Torunn L. Tryggestad

Deputy Director

Torunn L. Tryggestad
Additional position(s):
Director of the PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security

Email: torunn@prio.org
Mobile phone: +47 97 65 14 68
Twitter: @TLTryggestad

Research Interests

  • Gender and inclusive mediation processes.
  • The UN and the gendered dimensions of conflict resolution, conflict management and peacebuilding.
  • UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and implementation policies at the global, regional and national levels.
  • The emergence and diffusion of norms, with special emphasis on the normative framework of 'women, peace and security'.
  • The inter-play between transnational networks of civil society organizations, the UN system and UN member states in policy development.
  • Women in armed forces.

Background

​Language​​​ Skills

Norwegian (mo​ther tongue), English (fluent), German (basic).

Understand and communica​te well in Scandinavian languages (Danish and Swedish). ​

Work Exper​ience 

2017- : Deputy Director at PRIO

2015- : Director of the PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security, Peace Research Institute Oslo, PRIO. 

2014- : Senior Researcher, PRIO.

2006-2015: Researcher and Project Manager, The Gender, Conflict and Peacebuilding Project, PRIO

2005-2009: Associated researcher, Liberal Peace and the Ethics of War Project, PRIO.

December 2004 - April 2005: Acting director of the Department for International Politics, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). 

January 2004-2005: Researcher and co-ordinator of the UN programme on Peacekeeping and Multinational Operations, NUPI. 

February-December 2003: Adviser, UN Section, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1995-2003: Co-ordinator and later director of The Training for Peace in Southern Africa Project, NUPI.

February-May 1995: Research Assistant at the UN Programme, NUPI. 

1994-1995: Student scholarship, UN Programme on Peacekeeping and Multinational Operations, NUPI.

Board an​​d Expert Group Membership

2016- : Core Group member of the NATO Civil Society Advisory Panel (CSAP)

2015- : Member of the UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund Advisory Group

2015- : Member of the board, the United Nations Association of Norway

2014: Member of the independent committee for the Student Peace Prize 2015, a prize which is awarded by Norwegian students biannually, as part of the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFIT).

2013- : Member of the Union Board at PRIO (Forskerforbundet)

2003- : Member of the advisory board of the United Nations Association of Norway, Section East.

Committee M​embership 

2010-2013: Member of the Foreign Ministry Advisory Committee on Security Policy (Sikkerhetspolitisk utvalg)​

Network​ing Activities 

2009: Co-founder of the Women and Security (WaS) Network – a network comprising of women from academia, public sector (ministries such as Foreign Affairs and Defence), NGOs and public information professionals working with/on defence, security and foreign policy issues.  

2009- : Initiated and coordinates the Research Network on Gender, Peace and Security, comprising of approximately 50 researchers from various research institutions in Norway. Meets twice a year to discuss ongoing and new research projects/ideas, exchange information and accommodate research collaboration. 

Educati​​​on 

2014: Dr. Polit. Degree in Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo.   

1995: Master's Degree in Political Science (cand. polit.), University of Oslo.

1992: Bachelor Degree (in political science, social anthropology and examen philosophy), University of Oslo.

1989-1990: One year course in development studies, Agder Regional College, Kristiansand.

1988-1990: One year course in political science, Molder Regional College.

Research Groups

Full member:

PRIO Departments

Current
Historical

PRIO Projects

Ongoing:
Finished:

Events

PRIO started tracking events online in 2007. This listing is not complete. Past events may be mentioned in our news archive.

Recent Publications

All Publications

Peer-reviewed Journal Article

Skjelsbæk, Inger & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2020) Pro-gender Norms in Norwegian Peace Engagement: Balancing Experiences, Values, and Interests, Foreign Policy Analysis. DOI: 10.1093/fpa/orz028.
Skjelsbæk, Inger & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2019) Likestilling og Norges fredsengasjement - en balansekunst, Tidsskrift for kjønnsforskning 43(4).
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2015) FN som normspreder: Kvinner, fred og sikkerhet, Internasjonal Politikk 73(2): 275–284.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2014) State Feminism Going Global: Norway on the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, Cooperation and Conflict 49(4): 464–482.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2010) The UN Peacebuilding Commission and Gender: A Case of Norm Reinforcement, International Peacekeeping 17(2): 159–171.
Skjelsbæk, Inger & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2009) Women in the Norwegian Armed Forces. Gender Equality or Operational Imperative?, Minerva Journal of Women and War 3(2): 34–51.

