Research Professor at the PRIO Center on Gender, Peace and Security. Leader of the EuroWARCHILD project.
Inger Skjelsbæk
Research Professor
Interests and experience
Languages spoken:
English, French and German
Working experience:
2021-2024: Director Centre for Gender Studies, UiO
2019- : Professor Gender Studies UiO
2016- : Member of the Leadership Group, CREX, UiO
2015-2019: Associate Professor in Psychology, UiO
2015-: Research Professor at PRIO
2009-2015 : Deputy Director at PRIO
Aug 2013 - Feb 2014: Research Director, Dimensions of Security Department, PRIO
2011/2012 (summers): Visiting scholar at the Human Rights Center, University of California Berkeley
2008-2009: Programme Leader of the Ethics, Norms and Identities programme at PRIO
2002-2003: Guest Researcher and Fulbright Scholar at the Institute of Slavic, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies (ISEEES) at the University of California, Berkeley, USA
1996- : Researcher at PRIO
Associate editor of International Feminist Journal of Politics since July 2011
Education
2007 Dr. Polit. Degree at the Institute for Psychology, University of Trondheim (NTNU). The title of the Ph.D. dissertation is "Sexual Violence In Time of War: Sexuality, Ethnicity and Gender Diversity in the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina". 1996, Cand. Polit. Degree from the University of Trondheim (NTNU) with a Master’s degree in psychology. The title of the Master’s dissertation was "Women and War: A Qualitative Study of the Construction of Femininity in the Wars in the Former Yugoslavia, El Salvador and Vietnam".1993, Cand. Mag. Degree from the University of Oslo with the following subjects: English language and literature, French language and literature, Psychology and Social science statistics.
Projects
All projects
Jan 2025 – Dec 2027
How Populist Illiberal Regimes Shape Gender Norms in Europe (CONTEST)
How Populist Illiberal Regimes Shape Gender Norms in Europe (CONTEST)
Dec 2015 –
PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security
PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security
Feb 2013 –
Missing Peace Initiative
Missing Peace Initiative
Jan 2013 –
High-Level Seminars on Gender and Inclusive Mediation Processes
High-Level Seminars on Gender and Inclusive Mediation Processes
Jan 2021 – Dec 2022
Norway on the UN Security Council: PRIO Resources
Norway on the UN Security Council: PRIO Resources
Jan 2019 – Dec 2020
PRIO Stories
PRIO Stories
Feb 2018 – Apr 2022
Social Media in Armed Conflict through a Gender Lens: The Case of Myanmar
Social Media in Armed Conflict through a Gender Lens: The Case of Myanmar
May 2017 – May 2018
Gender and Countering Violent Extremism
Gender and Countering Violent Extremism
Jan 2017 – Dec 2018
PSYOPS: The Psychology of Political Struggle
PSYOPS: The Psychology of Political Struggle
Jan 2017 – Jun 2017
Equal Peace? Rwandan Experiences
Equal Peace? Rwandan Experiences
Latest publications
All publications
Michele Leiby, Inger Skjelsbæk & Kim Thuy Seelinger (2025)
Studying conflict-related sexual violence: What does it mean for researchers’ well-being?
Studying conflict-related sexual violence: What does it mean for researchers’ well-being?
Journal article in Journal of Peace Research
Inger Skjelsbæk (2024)
Children born of war: Bosnaian experiences
Children born of war: Bosnaian experiences
Conference paper
Inger Skjelsbæk (2024)
Children born of war: past and present
Children born of war: past and present
Conference paper
Inger Skjelsbæk (2024)
Perpetrators of Mass Atrocities: Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal?
Perpetrators of Mass Atrocities: Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal?
Book review in Global Responsibility to Protect
Inger Skjelsbæk (2024)
Sarajevos roser: krigen i Bosnia og dens etterliv
Sarajevos roser: krigen i Bosnia og dens etterliv
Monograph
Inger Skjelsbæk (2024)
Children Born of War: Considerations and concerns
Children Born of War: Considerations and concerns
Conference paper
Inger Skjelsbæk (2024)
Feminist foreign policy: Nordic hegemony in decline?
Feminist foreign policy: Nordic hegemony in decline?
