Key Takeaways from the Women, Peace and Security Summer School

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Summer School 2025 was held from 22 to 26 September in Sarajevo — a week of learning, dialogue, and exchange on advancing gender equality and peacebuilding. The programme brought together 50 students and young professionals from 11 countries, providing them with a platform to engage with 19 leading experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.

Organized by the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security Studies of the University of Sarajevo with the support of the UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) through the Women Lead the Way Towards Peace and Security in BiH initiative and the regional programme Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality and Trust, the WPS Summer School strengthened the capacity of future leaders to integrate a gender perspective into peace and security policies. 

Key Takeaways: 

Day 1 – Building Connections for Peace 

– Building Connections for Peace

- This week is not just about lectures; it’s about dialogue, exchange, and building connections that last.

- Peace without women is neither just nor sustainable.

- Conflicts don’t end when the guns fall silent; they end when the legacies of pain are confronted and transformed.

- The region shows that peace accords do not erase the shadow of war — trauma, entrenched narratives, and divisions persist.

- If you don’t want peace to be lost, bring the future into the room today.

Day 2 – Truth, Justice, and Empathy

- Confronting genocide denial is not only about protecting memory but also about creating conditions for a just and inclusive future.

- Conflict-related sexual violence is a systematic weapon with profound social and political consequences, not just an individual crime.

- Without acknowledging the truth and confronting the glorification of perpetrators, there can be no lasting peace.

- Applying the principles of the Murad Code when working with survivors ensures respect for their rights, dignity, and individual needs.

- Experiencing the stories of children in war teaches empathy, understanding of history, and the importance of preventing future atrocities.

Day 3 – Women’s Leadership for Lasting Peace

- Women face growing threats, are excluded from solutions, and receive inadequate funding — despite evidence that their inclusion creates better, more sustainable peace.

- The experience of the women of Liberia shows that inclusive leadership can transform peace negotiations into lasting security and development.

- Including a gender perspective in peace processes helps overcome challenges and fosters more lasting peace.

Day 4 – Women in Security

- The low representation of women in the security sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina underscores the need for more consistent and effective implementation of Resolution 1325.

- Women are essential to lasting peace and a secure future.

- Preventing all forms of violence and discrimination against women in the security sector is not only a legal obligation but also the foundation of a professional, ethical, and accountable system.

Day 5 – Memory and the Future

- Memorialization is vital for preserving truth and shaping a more just future.

- To achieve sustainable development, countries must harness the full potential of all their citizens, regardless of gender.

- Women’s inclusion in security and peace is not a matter of preference but a matter of political decision.