“I had to be under special advocacy and that caused a huge psychological impact. For a long time I thought I wouldn’t make it because this is one of the countries where human rights defenders are being killed.” ~Alejandro Parra Macías

Conscientious objection - the refusal to participate in military service based on personal moral, ethical, or religious beliefs - is nothing new, but with increased awareness of human rights, changing attitudes toward military service, and heightened global conflicts that provoke moral and ethical concerns, conscientious objection is becoming more prevalent.

In this episode, we learn more about what conscientious objection is, the enormous challenges many individuals face when it comes to evading military conscription - plus, we hear the fascinating stories of two conscientious objectors who, against all odds, evaded fighting on the front line.

Our guests are:

• Jeff Paterson - a former marine turned conscientious objector from the US

• Alejandro Parra Macías, Co-founder of the Collective Action of Conscientious Objectors (ACOOC) in Colombia

• Sofia Zelenkevich, coordinator for the Get lost project

Your hosts are:

• Dean Peacock, Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism

• Reem Abbas, Communications Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme

Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace is a podcast from WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in which we uncover the transformative power of feminist peace and explore how men can be active proponents of achieving gender equality and peace.

For more resources and information, visit wilpf.org and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here.

“There is a huge accountability void when it comes to these kinds of actors… It's very difficult because states haven't implemented the legal frameworks at the national level.”

The Middle East and North Africa region is a hotspot for mercenaries. This is partly due to the many conflicts in the region which attract them, coupled with the fact that mercenaries are cheap and efficient.

In this episode we discuss the history of mercenaries in the Middle East and how these groups have continued to rise in Syria, the differing reception mercenaries receive once they return home from armed conflict and what communities and organisations are doing to discourage people from joining mercenary groups. We also consider the role mercenaries will play in the MENA region going forward.

Our guests are:

• Bassam Al-Ahmad, co-Founder & Executive Director of Syrians for Truth and Justice
• Dr Sorcha MacLeod, Associate Professor in the Centre for Private Governance, Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen

Your hosts are:

• Dean Peacock, Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism
• Reem Abbas, Communications Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme

Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace is a podcast from WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in which we uncover the transformative power of feminist peace and explore how men can be active proponents of achieving gender equality and peace.
For more resources and information, visit wilpf.org and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here.

“Whenever we see a presence of mercenaries in an armed conflict, we see that armed conflict is more intense in combat, and it's very likely going to last longer.” - Jelena Aparac

It’s no secret that both governments and opposition groups are paying soldiers or former soldiers to fight in a foreign countries. These groups, known as mercenaries, are nothing new but they are becoming increasingly influential in ongoing conflicts. And the impact is far reaching.

In this episode we discuss how mercenary groups managed to infiltrate and cement themselves in politically and economically unstable countries in the Sahel region. What recruitment is like in these groups, why people in the area join them, and what impact the militarisation of society has on society and gender roles.

Our guests are:

• Jelena Aparac, former Chair of the UN Working Group on mercenaries
• Emadeddin Badi, an independent consultant on governance, post-conflict stabilisation, hybrid security structures and peacebuilding, and a fellow at the Atlantic Council
• Philip Obaji, an award-winning investigative journalist from Nigeria, documenting human rights abuses and exploitation by Russian paramilitaries deployed in West and Central Africa

Your hosts are:

• Dean Peacock, Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism
• Reem Abbas, Communications Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme

Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace is a podcast from WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in which we uncover the transformative power of feminist peace and explore how men can be active proponents of achieving gender equality and peace.

For more resources and information, visit wilpf.org and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here.

“The whole idea here is to form a nationalistic or an emotional connection to these weapon systems.” – Roger Stahl

The military uses a variety of tactics to spread its ideals and messages – one effective way is through the entertainment industry. From films to video games to ads, war will creep into your everyday life, whether you like it or not.

In this episode we discuss how the very opaque relationship between the military, weapons manufacturers and the entertainment industry works, how both parties benefit immensely from this connection, how it impacts society’s ideas of masculinity, and what we can all do to fight against it.