Conference paper
Inger Skjelsbæk et al. (2023)
Dempet statsfeminist? Nasjonale tradisjoner og globale utviklingstrekk i Søreides periode som utenriksminister
Dempet statsfeminist? Nasjonale tradisjoner og globale utviklingstrekk i Søreides periode som utenriksminister
Journal article in Internasjonal Politikk
Sindre Bæk & Inger Skjelsbæk (2023)
The Women, Peace, and Security Norms as seen by Norwegian Male Officers
The Women, Peace, and Security Norms as seen by Norwegian Male Officers
Journal article in Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
Teuta Kukleci (2021)
The "Low Road": Ethnic Division and Bosnian Newspaper Coverage of Landmark Cases of Sexual Violence at the ICTY
The "Low Road": Ethnic Division and Bosnian Newspaper Coverage of Landmark Cases of Sexual Violence at the ICTY
Master thesis
Latest news
All news
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2025
PRIO partners in major European Research Council project on the conduct of war
PRIO partners in major European Research Council project on the conduct of war
PRIO is proud to announce its partnership in a major new European Research Council-funded research initiative.
Friday, 6 Jun 2025
PRIO Marks Leadership Transition with event on “Peace Under Pressure”
PRIO Marks Leadership Transition with event on “Peace Under Pressure”
PRIO welcomed guests for a special event this week, marking the transition of leadership from outgoing Director Henrik Urdal to incoming Director Nina Græger.
Friday, 1 Nov 2024
Inger Skjelsbæk nominated for Brageprisen 2024
Inger Skjelsbæk nominated for Brageprisen 2024
PRIO Research Professor Inger Skjelsbæk has been nominated for the prestigious Norwegian book award ‘Brageprisen 2024’ for her non-fiction book Sarajevos roser. Krigen i Bosnia og dens etterliv [Sarajevo Rose: The war in Bosnia and its aftermath].
Thursday, 6 Jun 2024
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
What is the legacy of Rwanda and other atrocity crimes, and how are sexual and gender-based crimes addressed in today’s conflicts? The public was invited to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda genocide.
Friday, 31 May 2024
PhD course on Gender, Peace and Conflict successfully convened
PhD course on Gender, Peace and Conflict successfully convened
On 29-31 May, the GPS Centre, in collaboration with the NORHED II project, hosted doctoral candidates from all over the world at the PhD-level course "Gender, Peace and Conflict".
Thursday, 15 Feb 2024
Call for PhD-Level Course: Gender, Peace and Conflict
Call for PhD-Level Course: Gender, Peace and Conflict
PRIO invites applications for this course on Gender, Peace and Conflict which will be taught in person in Oslo in May 2024. The application deadline is 15 March.
Wednesday, 22 Feb 2023
Norwegian Foreign Minister Reviewed by PRIO Researchers
Norwegian Foreign Minister Reviewed by PRIO Researchers
Ine Eriksen Søreide’s tenure as Norway’s Foreign Minister between 2017 and 2021 was reviewed by PRIO researchers Torunn L.
Sunday, 19 Feb 2023
Ikke glem barna født av krigsvolden i Ukraina (Don’t Forget the Children Born of War in Ukraine)
Ikke glem barna født av krigsvolden i Ukraina (Don’t Forget the Children Born of War in Ukraine)
PRIO GPS Centre Research Professor Inger Skjelsbæk and UiO Research Fellow Johanne Rokke Elvebakken have published an op.
Wednesday, 28 Sep 2022
Ingrid Aune's Memorial Prize Awarded to Inger Skjelsbæk
Ingrid Aune's Memorial Prize Awarded to Inger Skjelsbæk
Inger Skjelsbæk will receive the Ingrid Aune memorial prize 2022 for her research on conflict-related sexual violence.
Thursday, 2 Jun 2022
PRIO and STK Host the Launch of the EuroWARCHILD Project
PRIO and STK Host the Launch of the EuroWARCHILD Project
On 1 June, the PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security, and the University of Oslo's Centre for Gender Research (STK) hosted the launch of the EuroWARCHILD project.
Latest events
All events
Tuesday, 8 Oct 2024 17:00–19:00 UTC+02
Boklansering: «Sarajevos roser: Krigen i Bosnia og dens etterliv»
Boklansering: «Sarajevos roser: Krigen i Bosnia og dens etterliv»
Thursday, 6 Jun 2024 09:00–11:00 UTC+02
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
Wednesday, 6 Dec 2023 18:00–20:00 UTC+01
Children of the Enemy – Film Seminar
Children of the Enemy – Film Seminar
1–3 Nov 2023
The Missing Peace Global Symposium on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
The Missing Peace Global Symposium on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Tuesday, 22 Aug 2023 08:30–09:45 UTC+02
Al-Hol: Flyktning-, integrerings- eller fangeleir?
Al-Hol: Flyktning-, integrerings- eller fangeleir?
