More than a military tactic: sexual violence in wars and armed conflicts Commentary War and armed conflict almost always go hand in hand with sexual violence – rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage. On occasions when it seems pertinent, such as in the context of the current war in Ukraine, politicians and the media talk about the issue and condemn the violence, but their rhetoric is short on substance. By Jeannette Böhme
Rape is the cheapest weapon of war Commentary Despite the high number of rapes, the judicial progress that has been made, and the judgements passed by international, national and local courts, most of the affected women are still far from receiving compensation, reparations, or recognition as a victim. By Judith Brand
Feminist Development Policy E-Paper This brief contains recommendations for practitioners of the international development sector to shift the status quo of development and move towards feminist global collaboration. pdf
Where are the Ukrainian women? Respecting female voices now and in post-war times Commentary The Russian invasion of Ukraine tragically continues with brutal shelling of civilian targets, escalating into a humanitarian catastrophe. At the forefront of all this is the masculinity of war which caused these horrors in the first place, and which allows for ignoring the voices of Ukrainian women at all levels. By Míla O'Sullivan
New Czech Government: First Stumbling Blocks after a Hopeful Start Background Hopes were high for a progressive turnaround after the populist previous government of Andrej Babiš. What is the balance sheet of the first steps of the new Czech government? By Adéla Jurečková
Power and Responsibility: Putting Human Rights at the Centre of EU Foreign Policy Interview To what extent do human rights principles underpin the European Union’s policies towards the rest of the world? The EU’s power to promote the core values enshrined in its treaties is weakened by the frequent misalignment between the rhetoric of EU leaders and the actions on the ground. Can these gaps be bridged to place respect for human rights, equality, and social justice at the heart of foreign policy? Hannah Neumann explains how change will not happen overnight, but how progress can be made through painstaking efforts, compromise, and dialogue. By Hannah Neumann
The End of the Babiš Era? The Czech Republic between the past and the future Analysis Following the recent parliamentary elections, many Czechs celebrated the opposition parties’ victory over the business magnate and incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. However, the new center-right governing coalition must be careful not to return to the previous status quo that helped Babiš to power eight years ago. By Adéla Jurečková
The Horrifying Right to One’s Own Context: Seven Rules of Culture Warfare Essay The conflicts dividing contemporary society do not necessarily reflect the right–left dichotomy. This transformation of the political map is linked to a transitional situation in which the feuding parties’ very identities are subject to change. The invasion of politics into the personal and the moral spheres of life enables virtually anybody to take their own part in culture wars. By Ondřej Slačálek
Swedish Ambassador: “Feminist policy” prompts discussion more than gender balance does Interview A feminist approach is transforming the system much more than traditional foreign policy has, says Swedish Ambassador for Gender Equality and Coordinator of Feminist Foreign Policy, ANN BERNES. According to her, in the beginning the concept of feminism in politics surprised even the Swedes themselves. ”The giggle effect is there no more, because our experience is that change is possible,“ she claims. By Lucia Yar
MEP Neumann: I have no problem with white men. I just have a problem when only white men are at the table Interview Some are complaining about quotas, but those complaints are the best indicator that we need them, says German MEP Hannah Neumann. She confirms that it was partially a stroke of luck to “sneak the F-word” into the European Parliament Report on Gender Equality in EU Foreign and Security Policy that she co-authored, calling on EU Member States to adopt a Feminist Foreign Policy. By Lucia Yar