Post Date: April 8, 2005

"Women in War: Law and Gender in Situations of Conflict" will be the focus of the upcoming annual conference of the Harvard Journal of Law & Gender. The event will examine the variety of ways that women experience and participate in violent conflict. The conference, which takes place in Austin West at Harvard Law School on April 8 and 9, will feature leading legal and policy scholars, practitioners and students analyzing war through a gender-conscious lens.

"Conferences about war always and unfortunately seem relevant. This conference will do what others haven't done by looking at war crimes, combatants, refugees and peace processes from a gendered perspective," said Henry Steiner, professor of law and a conference participant. "There's much of importance in this topic to hear and reflect about. Excellent speakers will ease our task."

Ms. Rachel N. Mayanja, United Nations Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, will be the keynote speaker. Conference panels focus on women combatants, war crimes against women, women's roles in building peace, issues of gender for refugees and internally-displaced persons and women's rights and status in Iraq and Afghanistan.

More information on the conference is available on the website of the Journal of Law & Gender (formerly Women's Law Journal).