Keynote lecture at the Women, Peace and Security Summer School in Sarajevo

On the topic of “Gender, Violence, and War: Understanding the Dynamics of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence”, Prof. Inger Skjelsbæk delivered a keynote lecture at the Women, Peace and Security Summer School in Sarajevo on 23 September 2025. Her lecture examined the roots, patterns, and consequences of conflict-related sexual violence, highlighting its gendered dynamics, political functions, and the challenges it poses for justice and peacebuilding in post-conflict societies. As part of this, she addressed children born of war.

The Summer School brought together 50 participants from across the Western Balkans and Europe and Central Asia (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 22, Albania: 5, Kosovo: 5, North Macedonia: 5, Serbia: 5, Montenegro: 2, Czech Republic: 1, Ukraine: 1, Georgia: 1, Moldova: 1, Slovenia: 1, Armenia: 1). Their academic and professional backgrounds cover a wide spectrum including law, political science, international relations, journalism, sociology, communications, criminology, economics, gender and cultural studies, and peace and security studies. The participants were students, young professionals, activists, researchers, and practitioners engaged in government institutions, academia, civil society, and international organizations. Collectively, they brought practical experience in human rights, gender equality, transitional justice, security sector reform, governance, advocacy, media, and youth dialogue, enriched by grassroots activism and international exposure.

Banner of the summer school