On November 29, researchers gathered for a workshop organized at PRIF to discuss the backlash against the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS-Agenda). Established by UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, the WPS agenda has developed into a robust framework with significant scholarly contributions in recent years. While scientific discussions highlight the spread of gender equality norms and the agenda's further development, few studies delve into its challenges. In the face of increasing polarization and a global backlash against gender-sensitive human rights, seen in attacks on liberal values and gender equality, it becomes crucial to investigate the WPS agenda's political evolution and resilience. This workshop aimed to unpack the WPS normative framework, make backlashes in diverse settings visible, and contextualize WPS within a broader challenge to liberal values.
At the workshop's outset, TraCe Fellow Annika Björkdahl (Lund University) together with two renowned scholars from Norway, Jenny Lorentzen (NUPI), and Inger Skjelsbæk (University of Oslo) presented insights from their ongoing book project, "Backlash: The Women, Peace and Security Agenda under Pressure," scheduled for completion in 2024. The project explores backlash from a norm research perspective, asking questions such as which norms face backlash and how this becomes visible.
Following these presentations, Clara Perras and Simone Wisotzki (both PRIF) introduced their PRIF Report “Backlash Against and Resistance to Feminist Peacebuilding”. It stems from a pilot project on dealing with resistances against and backlashes to gender sensitive human rights in peacebuilding. The morning discussions extended beyond the presented projects’ content, encompassing a critical exchange about feminist scientific practices and approaches to existing power structures in science and research.
In the workshop's second part, various projects and ideas addressing different forms of backlash against gender equality norms were presented in panel-style. Topics included sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers, the potential impact of UNDRIP on the situation of Indigenous women and girls in Canada, gendered effects and challenges for gender, peace, and security in a digitalized world, a narrative about gendered human security in Northern Iraq, and the framing and reporting of gender and sexual violence in two Brazilian truth commissions. From the side of TraCe, Hannah Pfeifer, Alvaro Okura, Sabine Mannitz and Rita Kopp presented their ongoing research.
The different facets of backlash and resistance discussed under the roof of the workshop underscore the complexity and emphasize the relevance and necessity of advancing research and discussion on the topic.