TJI is now a recognised partner of UN Women’s Peace and Security Team, which encourages women’s participation in global conflict resolution and crucial decision-making situations.
The Women, Peace and Security Global Facility (WPSGF) Project aims to ‘amplify women’s leadership in conflict prevention, resolution and long-term peacebuilding.’ With the number of women still currently low in formal peace processes, the programme is focused on addressing key areas like this where women are under-represented, with the view to turning the tide.
As part of the $26,930,510 initiative, the WPSGF is working with a range of UN, governmental and NGO partners, including Ulster University’s TJI – a world-leading multidisciplinary research centre specialising in transitional justice. Participating organisations include Women without Borders and The International Peace Institute, amongst many others.
Professor Rory O’Connell, Research Director in Law at TJI at the University’s Jordanstown campus, said the partnership news was a great endorsement of the institute’s work, which was established back in 2003.
“The TJI is a law-led interdisciplinary research institute based at Ulster University’s Jordanstown and Magee campuses,” he said.“We focus on the study of law in societies emerging from conflict and repression, looking at human rights, international law, peace and conflict. So, this is an ideal working relationship for our team. The TJI ranked first for research impact in REF 2014, with 100% of that research impact rated as world-leading, which we were delighted with.”
As part of the programme, the WPSGF is addressing issues such as Gender-Responsive Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Women’s Engagement in Post Conflict Governance and Service Delivery. Mediation, conflict prevention, and women’s access to justice in conflict and post-conflict contexts are also on the agenda, in a bid to improve women’s overall input in these key areas.