PhD Thesis

Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2014) International Norms and Political Change: 'Women, Peace and Security' and the UN Security Agenda. PhD thesis, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science, University of Oslo, Oslo.

Book Chapter

Skjelsbæk, Inger & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2021) Protecting the brand? The hesitant incorporation of gender equality in the peace nation, in Larsen, Eirinn; Sigrun Marie Moss; & Inger Skjelsbæk, eds, Gender Equality and Nation Branding in the Nordic Region. London: Routledge (113–133).
Skjelsbæk, Inger & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2019) Donor States Delivering on WPS: The Case of Norway, in Davies, Sara; & Jacqui True, eds, The Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace, and Security. Oxford: Oxford University Press (516–527).
Kolås, Åshild & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2017) Introduction: Women, Peace and Security in Review, in Åshild Kolås, ed., Women, Peace and Security: from Civil War to Post-Conflict Reconstruction. Abingdon: Routledge (1-8).
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2017) Negotiations at the UN: The Case of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, in Aggestam, Karin; & Ann E. Towns, eds, Gendering Diplomacy and International Negotiation. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan (239–258).
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2016) The gender(ed) impact of the Peacebuilding Architecture, in de Coning, Cedric; & Eli Stamnes, eds, UN Peacebuilding Architecture. the first 10 years. London and New York: Routledge (97–108).
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2014) FNs sikkerhetsrådsresolusjon 1325 om kvinner, fred og sikkerhet, in Gender i Forsvaret. Fra teorit til praksis. Oslo: abstrakt forlag (95–124).
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2008) Kvinner, fred og sikkerhet - en ny dagsorden i FN [Women, Peace and Security - A New UN Agenda], in Skjeie, Hege; Inger Skjelsbæk; & Torunn L. Tryggestad, eds, Kjønn, krig, konflikt. Oslo, Norway: PAX (138–152).

Edited Volume

Skjelsbæk, Inger; Hege Skjeie; & Torunn L. Tryggestad, eds, (2008) Kjønn, Krig og Konflikt [Gender, War, Conflict]. Oslo, Norway: PAX.
Olsson, Louise; & Torunn L. Tryggestad, eds, (2001) Women and International Peacekeeping. London & Portland: Frank Cass Publishers. Cass Series on Peacekeeping.
Karamé, Kari; & Torunn L. Tryggestad, eds, (2000) Gender Perspectives on Peace and Conflict Studies. Oslo: NUPI & PRIO.

Popular Article

Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Melanne Verveer (2017) Hvordan har de det, egentlig? [How are women doing, really?], Dagsavisen, 13 December.
Hansen, Julie Marie; Kristin Lund; Laura Mitchell; Rita Sandberg; Elisabeth Slåttum; Torunn L. Tryggestad & Hilde Salvesen (2017) “No backsliding” on Women’s Inclusion in Peace Mediation, PRIO Blogs, 27 October.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2011) Ingen fred utan kvinner [No Peace Without Women], Nye Meninger, 19 January.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2009) FNs leder har betydning [Who Heads the UN makes a Difference], Dagsavisen, 25 September.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2008) Ahtisaari var en pionér for kvinnene [Ahtisaari was a Pioneer for the Women], Dagsavisen, 10 December.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2007) Likestilt til å delta [Equal Right of Participation], Dagbladet, 19 August.
Hernes, Helga; Inger Skjelsbæk & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2006) Fred og fattigdom [Peace and Poverty], Dagbladet, 10 December.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2006) Tiden neppe inne for en kvinne [Time is Hardly Ripe for a Woman], Dagsavisen, 16 July.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Inger Skjelsbæk (2005) Det kvinnelige sikkerhetsbegrep [The Female Concept of Security], Morgenbladet, 2 December.

PRIO Policy Brief

Stai, Nora Kristine & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2022) One Year On: Norway and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the UN Security Council, GPS Policy Brief, 4. Oslo: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2016) The Women, Peace and Security Agenda – 15 Years On, GPS Policy Brief, 1. Oslo: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2010) The UN Peacebuilding Commission and Women: What Role for Norway?, PRIO Policy Brief, 12. Oslo: PRIO.

