebuilders and advocates, and policy briefs. 

“This is the first cross-national tool for observing and analyzing global armed conflict with women at the center,” said Dr. Jessica Anania, the GIWPS Research Fellow who led the development of the WPS Conflict Tracker. “The conflict tracker identifies key issues related to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda for  policymakers, advocates, and researchers.”

The WPS Conflict Tracker is made possible with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The Embassy of Denmark, Washington D.C. 

“We were delighted to be able to support such an important project of Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security. The role of women in preventing conflict, building peace, addressing global threats, and other national and transnational challenges is both underappreciated and under-understood. Elevating and advancing awareness about the role and status of women in peace and security is an essential element in addressing today’s complex global problems,” said Deana Arsenian, Vice President, International Program, and Program Director, Russia and Eurasia, Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The WPS Conflict Tracker will be launched on March 11 at the offices of Carnegie Corporation of New York, with an additional event to follow on March 27 at the Embassy of Denmark, Washington D.C. 

“Denmark is seeking a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the period 2025-2026 and plans to place Women, Peace and Security (WPS) high on the agenda. In order to move the WPS Agenda forward, more current and accurate data and research are needed. Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) continues to lead these efforts with the creation of the WPS Conflict Tracker, one of many important data tools that can be used by governments in their work towards implementing the WPS Agenda as defined by UNSCR 1325. The Embassy of Denmark in Washington D.C. highly values and is proud of its partnership with GIWPS and its team of prominent experts in the field,” said Ambassador of Denmark to The United States Jesper Møller Sørensen.

###

About the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security seeks to promote a more stable, peaceful, and just world by focusing on the important role women play in preventing conflict and building peace, growing economies, and addressing global threats like climate change and violent extremism. We engage in rigorous research, host global convenings, advance strategic partnerships, and nurture the next generation of leaders. Housed within the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, the Institute is headed by the former U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer.

Media Contact
Sarah Rutherford
sarah.rutherford@georgetown.edu