Video
Women Rising, Here and Abroad: Harvard Lowell Lecture 2018
For the annual Lowell Lecture on March 7, 2018, Ambassador Swanee Hunt shared the story of how Rwandan women came together to help rescue their country after the 1994 genocide. Survivor and women’s organization leader Chantal Kayitesi joined Ambassador Hunt in discussing Rwanda’s lessons for other nations, including the United States.
Press
The Crucial Role of Women as Peacemakers
A number of years ago, Ambassador Swanee Hunt was invited to speak at a conference in Kigali, Rwanda. The topic was women building peace in Africa, and women from all over the continent attended. She was invited to speak at the time about her involvement in the women’s movement here in the United States. “I […]
Guide
A Women’s Guide to Constitution Making
For those looking to get a clearer understanding of the constitutional process, actors, and tactics for influence, we have also developed a Women’s Guide to Constitution Making. This guide is designed for women looking to influence constitutional processes in their own countries, whether by earning a seat in constitution-drafting bodies, advocating from civil society, advising as […]
Press
Rising Because They Have To
In 1994, Rwanda lost a huge portion of its male population when the ruling Hutu government murdered 500,000 to 1 million of its citizens, including an estimated 77 percent of the Tutsi population. The genocide left an enormous void, widened by the number of Rwandans who had fled or been imprisoned — and women stepped up […]
Press
What Women Bring to the Constitution-Writing Table
When social norms are upended by violence—including relations between women and men—constitution reform presents an opportunity to transform power dynamics in a society. Rewriting a country’s constitution is a frequent step on the path toward peace, and is a particularly important entry point for women to address their historic marginalization and have a say in […]
Press
The Women, Peace, and Security Act: A Rare Milestone
With International Women’s Day approaching on March 8th, it’s fitting to take note of one of the few hopeful moments in American politics this past year: The enactment of the Women, Peace and Security Act of 2017 was a quiet bipartisan landmark, the culmination of more than two decades of relentless advocacy to involve women in decisions […]
Press
Women Write Better Constitutions
Even as fighting rages in Eastern Ghouta, Syrians on different sides of the conflict are trying to come together to write a new constitution. The vast majority of those involved in these negotiations are men. But fresh research tells us why their chances of success will be far greater if the drafting process includes Syria’s […]
Press
Why Women Need a Seat at the Table to Make Peace Last
In the years after Rwanda’s genocide, how did women come to make up a large portion of the nation’s parliament? Author and activist Swanee Hunt says their women’s movement grew out of necessity. Hunt, a former ambassador and founding director of the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School, gives her Brief but […]
Research
How Women Influence Constitution Making After Conflict and Unrest
This is the first major effort to understand the numbers, roles and impact of women in constitution making after conflict and unrest. We examine eight countries and draw out lessons for policymakers and those looking to influence this crucial entry point for building peace. A constitution lays the foundation for how power will be exercised […]
Video
Event Video: Rwandan Women Rising at the Library of Congress
Our Founder and Chair, Ambassador Swanee Hunt, and Rwandan Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana discussed Hunt’s book Rwandan Women Rising, the story of how the women of the tiny African nation led that country’s rebirth after the horrific 1994 genocide that left nearly a million dead. Click here to watch the video
