This paper argues for a human security approach to women’s participation in nuclear security that stems from the larger Women, Peace and Security framework. This approach incorporates a gender perspective and a feminist lens that argues that women’s participation should extend beyond the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to include an understanding of the centrality of women’s role from a human security approach in peacebuilding participation, negotiation, and conflict prevention. The paper explores this nexus by reviewing Egypt and Jordan’s approach to Women, Peace and Security and argues for framing women’s inclusion within a human security perspective. The review revealed a need to shift the discourse beyond enhancing women’s roles in disarmament efforts, conflict prevention, and post-conflict peacebuilding toward addressing broader peace and sustainability issues. The paper also advocates adopting a feminist viewpoint that recognizes women’s varied contributions to security within complex societal and geopolitical landscapes.
Keywords: nuclear security; Women, Peace and Security Agenda; gender perspectives; human security; diversity, equity, and inclusion; peacebuilding; conflict resolution.
Nuclear security policies and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda are distinct yet interrelated policies that seek to enhance peace, security, and protection against terrorism. The paper conceptually brings together these policies to argue for a comprehensive approach to women’s participation in nuclear security that stems from the larger WPS framework, which incorporates a gender and human security perspective that prioritizes peace, harmony, and human dignity.
Nuclear security, as a general concept, is concerned with the “prevention of, detection of, and response to, criminal or intentional unauthorized acts involving or directed at nuclear material, other radioactive material, associated facilities, or associated activities” [1]. In recent years, there has been an increasing awareness of and interest in enhancing the representation and contributions of women in the nuclear security field.