International Workshop on Militarised Masculinities and Human Rights Investigations

What role do militarized masculinities play in human rights violations, and how can they be more effectively addressed in international human rights investigations? These questions were at the centre of the two-day policy workshop “Militarised Masculinities and Human Rights Investigations”, held in Geneva in early September. The workshop brought together representatives from various UN entities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), human rights investigators, and members of the Colombian Truth Commission to discuss challenges and share experiences.

IFSH researcher and co-organiser Dr Philipp Schulz also participated in the workshop and presented his recently published policy report “Militarised Masculinities and Human Rights Investigations”. In his report, he examines how militarised notions of masculinity contribute to violence, human rights violations and impunity, and how they can be more systematically considered in international human rights investigations. He demonstrates how fact-finding missions and commissions of inquiry can analyse militarised masculinities as structural causes of and enabling conditions for violence. In addition, the report provides concrete recommendations for action and practical guiding questions. Ultimately, the report aims to strengthen the capacity of human rights investigations to address the root causes of violence, thereby contributing to accountability and helping prevent future violations.

The workshop was co-organized by the NGO Impunity Watch and Dr Philipp Schulz.