PRIO Paper

Olsson, Louise; Angela Muvumba Sellström; Patty Chang; Torunn L. Tryggestad; Peter Wallensteen & Ingebjørg Finnbakk (2021) Sweden as an Elected Member of the UN Security Council: Promoting Women, Peace and Security as Core Council Business, 2017–18, PRIO Paper. Oslo: PRIO.

Newsletter

Lorentzen, Jenny; Torunn L. Tryggestad & Julie Marie Hansen (2015) Somali Women’s Civic Engagement: Past, Present and Future, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2015: PRIO.
Lorentzen, Jenny; Torunn L. Tryggestad & Julie Marie Hansen (2015) Women’s Legal Mobilisation in a Violent Context: Lessons from internally displaced women’s organisations in Colombia, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2015: PRIO.
Lorentzen, Jenny & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2014) Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2014: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2014) The Role and Relevance of Gender in Peace Mediation, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2014: PRIO.
Lorentzen, Jenny & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2014) First Woman Appointed as UN Force Commander, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2014: PRIO.
Lorentzen, Jenny & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2014) Symposium on Women’s Rights and Empowerment in Afghanistan, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2014: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2013) The Missing Peace Symposium 2013, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2013: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2013) Launch of New Initiative: Gender and Mediation Seminar, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2013: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2013) New Project at PRIO on National Action Plans, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2013: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2013) Women, Power and Politics: The Road to Sustainable Democracy, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2013: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2013) Elimination and Prevention of all Forms of Violence against Women and Girls, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2013: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2012) The Political Psychology of War Rape, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2012: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2012) Engaging Men for Women's Empowerment, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2012: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2012) Gender, Empowerment and Conflict in South Asia, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2012: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Jenny Lorentzen (2012) Claims About Global Decline in Sexual Violence Spark Debate, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2012: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2011) Nobel Days in Oslo, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2011: PRIO.
Wallacher, Hilde & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2011) UN Special Rapporteur Margot Wallström Visits PRIO, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2011: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Hilde Wallacher (2011) New Strategic Plan on Women, Peace and Security launched by Norwegian MFA, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2011: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Suk Chun (2010) 'Women's Inclusion Has Become a Global Security Imperative', PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2010: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Suk Chun (2010) 'Does Affirmative Action Make a Change?', PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2010: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Suk Chun (2010) 'Women Count for Peace', PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2010: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Suk Chun (2010) Men Must Get Involved in Fighting Violence Against Women, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2010: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Suk Chun (2010) 'We Want Strong Links to Civil Society', PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2010: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. & Suk Chun (2010) Mythbusting: Are Women the Main Victims of Armed Conflict?, PRIO Gender, Peace and Security Update, 2010: PRIO.

Book Review

Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2008) Review of The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations, in Internasjonal Politikk 66(2): 512–516.

Blog Posts

Украинские женщины участвуют в сопротивлении и должны участвовать в мирных переговорах: новые данные опросов

Posted by Ragnhild Nordås, Louise Olsson, Gudrun Østby & Torunn L. Tryggestad on Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Женщины – “неотъемлемая часть своей страны и её сопротивления”. С таким посланием Катерина Черепаха, президент организации “Ла Страда – Україна”, обратилась к миру в своём апрельском выступлении в Совете Безопасности ООН.. В своей речи она также подчеркнула возросшую незащищённость женщин и девочек в отношении угрозы похищения, пыток и убийства. Теперь ... Read more »

Українські жінки беруть участь в опорі і мають брати участь у мирних перемовинах: результати нового опитування

Posted by Ragnhild Nordås, Louise Olsson, Gudrun Østby & Torunn L. Tryggestad on Saturday, 30 April 2022

Жінки є «невід’ємною частиною країни та її опору» – з таким посланням звернулася до світу президент організації «Ла Страда-Україна» Kaтeринa Чeрeпaхa,  виступаючи перед Радою Безпеки ООН у квітні. У своєму виступі вона також підкреслила високу вразливість жінок і дівчат щодо загроз викрадення, катувань та вбивств. Тепер ми знаємо, що жінки ... Read more »

Ukrainian Women Engage in Resistance and Should Be in the Peace Talks: New Survey Evidence

Posted by Ragnhild Nordås, Louise Olsson, Gudrun Østby & Torunn L. Tryggestad on Friday, 29 April 2022

