The Feminist Forum organisers would like to invite you to join with us in marking the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Our final seminar for the year will address violence against women in the context of militarisation and conflict, and we have three great guest speakers lined up: Dr Sara Meger (The University of Melbourne), Dr Lisa Carson (UNSW & ANZSOG), and Dr Jasmine Westendorf (LaTrobe University).

Dr Sara Meger is a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Melbourne, where she teaches international security and feminist theory in international relations. Her research focuses on the gendered nature and determinants of political violence, including sexual violence in armed conflict. Her book Rape Loot Pillage: The Political Economy of Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict is available from Oxford University Press.

Dr Lisa Carson is Principal Research & Policy Advisor at the Australia & New Zealand School of Government, Research Fellow at UNSW, and voluntary coordinator of the Australian Young Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom. Her research focuses on the complexities of translating policy into practice at local, national and international levels and better connecting theory with practices. It crosses boundaries of policy analysis, feminist and gender studies, political science, international relations, institutionalist theory and sociology.

Dr Jasmine Westendorf is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at La Trobe University and research associate at the Developmental Leadership Program. Her research focuses on why peace processes in civil wars fail, issues of gender and conflict, and the phenomenon of sexual exploitation and abuse in peace and humanitarian operations. Her new book, Violating is due out early 2020 with Cornell University Press.