| CODE | DGP0953 | ||||||
| TITLE | Women, Peace and Security (WPS) | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||
| EQF/MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | Not Applicable | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Degree Plus Programme | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | “It is now more dangerous to be a woman than to be a soldier in modern conflict." -Maj. Gen. Patrick Cammaert, former UN Peacekeeping Operation commander in DR Congo 2025 marked the 6th consecutive year of declining global peace. The consequences for women and girls around the world have been dire, as they often bear the brunt of conflict. Women often suffer a disproportionate range of detrimental conditions in fragile or conflictual situations, from sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement and insecurity, to the loss of families, spouses, legal-protections, livelihoods and personal autonomy. However, women are not simply victims during conflicts. They are also active agents. Further, while women and girls are usually the most detrimentally affected by conflict, they are also the least likely to be invited into peace negotiations. This means that while they often suffer the most, women have the least voice when it comes to making decisions regarding peace, security and reconstruction. It is clear that who is considered to carry agency in society, and whose contributions are valued amongst domestic and international stakeholders is deeply gendered. It is precisely due to the recognition that conflict is neither perpetrated nor experienced equally between genders, that United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) was adopted 25 years ago. The WPS agenda recognizes that women and girls are affected differently by security threats, discrimination and violence, and seeks to ensure a more inclusive and sustainable approach to conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution. Countries that have adopted the WPS agenda acknowledge that sustainable peace can only be achieved by recognizing women as active agents of and for change. The WPS agenda is not simply a normative or aspirational agenda. Gender equality is not just good for women, but good for the whole of society. Studies show that gender equality is a strong indicator of a state’s peacefulness, and that higher levels of gender equality are associated with lower levels of intrastate armed conflict, and less severe violence in such conflicts when conflicts occur. Statistical studies show that the higher the proportion of women in parliament, the lower the likelihood that a state carried out human rights abuses, including political imprisonments, torture and killings. When women are a part of leadership in governments, child mortality reduces, social spending increases and overall, such states register a higher trust in government. We also know that peace agreements with women signatories have higher rates of implementation and are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years. Despite such critical research and the clear positive benefits of women in peace, security and political positions, global change has been slow and non-linear. Not only are civilians increasingly targeted during conflicts, but the growing threat of small arms proliferation, climate change and cybercrime all have deeply gendered implications. This course will unpack these gendered dimensions and demonstrate why the WPS agenda is more important than ever. Study-unit Objectives: In this course, students will learn about the foundations of UNSCR 1325 and its related resolutions. This course will unpack the gendered differences, both theoretically and practically, of conflict analysis, violent conflict, security, climate change, humanitarian law, peacekeeping, reconstruction and relief & recovery. Via specific case studies, students will be able to identify the fundamental elements of the WPS agenda, how and why it matters, and what major challenges the agenda is facing. Over nine sessions, students will hear from researchers, academics, practitioners and policy writers, covering the following topics: Lessons for Degree + are scheduled on Wednesdays, from 12:00 to 14:00pm. Speakers and topics are subject to change based on scheduling availabilities. Session 1: Introduction to WPS: Background, the 4 pillars of UN 1325, and its related resolutions • Introduction by MFT (TBC), followed by a presentation of the WPS agenda by Dr. Alexandra Schaerrer • This session will explore how WPS came about, and what the logic behind its resolutions are. We will explore some of the persistent barriers to the WPS agenda, and to what extent this agenda has been successful. Session 2: Recognizing Women’s full and meaningful participation- Relief and Recovery in Malta • Joint Lecture: Alexandra Schaerrer and Jasminder Odusanya (RAAH). • This lecture will highlight the agency and communal knowledge of women who have experienced forced displacement, violence and trauma. While women are often victims, they are also important community peace-builders, and many are extremely active in Civil Society. RAAH, an NGO in Malta focusing on amplifying voices of people experiencing migration & displacement, will share how NGOs work closely on WPS initiatives, standing at the front-lines of Relief and Recovery efforts in Malta. Session 3: The Relationship between Gender and Human Security • Joint Lecture: Alexandra Schaerrer and Kemillia Arab (Spark15) • Kemillia will speak about her