I want to pass this along to my fellow female contractors. I got this email today and have talked with Audrey myself already. I you know someone or are a female contractor, please pass this along to them.
Thanks!!!
 
file - Women Contractors
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Hello, again,

I am following up to see if you had a chance to ask any of the women contractors in your network if they would be willing to chat with me for a few.   I have provided background information on our project below.  Just to clarify, IPOA and POI are advocates for contractors in the private sector and this project is advocating for women contractors.  Please forward this to any of your contacts that might be interested in speaking with me or anyone who knows anyone who might be interested in speaking with me.  No one will be identified in this report and there will be no identifying characteristics included in the report.  This is an incredibly important cutting edge study.  Thank you so much for your help.   

Background

Information regarding women in the military or women in peacekeeping operations is either relatively accessible or is currently under study. However, there is yet to be a research project undertaken on women as private contractors in conflict and post conflict settings – until now.

The Peace Operations Institute (POI) (http://ipoaonline.org/journal/index.php) has recently spearheaded a project called Women as International Contractors in Conflict and Post Conflict Settings. POI is the only research organization in the world with the primary objective of examining the role of the private sector in peace and stability operations.

Established in late 2006 by the International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) (www.ipoaonline.org), POI takes a new approach to peacekeeping by encouraging innovative collaboration between all the relevant stakeholders, including government, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector firms.

Women as International Contractors in Conflict and Post Conflict Settings

Before launching this cutting edge study, the only exposure women have received in the media in this context is that of a grieving mother, daughter or wife of a fallen contractor. Or, the media have focused on the use of female contracted interrogators in Guantanamo Bay “using sexual tactics to weaken Muslim detainees.”

This report explores a number of key questions. For example, in what spaces do women contractors operate within conflict and post-conflict areas of operation? The purpose of this report is not only to give female contractors more visibility. As is the nascent operational belief within the UN system since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), there should be an operational belief within the private sector that gender mainstreaming has a strategic and tactical significance which should be incorporated in the overall industry outlook.

We are currently seeking private companies operating in conflict and post conflict settings to participate in this survey. We are seeking interviewees in management and interviewees who have been in the field as a contractor in the past few years or are currently contractors in the field who will contribute their experiences to this project.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you so much,

Audrey Roberts

A U D R E Y   R O B E R T S

R E S E A R C H   A S S O C I A T E

INTERNATIONAL PEACE OPERATIONS ASSOCIATION

1900 L STREET, NW

SUITE 320

WASHINGTON, DC 20036

( O ) +1 202.464.0721

( F ) +1 202.464.0726

( E ) AROBERTS@IPOAONLINE.ORG

( W ) WWW. face=Verdana size=2>IPOAONLINE.ORG