Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security


The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security is an academic institute that is housed in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. It was organized by the late Carol J. Lancaster, former Dean of Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and was first announced in December 2011 by Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia and then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It began operations in February 2013. The institute "examines and highlights the roles and experiences of women in peace and security worldwide through cutting edge research, global convenings and strategic partnerships." The Institute's Executive Director is Melanne Verveer, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues and former Chief of Staff for Hillary Clinton when she was First Lady of the United States. Clinton serves as the Institute's honorary chair.
The Institute has hosted policymakers, subject matter experts, military advisers, diplomats, entrepreneurs and women on the frontlines of change for discussions on women, peace and security. Past speakers have included Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and former First Lady Laura Bush, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Muhammad Yunus, Finance Minister of Nigeria Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and founder of Panzi Hospital Denis Mukwege.
The Institute houses the International Council on Women's Business Leadership, which was previously housed at the United States Department of State. It also runs an online research repository containing a collection of resources in the field of women, peace and security.