Women are an “integral part of her country and its resistance.” This was the message that Kateryna Cherepakha, President of the organization La Strada-Ukraine, communicated to the world when speaking before the UN Security Council in April. Her speech also highlighted increased vulnerability of women and girls to the threat ... Read more »

Children Born of War Should be More Than an Afterthought

Posted by Lina Stotz, Johanne Rokke Elvebakken, Ingvill Constanze Mochmann, Inger Skjelsbæk, Sunniva Árja Tobiasen & Torunn L. Tryggestad on Sunday, 6 March 2022

A recent UN report published by the Secretary General in late January is one of the first to focus exclusively on women and girls who become pregnant as a result of sexual violence in conflict and on children born of war. The term ‘children born of war’ refers to children born ... Read more »

Norway Promises to Increase Focus on “Women, Peace and Security”

Posted by Torunn L. Tryggestad & Johanne Rokken Elvebakken on Tuesday, 23 November 2021

On Thursday 21 October, the UN Security Council held its annual debate on “Women, Peace and Security” (WPS). Under Kenyan presidency, all the UN member states had the opportunity to give statements on this topic, which has been a permanent feature on the Council’s agenda ever since October 2000, when ... Read more »

"We need to build bridges": Project Leader Marianne Dahl and GPS Director Torunn L. Tryggestad on the Women, Peace and Security Index

Posted by Indigo Trigg-Hauger, Torunn L. Tryggestad & Marianne Dahl on Wednesday, 23 October 2019

The Women, Peace and Security Index is one of the most comprehensive measures of women’s well-being around the world. This collaboration between PRIO and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) goes back to 2016. Funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Index ranks countries based ... Read more »

Children Born of War Are Not the Enemy. How Can They Be Integrated into Society?

Posted by Inger Skjelsbæk, Torunn L. Tryggestad & Ingvill C. Mochmann on Monday, 17 December 2018

This year, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded jointly to the Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and the Iraqi human rights activist, and witness and survivor of human-trafficking, Nadia Murad. These two voices are an extremely important contribution to ongoing efforts to combat war-related sexual violence. We are among the ... Read more »

The Feminist Foreign Policy Agenda: Resolution 1325’s Legacy

Posted by Torunn L. Tryggestad on Friday, 26 October 2018

On 25 October, the UN Security Council held its yearly meeting on women, peace and security. It has been 18 years since the Security Council adopted resolution 1325, which called on the UN and the international community to include women and their rights and interests in work toward peace and ... Read more »

No Peace Without Women!

Posted by Aseem Andrews & Torunn L. Tryggestad on Thursday, 8 March 2018

The recent #MeToo campaign was a watershed moment that has brought global attention to the issue of violence against women and has shown us how women continue to be objects of exploitation. Violence is manifested in so many different ways, from intimate partner violence, domestic violence, rape, honour killing to ... Read more »

“No backsliding” on Women’s Inclusion in Peace Mediation

Posted by Julie Marie Hansen, Kristin Lund, Laura Mitchell, Hilde Salvesen, Rita Sandberg, Elisabeth Slåttum & Torunn L. Tryggestad on Friday, 27 October 2017

Last week, Norway made history with Ine Eriksen Søreide becoming the country’s first female foreign minister. Even in relatively gender-equal countries like Norway it is still rare to find women holding top positions in the so-called “hard issue” sectors of foreign affairs and peace and security. Barriers to the full ... Read more »

The Women, Peace and Security Agenda - 15 Years On

Posted by Torunn L. Tryggestad on Monday, 15 February 2016

The Global Study on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. In the context of the UN and global governance, 2015 was truly ‘a year of reviews’. The Global Study on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325) was one of ... Read more »

The Next UN Secretary-General: Everything Points Towards a Woman

Posted by Torunn L. Tryggestad on Friday, 25 September 2015

The High Level week of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly opened this week. Important issues will be debated and decisions made, which in turn will establish guidelines for the UN’s image and operations in the coming years. Next year’s election of a new Secretary-General is lurking in ... Read more »

Peace Processes Need Women

Posted by Kristian Berg Harpviken & Torunn L. Tryggestad on Tuesday, 18 November 2014

International peace processes are dominated by men and men’s perspectives. In general the approaches used have changed little in many decades. The focus is invariably on bringing the conflicting parties to the negotiating table, where their claims to power and strategic positions are renegotiated and defined. Amnesties for brutal attacks ... Read more »

Related pages