Women in Security

Adapting Military Equipment to Account for Gender Differences

It was not until January 1stof 2016 that women were allowed to apply for combat positions in the United States military. According to Veterans Advocate Jennifer Silva, “This shift opened the opportunity for women to fill 220,000 military combat positions.” The original U.S. military draft was male-only, thus openly excluding women from military service since Read More…

women in security Women in Security

The Importance of Women’s Inclusion in Counterterrorism

Security-related fields across the international community continue to perpetrate gendered ideals which prohibit women from contributing, specifically in counterterrorism. The existing gender bias associates women in security with roles of peacekeeping, while inherently placing them on the periphery in the counterterrorism sector.  In 2014, the United Nations Secretary General announced that members should “consider the Read More…

Women in Security

Women of Terrorist Organizations- How Women are being recruited

The current atmosphere of international politics remains a strongly gendered environment in which women continue to be marginalized in both the job sector and within social spheres. The ongoing gendered viewpoint which places women in a position of vulnerability has, in part, contributed to women participating in or even conducting terrorist operations.  The threat of Read More…

Sarah Haddjeri Women in Security

Women as Both Victims and Perpetrators of Violence in War and Peace

Women are often associated with peace and reconciliation and men with war and violence. However, these stereotypes tend to overlook the role women play as perpetrators of violence and sexual abuses during wartime, since they are more commonly perceived as vulnerable civilians. Rebecca Solnit, in her work “Men Explain Things to Me”, highlighted that patriarchal Read More…

Sarah Haddjeri Women in Security

Violence Against Women in Switzerland and Techniques to Empower Victims

This article analyzes the various conditions women face in Switzerland, and how the work of the Centre LAVI (Loi sur l’Aide aux Victimes d’Infraction) is instrumental in helping them. During a recent interview in Geneva, Muriel Golay’s, director of Centre LAVI, was generous enough to share her views of possible solutions within the framework of Read More…

Sarah Haddjeri Women in Security

Women in Politics and their Representation in Media

The media is a critical tool that frames the way we perceive and think of our society, as well as the way we act. It creates and perpetuates narratives and influences how we consider men’s and women’s roles in public and private spheres. Women in the media are often under-represented and portrayed in stereotypical ways. Read More…

Women Women in Security Wu Xiao

The Invisible Struggle of Female Migrant Domestic Workers

The recent confession of a Cyprian army officer murdering five migrant women and two children reopened the dialogue of migrant domestic workers’ (MDW) invisible fight against exploitation and human rights violations. Many juxtapose the MDW industry to modern day slavery. Common mistreatment MDW face include: inadequate or withheld wages, unregulated work hours, confiscation of personal identification, forced labour, physical/verbal abuse, and sexual harassment.

Julia Schaumer Women in Security

NAOC’s 16 Days of Activism: Margot Franssen

Every year, from November 25th to December 10th, the NATO Association of Canada is proud to participate in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. This campaign highlights the need to address the violence that women face at all levels and in all arenas. This year, the focus is on ending gender-based violence Read More…