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2023 09:00–10:00 UTC+02
Turning Resolutions Into Results: Ending Cycles of Sexual Violence in Conflict
Turning Resolutions Into Results: Ending Cycles of Sexual Violence in Conflict
Wednesday, 1 Jun 2022 09:30–12:30 UTC+02
What Does It Mean to Be a Child Born of War?
What Does It Mean to Be a Child Born of War?
Wednesday, 29 Sep 2021 18:00–21:00 UTC+02
How Do We Research War and Peace?
How Do We Research War and Peace?
1–29 Jul 2021
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Taking Stock of Research and Policy
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Taking Stock of Research and Policy
Monday, 9 Nov 2020 09:00–16:00 UTC+01
Building on 20 Years of Women, Peace and Security: The Norwegian National Commemoration of UN Security Council Resolution 1325
Building on 20 Years of Women, Peace and Security: The Norwegian National Commemoration of UN Security Council Resolution 1325
Latest comments
All comments
Thursday, 12 Dec 2024
We Need to Talk About Children Born of War
We Need to Talk About Children Born of War
Thursday, 23 Feb 2023
Don’t Forget the Children Born of War in Ukraine
Don’t Forget the Children Born of War in Ukraine
Friday, 1 Apr 2022
Women’s War
Women’s War
Sunday, 6 Mar 2022
Children Born of War Should be More Than an Afterthought
Children Born of War Should be More Than an Afterthought
Wednesday, 30 Dec 2020
Bosnia and Herzegovina – a Failed State 25 Years After the Peace Accords
Bosnia and Herzegovina – a Failed State 25 Years After the Peace Accords
Thursday, 12 Mar 2020
Gender and Preventing Violent Extremism
Gender and Preventing Violent Extremism
Monday, 17 Dec 2018
Children Born of War Are Not the Enemy. How Can They Be Integrated into Society?
Children Born of War Are Not the Enemy. How Can They Be Integrated into Society?
Friday, 5 Oct 2018
Nobel Peace Prize to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad
Nobel Peace Prize to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad
Monday, 21 Dec 2015
Bosnia 20 Years On
Bosnia 20 Years On
Friday, 10 Jul 2015
The Genocide in Srebrenica
The Genocide in Srebrenica
Recorded event
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
Recorded event
Al-Hol: Flyktning-, integrerings- eller fangeleir?
Al-Hol: Flyktning-, integrerings- eller fangeleir?
Recorded event
What Does It Mean to Be a Child Born of War?
What Does It Mean to Be a Child Born of War?
Recorded event
Building on 20 Years of Women, Peace and Security: The Norwegian National Commemoration of UN Security Council Resolution 1325
Building on 20 Years of Women, Peace and Security: The Norwegian National Commemoration of UN Security Council Resolution 1325
Recorded event
COVID-19 and Conflict-related Sexual Violence: Relationships & Implications
COVID-19 and Conflict-related Sexual Violence: Relationships & Implications
In the media
January 2025
PRIO researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was interviewed about her EuroWARCHILD project in an article about Norway’s war children, by the Norwegian research magazine Forskning.no
December 2024
In an epiosde of the Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal podcast, entitled 'Masculinity and Femininity in Wartime', PRIO Research Professor Inger Skjelsbæk was interviewed on the topic of masculinity, femininity and their roles in mass violence – including wartime sexual violence.
October 2024
PRIO Research Professor Inger Skjelsbæk was interviewed on conflict-related sexual violence in relation to the war in Ukraine in a podcast epiosde produced by journalist Daria Zakharova-FL for Radio Free Europe Russia.
December 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was quoted in an article on the possible use of rape as a weapon of war by Hamas, in the Norwegian newspaper Vårt Land.
October 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk’s quote that ‘peace is more than the absence of war’ was mentioned in an article about the Israel-Palestine crisis, by the website News Diary Online.
September 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was mentioned as being a 2022 recipient of the Ingrid Aune commemoration award, by the Norwegian radio station, Radio Haugaland. Fagbladet, Samtiden and Head Topics.
March 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was mentioned in an article on post-soviet countries reflecting on Russia’s role in their histories on the news site, Global Voices.
March 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was quoted in an interview about Norway’s former foreign Minister, by the Canadian news site, G-Lab.
February 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk co-authored an opinion piece on conflict-related sexual violence in relation to the war in Ukraine that was published by Aftenposten, and PRIO Blogs.
PRIO started listing media appearances on profiles in 2023. Earlier media appearances may not be listed.
