Menu

United States Institute of Peace

Home ▶ Events

How Film Captures the Roles of Women in War and Peace

Celebrating stories of women's leadership through film on International Women’s Day

Date: Thursday, March 8, 2018 / Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm 

Share This
Print the Page

Ten years ago, the film Pray the Devil Back to Hell premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Documentary for its powerful depiction of the nonviolent women’s movement that helped bring an end to Liberia’s bloody civil war. Since its release, producers and directors have taken up the challenge to tell the stories of the often-invisible lives of women in conflict – producing stories in countries like Bosnia, Libya, Afghanistan, Colombia, Pakistan and Rwanda. These films have brought forward women’s critical voices to the stories of war and peace, and amplified the global agenda of Women, Peace and Security.

Every March 8th, International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide as a time to reflect on the achievements and contributions of women. In 2018, USIP will celebrate the day by hosting an event where filmmakers and policy advocates discuss how film has been an innovative tool for translating policy frameworks into social change. Documentaries and movies can take the tenets of policy frameworks and make them tangible. Civil resistance is most successful when women are engaged, and seeing this in live action can catalyze movements into action. This event brought together the worlds of film and policy to celebrate the progress that has been made in advancing women’s roles in peace and security, and spreading their stories.

Review the conversation on Twitter with #WomensDayUSIP. 

Participants

Kathleen Kuehnast, moderator
Director, Gender Policy and Strategy, U.S. Institute of Peace

Maria Stephan, moderator
Senior Advisor on Nonviolent Action, U.S. Institute of Peace

Abigail Disney
Filmmaker & President and CEO, Fork Films

Suhad Babaa
Executive Director, Just Vision

Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini
Co-Founder and Executive Director, International Civil Society Action Network

Jamie Dobie
Executive Director, Peace is Loud

Eric Martin
Senior Strategist, Independent Television Service (ITVS)
 

Related Publications

La transition en Haïti ne peut réussir sans le leadership des femmes

La transition en Haïti ne peut réussir sans le leadership des femmes

Monday, October 28, 2024

By: Danielle Saint-Lôt

Malgré l’instabilité politique et les bouleversements sociaux les plus graves de son histoire au cours de la dernière décennie, Haïti a désormais l’occasion d’aller de l’avant. La sélection d’un Premier ministre efficace par un Conseil présidentiel de transition offre au pays une chance de rétablir la sécurité et d’organiser des élections pour la première fois depuis 2016. Mais pour que les progrès soient durables, il faudra un mélange de leadership transitoire et de leadership transformationnel. Et cela signifie mobiliser et respecter le rôle essentiel des femmes, qui sont actuellement sous-représentées à tous les niveaux de gouvernement et d’influence.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance;  Gender

Haiti’s Transition Can’t Succeed Without Women’s Leadership

Haiti’s Transition Can’t Succeed Without Women’s Leadership

Monday, October 28, 2024

By: Danielle Saint-Lôt

Despite facing some of the worst political instability and social upheaval in its history over the last decade, Haiti now has an opportunity to move forward. The selection of an effective prime minister by a Transitional Presidential Council offers the country a chance to restore security and hold elections for the first time since 2016. But for any progress to last, there will need to be a mix of transitional and transformational leadership. And that means mobilizing and respecting the essential role of women, who are currently underrepresented at all levels of government and influence.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance;  Gender

To Address Sexual Violence in Conflict, Don’t Overlook People with Disabilities

To Address Sexual Violence in Conflict, Don’t Overlook People with Disabilities

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

By: Sydney Johnson;  Elizabeth Murray

Sexual violence is a heinous crime that can affect anyone in conflict zones around the world. However, those with disabilities are often at greater risk of sexual violence than their counterparts without disabilities. Despite this, programs and policies for addressing conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) rarely focus on how people with disabilities are uniquely affected, yet alone the best ways to prevent such violence, support survivors and seek justice.

Type: Analysis

Gender;  Human Rights

View All Publications