Louise Olsson, Senior Researcher at PRIO, chairing the workshop.
Louise Olsson, Senior Researcher at PRIO, chairing the workshop.

Today, the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), and the Swedish Embassy in Oslo, are holding a Research and Policy Dialogue on Women, Peace and Security in Mediation.

The dialogue brings together members of the Norwegian and the Swedish Women Mediator Networks, key stakeholders from the Norwegian and the Swedish Ministries for Foreign Affairs and Defense, and leading international scholars from the FBA Research Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.

The purpose of the dialogue is to create a platform for the effective exchange of knowledge and experiences relevant for supporting women’s participation and integrating gender equality in ongoing mediation and peace processes.

The dialogue was opened by the directors of FBA and PRIO, who both emphasised the importance of creating spaces for dialogue between researchers and policymakers.

"In today's world of fake news and alternative facts, those of us at this dialogue today can bring in facts and evidence-based research to politics and policy," said Sven Eric Söder, Director General of FBA.

PRIO's Director Henrik Urdal added, "High quality research has to be translated into practice to be able to contribute to peace. This is why PRIO puts emphasis on dialogue between research and policy, and PRIO's Centre on Gender, Peace and Security has become a focal point for such dialogue on how research can contribute to policy and practice."

The dialogue is chaired by PRIO Senior Research Louise Olsson.