On 28–30 October the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the World Bank, SIPRI North America, Women in International Security (WIIS), Promundo–US, and Sonke Gender Justice co-hosted a symposium entitled Men, Peace and Security: Agents of Change at the USIP headquarters in Washington, DC.
The event consisted of a two-day symposium followed by an optional one-day training course, bringing together scholars, policymakers, practitioners and military and security personnel from around the world.
The symposium explored how the ascribed norms of men and masculine identities contribute to, and may even help mitigate, violent conflict and post-conflict. It builds upon and complements the United Nations' Women, Peace, and Security agenda, especially as seen through UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
SIPRI North America Executive Director Chantal de Jonge Oudraat moderated panels on masculinities in conflict and hypermasculinities. In addition, the symposium served to initiate the development of a 'community of practice' and applied a gender lens to broader issues of peace and human security.
Read the agenda or view photos from the event. USIP has also published a blog post highlighting key takeaways from the symposium, 'Dying to Be Men: Symposium Digs for Roots of Gender Violence'.