| CODE | DGP0953 | ||||||
| TITLE | Women, Peace and Security (WPS) | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||
| 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 2024 marked the 5th 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 almost 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: 1. Introduction to WPS: Background, the 4 pillars of UNSCR 1325, and its related resolutions 2. Why it Matters: What does research tell us about the Gender Equality and Stability Nexus? 3. The Relationship between Gender and Human Security 4. Understanding Gender Responsive Early Warning Systems, Gender-Responsive Conflict Analysis, and Security Sector Reform 5. Why language Matters: International Law and the Language of Gender 6. Implementing the WPS Agenda: A Case Study of Malta’s National Action Plan 7. Understanding the global Gender Backlash 8. Relief and Recovery Efforts in Malta: Lessons Learned 9. Conclusion: Recognizing Emerging Threats. 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 | Alexandra Schaerrer Cumming |
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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 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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