Resolution 2422 (2015) of the WPS resolutions and General Recommendation No 37 by CEDAW both indicate that the degradation of the environment and climate change differentially impact women and girls. In other words, the interrelation between the environment/nature, climate change, and the gendered dimensions of conflicts must be analysed in order to understand and develop an agenda for change to secure gender equality and promote sustainable peace.

Colombia, and Latin America more generally, are contexts in which the exploration of these relationships is particularly urgent and relevant. In the case of Colombia, the implementation of the peace process with the Fuerzas Armadas Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – FARC- and the demobilisation of its members has resulted in challenges and opportunities with respect to the environment.

The purpose of this workshop is to explore the relationship between the environment, nature, armed conflict, gender and gender-based violence in the context of the WPS agenda. This workshop aims to explore gender, peace and the environment through a number of different perspectives including academic research, activism and legal strategic litigation, with a particular emphasis on Colombia and Latin America.

Key questions for exploration include:

• What is the relationship between gender, the environment/nature and peace?
• What role do women play in environmental protection/defending nature?
• What gendered obstacles do environmental protectors face in the context of armed conflicts?
• What place and space does nature/environment have in the Women, Peace and Security agenda?
• What is the relationship between sustainable development and the political economy?
• What relationships exist between land rights, sustainable development and armed conflict?
• What do we understand by environmental reparations?
• What does effective access to justice mean with respect to gender, peace and the environment?
• How can we queer nature and how might this relate to sustainable peace?

Papers are encouraged to consider one or more of these key questions, and both theoretical and empirical papers are welcome. Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be sent along with a biography of no more than 1 page.

Abstracts in Spanish or English are welcome. The workshop will be for two days and is designed with one day each of discussion and presentations in each language.

More details on the workshop and the call for papers is available in Englishand Spanish.

Deadline for Abstracts: September 9th, 2019. Participants selected will be informed by September 26th, 2019. 

Please send abstracts to linam.cespedes@urosario.edu.co, include in the subject heading “Abstract Workshop Gender, Peace and the Environment”.

Workshop dates: 9 – 10th December 2019

Location: Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá (Colombia)

Funding: Limited standard class travel fares and accommodation may be available for those are are invited to present and would otherwise be unable to participate. This is only available to those participants within Colombia and is very limited.

This workshop is co-hosted by the Universidad del Rosario and the Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights and forms part of the project for a Feminist International Law of Peace and Security, which is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy Small Grant Gender, Nature, and Peace.