NATO awards $210,000 to UCI-linked project promoting women’s role in conflict resolution

When the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1325 in October of 2000, its aim was the integration of women into every phase of conflict resolution while also combating gender-based violence. Although the resolution’s passage was a watershed moment, said UCI assistant professor of political science Heidi Hardt, more action is needed to address women’s underrepresentation in international conflict prevention, management and resolution efforts. Many overseas organizations have not completed the implementation of 1325, data collection remains uneven and participation is only partially monitored. Working with a global team of academic, military and policy research leaders, Hardt and her collaborators have devised a plan. NATO’s Emerging Security Challenges Division has awarded them more than $210,000 through its Science for Peace & Security Programme for a two-year project that will result in research and scholarly publications on women’s participation and effectiveness in the security and defense sector; an on-site and online gender awareness and sexual harassment training course tailored for civilian and military NATO staff; and a gender awareness handbook for all NATO practitioners.