US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is blocking promotions for women in the military, saying diverse leadership is degrading the quality of the armed forces. Our research finds the opposite is true. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u... 🧵 1/3

Women’s Share of Top Military Promotions Falls as Hegseth Blocks Nominees

The percentage of high-ranking officer nominations going to women is currently at its lowest level in over two decades.

nytimes.com

Another timely article by GSS Lab Faculty Advisor Dr. Roya Izadi (@royaizadi.bsky.social)! Read her latest for @goodauth.bsky.social ⤵️

Good Authority@goodauth.bsky.social · last wk.

What can history and political science tell us about the resilience of the Islamic Republic’s government and institutions? Here's why Washington keeps misreading Iran. goodauthority.org/news/why-was...

Over eighty publications, seven research partners, and one mission! This past week, The Elsie Initiative Fund partners met to discuss the comprehensive research conducted in support of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. 📸 : Janna Solomon and @ipinst.bsky.social

📣 Article alert 📣 GSS Lab Faculty Advisor Dr. Roya Izadi (@royaizadi.bsky.social) wrote for @goodauth.bsky.social about the expansion of militaries into the civilian economy in the wake of USAID cuts. Congratulations Dr. Izadi! You can find the full piece ⤵️

Roya Izadi@royaizadi.bsky.social · 4w ago

In this @goodauth.bsky.social piece, I explain how sudden withdrawal of USAID has created a domino of economic militarization across Africa and beyond. This piece is part of a broader project with wonderful @katjakleinberg.bsky.social on the consequences of economic shocks and militarization.

Our #ElsieFund partner organization #RESDAL has released the first comparative atlas on sexual harassment and abuse in defence institutions across 20 Global South countries 👏👏 Congratulations to all involved in this amazing project! Read the full report ⬇️

🎊HUGE #MOWIP News!🎊 TWO barrier assessments with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the Fiji Police Force (FPF) have been completed! ✅ 🧵1/3

📹WATCH: The United Nations Department of Peace Operations recently held a webinar titled “From Commitment to Impact: Advancing Uniformed Women’s Participation and Leadership in UN Peacekeeping.” Delegate Gabriella Gonzalez from Uruguay offers some crucial points:

2025 was a banner year for #MOWIP! 👏 We are proud to partner with diverse personnel, researchers, and organizations to advance gender‑responsive security environments. Evidence‑based policy change is essential and we’re excited to continue this work in the coming year. Elsie's full report ⤵️

The Elsie Initiative Fund

Designed and established with the support of the broader Canadian Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, Member States, the UN system and peacekeeping experts, the Elsie Initiative Fund is an...

elsiefund.org

Two NEW @ipinst.bsky.social papers make clear that more tools are needed to ensure #genderequality is a genuine priority for @unpeacekeeping.bsky.social missions. When peacekeeping is more inclusive, it's more successful. Let's continue to make #WPS a reality! READ the full papers ⤵️

International Peace Institute@ipinst.bsky.social · 3mo ago

🔔 New IPI Policy Paper: What makes peace operations genuinely gender-responsive in practice—not just on paper? Lessons from UNMISS, AMISOM, and ATMIS. 👉 https://bit.ly/4dKJFu0

Today is #PKDay, where we thank the brave service members who serve the mission of creating a more peaceful world. We hope to create an environment where peacekeeping can become more effective, inclusive, and worthy of their sacrifice. @unpeacekeeping.bsky.social #InvestInPeace #WPS #ElsieFund

Recently, PI @sabrinamkarim.bsky.social participated in a @dcafgeneva.bsky.social Experts Panel on how #AI can make security institutions more gender equitable places. Here's what they found: 🧵 1/3

Why do women make up just 10% of uniformed peacekeepers? NEW research from Monash Global Peace and Security (GPS) offers one answer: #caregiving responsibilities. Their multilingual findings, training resources, and more are linked ⤵️ Congrats to all involved in this incredible project! 🎊

The GSS Lab sends greetings from Malawi! 🇲🇼 In preparation for upcoming #MOWIP data collection, GSS team members Dr. Taylor Vincent (@tvincent.bsky.social) and Dr. Hatti Sellers (@hattisellers.bsky.social) are in-country training a talented group of enumerators to pilot our survey.

Highlights from Dr. @sabrinamkarim.bsky.social's recent talk at the @americanacademy.bsky.social in Berlin 🇩🇪 Her lecture, “Pockets of Restraint in Violent Security Forces,” examined how restraint can emerge within security institutions, even in violent settings.

Launch of the Malawi MOWIP project 🇲🇼 Great to see the Elsie Initiative Fund support the Malawi Police Service’s first MOWIP assessment. GSS Lab’s Dr. Hatti Sellers (@hattisellers.bsky.social) & Dr. Taylor Vincent (@tvincent.bsky.social) are on the ground supporting training with IPOR. #EIF #IPOR

Dr. Sky Kunkel (@skytheacademic.bsky.social) led a data capacity workshop in Fiji 🇫🇯 as part of the MOWIP process. Participants from FPF and RFMF engaged on data fundamentals, security, and responsible AI, and called for longer trainings, highlighting strong interest in building data capacity.

New policy paper from the International Peace Institute examines the role of military gender advisers in UN peacekeeping. It highlights key challenges and offers recommendations to better integrate gender expertise and strengthen WPS implementation in missions. Read more ⬇️

🔔 New IPI Policy Paper: The Role of Military Gender Advisers in UN Peacekeeping Operations Implementing the women, peace, and security agenda has the potential to strengthen the operational… | Int...

