Strong focus on women: events on UN Resolution 1325 at the UDE!

Strong focus on women: events on UN Resolution 1325 at the UDE!

On July 9, 2025, the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) has various events on the program that can be attended both on site and online. In most cases, registration is not required, which makes it easier to access valuable information and discussions. During the week of July 15th to 17th there will be some high-profile lectures covering both medical and socio-political topics.

Particularly noteworthy is the lecture by Prof. Cheryl Hendricks on Tuesday, July 15th at 4:15 p.m. She will speak at the Institute for Development and Peace about the important connections between women, peace and security. The issue is particularly relevant in the context of UN Resolution 1325, which, since its adoption on October 31, 2000, has tirelessly called for the inclusion of women in peace processes while highlighting protection against gender-based violence. This resolution is binding under international law for all UN member states and represents a cornerstone for the discussion about gender justice in conflict situations science-and-peace.de emphasized.

Diverse lectures and discourses

On the same day at 12:15 p.m. Dr. Jean-Philippe Auger from the University Medical Center Berlin will give a lecture on combating stress. There will also be a lecture series on the topic of “Water” with Dr. Torsten C. Schmidt, as well as another lecture that deals with diversity in schools. These events are part of a series of offerings aimed at linking research and teaching.

On Wednesday, July 16th, topics such as chemical reactions in space and literature will be discussed. At 7:30 p.m. there will be a discussion about the novel “The Birds” by Terjei Vesaas, which will focus on the cultural-historical dimension of literature and its influence on society.

Thursday, July 17th, offers another highlight with a lecture by Prof. David Keen, who deals with the topic of shame and its political manipulation. This diversity of topics not only reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the university, but also emphasizes the relevance of the gender perspective in many areas of research and teaching.

Women, peace and security – an important topic

UN Resolution 1325 combines the topics of peace, security and gender and calls, among other things, for greater inclusion of women in conflict management. This is also the goal of the civil society project “Alliance for Women, Peace and Security”, supported by initiatives such as Frieda and swisspeace. This project aims to further increase the relevance and visibility of the WPS agenda and the Swiss NAP 1325. A report will be published in May 2024 that addresses civil society priorities for Switzerland's 5th National Action Plan.

Furthermore, current findings emphasize the role of women as central actors in peace processes. They are often viewed solely as victims, but they bring essential experiences and perspectives. A comprehensive understanding of security and peace can only be achieved by recognizing the diverse roles women play in armed conflict. Critical voices are calling for greater consideration of this dimension in national and international strategies, including in Germany, where there is a lack of a national action plan.

Overall, it is clear that the discussions initiated by UN Resolution 1325 must also play a role at the UDE. The contributions of scholars on this topic are important not only for the academic community, but also for a broader societal debate about gender justice and the protection of women in conflict. The variety of events in July offers an excellent platform for this.