Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

Are you a Georgetown University student interested in taking a course at the intersection of gender, international security, and diplomacy this fall? 

These courses are designed to equip students with the practical policy tools, critical research methods, and real-world expertise needed to navigate gender issues, international relations, and diplomacy in an ever-changing global arena.

Be sure to secure your spot before courses fill up!

Explore a full list of our courses and more student opportunities using the link in our bio.

It was an honor to host this year’s Global Women Leaders Summit, which was chaired by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The event brought together a distinguished cohort of women leaders from the highest levels of public service alongside a new generation of political and civic leaders from around the world to provide a unique space for peer-to-peer mentorship, cross-generational collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, experiences, and lessons learned.

We worked together to develop recommendations and collective action that center women leaders as architects of a safe and secure digital future, inclusive climate action, and a world order that delivers for all.

🎓 Celebrating Our Gender, Peace and Security Certificate Graduates 🎓

The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) congratulates Georgetown University’s graduating class, especially the 12 alumni who earned our graduate certificate in Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) this academic year.

We are also pleased to announce the winners of our annual student writing awards, which bring together emerging voices from universities across the Washington, DC consortium to explore today’s most pressing global challenges through a gender lens.

👉 Use the link in our bio to meet this year’s GPS graduates and writing award winners, and learn how they are advancing the future of Women, Peace and Security through research, advocacy, and policy leadership.

We are honored to announce that the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security has been awarded the Francesca Tardioli International Award from .sapienza and

GIWPS was recognized for our “significant and special contribution to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.”

This award holds special meaning. It is named in memory of the late H.E. Francesca Tardioli, a trailblazing Italian diplomat and a steadfast champion of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Ambassador Tardioli’s career was defined by her commitment to multilateralism and her belief that sustainable peace is only possible when women are at the center of mediation and conflict resolution.

At GIWPS, our mission has always been to bridge the gap between evidence-based research and global policy. From our work on the to our advocacy for women in peace processes from Afghanistan to Ukraine, we remain dedicated to the vision that Ambassador Tardioli championed.

As GIWPS Associate Professor and Gender Certificate Coordinator S Ayse Kadayifci- Orellana said when she accepted the award on behalf of GIWPS: “This award is not only about what has been achieved; it is about what must still be done. We dedicate this award to the women across the world who—often without recognition and under extraordinarily difficult circumstances—continue to hold communities together.”

We are grateful to our incredible staff who make this work possible: Melanne Verveer Carla Koppell Jessica Smith Allida Black Haleema Hasan Rachel George Vicka Heidt S Ayse Kadayifci- Orellana Anna Tuohey Kelly J. Shannon Emma Guyette Kimberly Brody Hart Gihan Elhadidy Ana Lejava Tamara Bah Sarah Rutherford Michelle Snyder Brady Alexandra Gopin Colleen McMahon Rebecca Radle Helen Rocker Melissa Pasos Shields Riya Ou and our many talented fellows and student assistants.

Diplomacy FrancescaTardioli GenderEquality

We are thrilled to announce that GIWPS Executive Director Melanne Verveer has once again been recognized in ’s list of the 500 Most Influential People of 2026.

This annual list honors the experts and advocates driving critical policy debates in the nation’s capital. Amb. Verveer was recognized for her unparalleled leadership in international affairs, specifically for her career-long dedication to placing women at the center of peace and security.

In a year of shifting global priorities, Amb. Verveer has remained a steadfast advocate for women on the frontlines of conflict. Her work ensures that gender equality isn’t just a talking point, but a strategic imperative for global stability.

Congratulations to everyone recognized this year, and to the thousands of advocates in Washington and beyond whose vital work happens behind the scenes.

Read the full list using the link in our bio.

The situation for women and girls in Afghanistan today is the worst in the world.

Since the Taliban regained control, they have issued over 100 edicts aimed at erasing half the population from public life. At GIWPS, we rank Afghanistan #181 out of 181 countries for women’s wellbeing on our .

However, complexity must not be mistaken for futility. In a new interview, GIWPS Executive Director Ambassador Melanne Verveer and GIWPS Policy Director Kimberly Hart outline why the international community cannot look away—and what must be done.
The article highlights 5 concrete recommendations to push back against the systematic oppression of Afghan women and girls:

1️⃣ Deliver Principled Humanitarian Aid: Provide life-saving assistance directly to the Afghan people with strict guardrails to prevent it from benefiting the Taliban.

2️⃣ Invest in Innovative Education & Employment: Support “below the radar” alternatives like online schools, home-based learning, and virtual employment opportunities for Afghan women.

3️⃣ Demand Legal Accountability: Establish “gender apartheid” as a crime against humanity and use international courts and universal jurisdiction to hold the Taliban regime accountable.

4️⃣ Prioritize Women’s Participation: Make the full and meaningful inclusion of Afghan women a non-negotiable prerequisite for any formal peace talks or negotiations.

5️⃣ Maintain Non-Recognition: Refuse to normalize a regime that violates fundamental human rights. Non-recognition of the Taliban is essential to maintaining international pressure.

Afghan women are continuing to resist with incredible bravery every day. We must match their courage with our unwavering commitment.

Full interview linked in bio.