Gender and Security Sector Lab

The Gender and Security Sector Lab at Cornell University is a research lab, run by Dr. Sabrina Karim, aiming to enhance the security of vulnerable populations around the world by helping to create more gender-responsive security forces globally. Our three focus areas include increasing women’s participation, wellbeing, and retention in security forces globally, shifting the organizational culture of the security forces around the world to be more gender equitable, less violent, and more responsive to sexual and gender-based violence, and facilitating improved interactions between community members and security force personnel so that vulnerable populations, such as women, feel that the security forces are responsive to their needs. We achieve these goals through rigorous research published in top academic journals and presses, unique partnerships that facilitate a direct research to policy pipeline, consulting, advising, and training, and advocacy through (social) media and events.