Women, Peace and Security in Military Operations

Civilians are disproportionately impacted by contemporary armed conflict, with women, children, and other vulnerable groups among the most affected. Effective military operations occur against the backdrop of two major shifts in international thinking on security: Human Security and the Women, Peace and Security agenda (WPS). These innovations have radically transformed the field of contemporary security studies and continue to evolve and be debated in both academic and policy circles. However, militaries have been slow to adopt these ideas and adapt their behaviours to account for the importance of protecting civilians, gender mainstreaming, women's participation, responsibilities on children in conflict, and preventing egregious crimes, such as modern slavery and human trafficking. This book is a conversation between academics and civilian and military practitioners to better understand the contemporary challenges and obligations militaries have towards realising the WPS agenda. Drawing on expertise from military, academia, and civil society it offers insights and recommendations on how militaries can effectively integrate the WPS agenda into their operations.