In the conflicts of today, it is often more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier. Women comprise a vast majority of civilian victims, and rape and violence specifically targeting women has become a systematic weapon of warfare and ethnic cleansing. Yet women are also emerging as critical actors in negotiations to end conflict and the brokering of lasting peace.
On October 11, PBS will launch the five-part series "Women, War & Peace," focusing the dialogue about conflict and security on the roles women play both as targets of violence and key partners in the peace process. The episodes of the series profile the stories of women in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Colombia and Liberia, closing with interviews with leading thinkers, policymakers and survivors of conflict that pose a challenge to the idea that war and peace are men's domain.
ICTJ sat down with two of the three producers of Women, War & Peace, Pamela Hogan and Gini Reticker, to discuss insights from the upcoming series, why women have become primary targets of violence, how to promote women's vital role in the peace process, and what lessons can be taken from the stories of incredible bravery and strength exhibited by the women profiled in the series.
Listen to the Podcast
[Download](/sites/default/files/Hogan_and_Reticker_ICTJ_Podcast_10052011.mp3) | Duration: 14:38mins | File size: 8.75MBAlongside overwhelming statistics of violence perpetrated against women are powerful stories of the impact women have in restoring peace and justice to a society. Women's rights organizations, female prosecutors, and survivors have successfully demanded that violence against women be prosecuted as a crime against humanity, as it was in the war crimes trials after the Bosnia conflict. In the face of stalled peace negotiations, the women of Liberia surrounded the hall where the talks were taking place, refusing to move until an agreement was reached. And in Afghanistan, three women are risking their lives to make sure women’s rights don’t get traded away in peace negotiations with the Taliban.
When asked what they hope to achieve with this powerful and ambitious series, Pamela Hogan responded: "We hope to start a conversation that never ends.
"If you spotlight women and include this as part of the story, and understand that this is a resource in a warzone, then you see that women have a strategic role to play," she added.
Women, War & Peace premiers on October 11 on PBS. For more trailers and information, visit the series website.
View the Trailer
Watch the full episode. See more Women War and Peace.
