The Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace, and Security

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda is an international normative and policy framework that aims to address the gender-specific impacts of conflict on women and girls. The Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace, and Security provides an overview of what works to promote women's participation in peace and security, protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence, and prevent conflict. It builds on the findings from the 2015 Global Study of Resolution 1325 and aims to address the gaps in knowledge on and the future direction of scholarship on WPS.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 928 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, which was passed in 2000 and includes seven subsequent Resolutions, is a crucial international normative and policy framework that addresses the gender-specific impacts of conflict on women and girls. This agenda encompasses various aspects, such as the protection against sexual and gender-based violence, the promotion of women's participation in peace and security processes, and the support for women's roles as peace builders in conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction. Despite significant transnational advocacy in support of the WPS agenda, implementation within and across states and international organizations has been slow.

To address this gap, the Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace, and Security brings together scholars, advocates, and policymakers to provide an overview of what works to promote women's participation in peace and security, protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence and other human rights violations, and prevent conflict. The Handbook is organized into six sections, each addressing different aspects of the WPS agenda.

In the first section, the Handbook explores the concepts and early history behind WPS, shedding light on the origins and evolution of the agenda. It also examines the theoretical foundations and practical approaches to WPS, including the role of international institutions and the challenges and opportunities for implementation.

The second section delves into the theory and practice of WPS, examining the various mechanisms and strategies employed to promote women's participation in peace and security processes. It also explores the role of women in conflict prevention, peace operations, peace building, arms control, human-rights protection, and the protection of civilians.

The third section focuses on international institutions involved with the WPS agenda, including the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), and regional and subregional organizations. It examines their roles, responsibilities, and achievements in advancing the WPS agenda and identifies areas for improvement.

The fourth section examines the implementation of WPS in conflict prevention, peace operations, peace building, arms control, human-rights protection, and the protection of civilians. It highlights the successes and challenges encountered in implementing WPS and identifies best practices and lessons learned from the field.

The fifth section explores the gaps in knowledge on and the future direction of scholarship on WPS. It identifies areas for further research and analysis, including the impact of WPS on women's political participation, the role of women in post-conflict reconstruction, and the intersectionality of WPS with other issues such as climate change and sustainable development.

The sixth section concludes the Handbook by emphasizing the importance of continued engagement and collaboration among scholars, advocates, and policymakers to promote women's participation in peace and security. It calls for the mainstreaming of WPS in all peace and security operations and the allocation of adequate resources and support to ensure the effective implementation of the WPS agenda.

In conclusion, the Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace, and Security is a valuable resource for scholars, advocates, and policymakers seeking to understand and promote women's participation in peace and security. By bringing together a diverse range of perspectives and expertise, the Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of what works to promote women's participation in peace and security, protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence and other human rights violations, and prevent conflict. It also identifies areas for further research and analysis to advance the WPS agenda and ensure that women's voices and experiences are heard and valued in peace and security processes.

Weight: 1500g
Dimension: 250 x 173 x 65 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197627709