lived experience as a migrant fleeing a forced child-marriage in Eritrea. The lecture will delve into the systematic structures that force young girls into child marriages, sex work and deny young girls access to education. The lecture will also explore the dangers female migrants face and her journey towards recovery as a survivor of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Malta. Session 4: Understanding emerging threats and the global Gender Backlash. • Joint Lecture: Alexandra Schaerrer and Aleksander Dimitreijevic (MenEngage) • The lecture will focus on how important it is to engage men and youths into the WPS agenda, what the global Gender Backlash looks like, and how online misogyny is threatening important gains made by the WPS agenda. This lecture will engage with Technology Facilitated Gender Violence, the rise of the Manosphere, and what ‘Black Pill’ ideology entails. Session 5: Looking at the Protection Pillar, Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery in Malta • Joint Lecture: Alexandra Schaerrer and Ishana Meadows from TAMA • This lecture will explore the dangers posed by women facing displacement and migration, specifically focusing on Prevention and Protection issues related to Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery. Session 6: How to conduct a Trauma-informed and Gender and Culturally Sensitive Analysis • Workshop organized by TAMA • The workshop will teach students how to adopt a ‘Trauma Informed and Culturally Sensitive Approach’ in their future work, and why using such analytical lenses, including Gender-Responsive Conflict Analysis, are imperative when conducting assessments, budgeting and project evaluations that work. Session 7: The Relationship between Gender Equality and Stability • Joint Lecture between Dr. Valentina Cassar and Dr Aitana Radu • In this lecture, we explore why Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and gender equality matter in practice, and what research tells us about the gender, security, and intelligence nexus. Drawing on themes from International Relations and Security Studies, the session examines Gender-Responsive Early Warning Systems, the gender dimensions of nuclear politics and security, Security Sector Reform, and the application of WPS within intelligence institutions and practices. It also highlights how gender analysis can strengthen security assessments, decision-making, and operational effectiveness. Session 8: Why language Matters: International Law and the importance of Gender in Law • Joint Lecture: Alexandra Schaerrer and Dr. Omar Grech • This session will introduce students to international law, feminist perspectives on International Law, and the progression of women's rights. Further, students will explore how the law itself is often gendered, offering uneven protection and recognition of those most vulnerable and in need of its application. Session 9: Conclusion—Working in the WPS Field • Joint career presentations from WPS practitioners, including diplomats, disciplined forces, and other Government representatives working in the field • In this final session students will have the opportunity to hear from four practitioners working on WPS related agendas, about how they became involved in the field, what their study and career paths looked like, and what practical advice they have for students wishing to follow in their footsteps. • This segment has been developed specifically to address past student feedback requests on the need for career advice on how to enter the security and diplomatic services. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, students will be able to: • Recognise the gendered nature of global challenges and their impact; • The specific ways women experience conflict and contribute to conflict resolution and stability; • Limitations of Human Security and the need to look at notions of positive peace; • Increased understanding of the WPS Agenda, its obligations on specific actors and the pillars of UNSCR 1325; • Understand why a gender analysis in conflict analysis is important, and develop a gender-sensitive and analytical mind set; • Understand the different ways women can and do contribute to peacebuilding and state building at the national and community levels; • Understand the link between gender inequality and violence in conflict settings and in peaceful contexts; • Be familiar with the concept and processes of “gender equality” and “gender mainstreaming”; • Understand why gender-neutral concepts of human security are detrimental and incomplete; • Be familiar with emerging threats to the WPS agenda, risking hard-won gains over the last decades. Unit Material: Appropriate unit material will be provided by the tutor during the sessions. Assessment: In keeping with the spirit of the Degree Plus, there will be no formal assessment associated with this study-unit. A certificate of attendance and of satisfactory completion of the unit will be provided at the end of the semester. Note: Degree plus units are not designed to be incrementally burdensome in terms of the many academic demands placed on students during their undergraduate years. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This unit may not be offered if there are an insufficient number of applicants. | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joseph Noel Grima (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2026/7. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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