Kathleen Kuehnast Previews “Women in War, Women in Peace” Series

Kathleen Kuehnast, U.S. Institute of Peace director of Gender Policy and Strategy, previews “Women in War, Women in Peace,” a month-long series of programs for National Women’s History Month.

“Every war is different, but some things remain the same—men may be more likely to die as a direct consequence from the violence of armed conflict, but women often find themselves alone and carrying the burden of caring for the survivors,” she says.

“Throughout March for National Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we offer another opportunity to focus on the range of issues of women in war and women in peace,” she continues. “We will look closely at the ways that peace treaties ensure equal economic dividends for women as well as men, and we will better understand how men in violent conflicts become stuck in hyper masculine roles, and what this might mean to ending violence against women. By understanding the different impacts that war has on men and women, we can create more effective peacebuilding approaches, and ensure greater gender equality and protection for women and girls,” she concludes.

To learn more about the series, visit