Our guest is Professor Roger Stahl, a renowned scholar specialising in the intersection of media, war, and politics.

Your hosts are:

• Dean Peacock, Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism
• Reem Abbas, Communications Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme.

Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace is a podcast from WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in which we uncover the transformative power of feminist peace and explore how men can be active proponents of achieving gender equality and peace.

For more resources and information, visit wilpf.org and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here.

“There is nothing automatic about becoming an adult male and soldiering. It’s a choice. And it’s a choice you don’t have to make.” - Cynthia Enloe

As militarisation is seeping more than ever into masculinities, we need to remember that this is not a ‘natural’ phenomenon, and that there are alternative choices everyone can make to fight this.

Welcome to Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace, a podcast from WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in which we uncover the transformative power of feminist peace and explore how men can be active proponents of achieving gender equality and peace.

In this episode we discuss why feminism is an important framework to understand the world, what role masculinities play in the military and militarised empires, what militarised masculinities look like in the US today, and why we need to fight for feminist issues even during war.

Our guest is Professor Cynthia Enloe, a world-renowned feminist theorist and writer known for her work on gender and militarism.

Your hosts are:

• Dean Peacock, Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism
• Reem Abbas, Communications Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme.

For more resources and information, visit wilpf.org and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here.

You can listen to the Think & Resist podcast here.

“When I was growing up, military training was obligatory in schools. As a 13 year old, I was able to assemble and disassemble a Kalashnikov blindfolded.”

As we delve into the complex world of militarised masculinities, hear the remarkable and powerful stories of three feminist peace activists, each working to dismantle the patriarchy.

In this episode we discuss why masculinity is so often intertwined with ideals of violence, power and control. How militarised masculinities have invaded every aspect of our lives. Why we must challenge the notion that this link between violence and manhood is inevitable. And how men can be allies to women and effectively feed into the feminist movement.

Our guests are:

Laila Alodaat, Deputy Secretary General at Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

Oswaldo Montoya, a life-long advocate for gender equality, children’s rights and non-violence and one of the founders of the Men's Group against Violence in Managua, Nicaragua. Currently with MenEngage Alliance.

David Duriesmith, a widely published pro-feminist activist and lecturer in Gender and Politics at The University of Sheffield

Your hosts are:

Dean Peacock, Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism

Reem Abbas, Communications Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme.

Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace is a podcast from WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in which we uncover the transformative power of feminist peace and explore how men can be active proponents of achieving gender equality and peace. For more resources and information, visit wilpf.org and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here.

You can listen to the Think & Resist podcast here.

“You cannot imagine every day that we wake up afraid of being arrested, or afraid to be shot or killed. There are no words to describe what occupation and colonisation does for the human soul.”

Despite the recent truce between Hamas and Israel, tensions still run high for residents of the Gaza strip. The tumultuous landscape, uncertainty and pending return of violence highlights just how urgent it is we find a lasting and sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Welcome to Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace, a podcast from WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in which we uncover the transformative power of feminist peace and explore how men can be active proponents of achieving gender equality and peace.

In this episode we explore the 75 year history of the conflict, which has seen Palestinians fight for years for the right to exist safely on their land. We’re also joined by two special guests living on the frontline of the violence. Izz Al-jabari and Randa Siniora share powerful stories and insights, and examine the role of activism and feminism in the conflict.

You will learn:

That we need to look at new ways to uphold the values of human rights and humanitarian law.

Why women shouldn’t be seen as helpless victims, but as an integral part of decision making during the conflict.

About the relationship between the patriarchy and colonialism, and how they feed into the oppression of women in occupied territories.

Our guests are:

Izz Al-jabari, activist and artist

Randa Siniora, Deputy Director General at Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling

Your hosts are:

Reem Abbas, Communications Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme.

Salma Kahale, MENA director at the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

For more resources and information, visit wilpf.org and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here.
You can listen to the Think & Resist podcast here.