🔔 New IPI Policy Paper: The Role of Military Gender Advisers in UN Peacekeeping Operations Implementing the women, peace, and security agenda has the potential to strengthen the operational effect...

linkedin.com

Exciting progress from Zambia 🇿🇲 A new women’s accommodation and daycare facility, developed in response to MOWIP findings, is helping remove structural barriers to women’s participation in peace operations. A strong example of how evidence-based reform can drive real, institutional change. 🌍✨

#womeninpeacekeeping #inclusivepeacekeeping #investinpeace | Deborah Warren Smith

It was a privilege to join the Zambia Police Service and UNDP Zambia at the Geoffrey Mukuma Paramilitary Training School — also known as Sondela — for the opening of the newly constructed Women’s Acco...

linkedin.com

Excited to share a new article by Dr. Roya Izadi (@royaizadi.bsky.social) in Journal of Democracy: “The War with Iran Made the IRGC Stronger.” The piece examines how the war has likely strengthened the IRGC and further militarized Iranian politics. Read more ⬇

The War with Iran Made the IRGC Stronger | Journal of Democracy | Roya Izadi

In this Journal of Democracy essay, I argue that the war with Iran has made the IRGC stronger. The IRGC is likely coming out of the war more embedded within the Iranian politics and society. The Islam...

linkedin.com

We’re excited that Dr. Sabrina Karim (@sabrinamkarim.bsky.social) will present at the American Academy in Berlin on April 23. 🎉 Her talk, “Pockets of Restraint in Violent Security Forces,” examines how restraint can emerge even in violent institutional settings. The event will be live-streamed ⬇️

Exciting progress with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces 🇫🇯 The Lab supported both focus groups and validation workshops as part of the MOWIP process. It’s been great to engage with service members, develop recommendations, and complete the validation phase of the RFMF MOWIP report. #RMFM #EIF

Exciting to be in the validation phase of the Fiji Police Force MOWIP process 🇫🇯 GSS Lab members Dr. DeAnne Roark, Dr. Roya Izadi & Sky Dr. Kunkel joined the workshop, an important step toward shaping future gender-responsive policy. Read more below ⬇

The Gender and the Security Sector Lab team is in Fiji 🇫🇯 As part of the Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP), Drs. DeAnne Roark (@deanneroark.bsky.social) & Roya Izadi (@royaizadi.bsky.social) co-led focus groups with the Fiji Police Force (Mar 16–17) with Ethos CRS.

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Sabrina (@sabrinamkarim.bsky.social) Karim on her presentation on the future of UN peacekeeping in Essen, Germany 🇩🇪 Her talk explored how peacekeeping must adapt to today’s geopolitical realities to remain effective. Read more ⬇

My deep thanks to Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Ursula Gather and the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung for inviting me to Essen. The foundation sponsors the Berthold Beitz Fellowship at the… | Sab...

My deep thanks to Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Ursula Gather and the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung for inviting me to Essen. The foundation sponsors the Berthold Beitz Fellowship at the Americ...

linkedin.com

We were glad to see GSS Lab Postdoctoral Associate Dr. Hatti Sellers (@hattisellers.bsky.social) participate in this important workshop in Addis Ababa on Women, Peace and Security and the future of UN and AU peace operations, convened by the International Peace Institute.

International Peace Institute@ipinst.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🇪🇹 In Addis Ababa, IPI’s WPS team convened a multi-day workshop on WPS & the Future of UN and AU Peace Operations. At the core: 🔷Preventing SEAH 🔷Role of gender advisors 🔷Gender-responsive leadership 🔷Kinetic & Non-kinetic operational environments 🔷Persistent stereotypes impacting women’s roles

We’re excited to co-sponsor Dr. Emily Paddon Rhoads’s talk in Ithaca with the @ReppyInstitute! 🌍 She’ll present “Civilian Self-protection in an Era of Escalating Harm and Uncertainty.” 📅 March 12 | Noon | 📍 Uris Hall, G08 Find registration details below ⬇️ www.linkedin.com/events/74256...

On International Women's Day we celebrate women advancing peace and security worldwide. The Gender and the Security Sector Lab works to support women’s leadership in security institutions and peace operations. Learn more about our work here ⬇️ www.sabrinamkarim.com/gsslab

Congratulations 𝗚𝗦𝗦 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗰 to Dr. Shanshan Lian on her new publication! 🎉 Her paper examines female leadership and the gendered impacts of financial crises, offering important insights into how governments respond during economic shocks. Read more ⬇️

Female Leadership and the Gendered Impacts of Financial Crises: Are Female‐Led Governments Better Able to “Weather the Storm?”

Objectives While studies have found that women are often more economically and politically vulnerable during economic crises and downturns, a growing body of work has found that increased female lea...

dx.doi.org

Exciting to share a new Cornell Chronicle feature highlights Dr. Sabrina Karim’s research on war and peace through Cornell’s Global Hubs 🌍🕊️ Her work explores the dynamics of modern conflict and how cross-national research partnerships can help identify pathways to lasting peace. Read more ⬇️

Global Hubs researchers probe war, how to keep peace | Cornell Chronicle

Two Cornell researchers collaborated with colleagues in the United Kingdom in an effort to understand the organized violence of modern war.

news.cornell.edu

Congratulations to Dr. Sabrina Karim (@sabrinamkarim.bsky.social) on her new op-ed in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung! The article explores the evolving relationship between ICE and local law enforcement, highlighting broader challenges for U.S. federalism and governance. Read more ⬇️

ICE and a structural crisis in American federalism

Violence in Minneapolis has exposed a two-tiered system of policing. While ICE agents operate with impunity, it is often local officers who absorb public anger. That signals a crisis in American feder...

faz.net