The Courage to Say No: Understanding Conscientious Objection

Hate Speech and Online Violence: How the internet fuels conflict and polarisation

“The strategy is to stop believing that tech companies can regulate or will regulate themselves. They will not. So what we're fighting for is for robust regulations at the international level.” Rasha Abdul Rahim, People Vs Big Tech.  What started out as a space for connecting people, sharing experiences, and building online communities has now turned into a breeding ground for disinformation, division, and, in some cases, real-world harm.   In this episode, we explore how the internet exacerbates societal polarisation and online violence - from the rise of clickbait and conspiracy theories to the amplification of hate speech. We hear from Rasha Abdul Rahim, Interim Executive Director of People Vs Big Tech, and Odanga Madung, co-founder of Odipo Dev, on why profit often outweighs public safety when it comes to big tech companies, how women and people of colour are disproportionately impacted by online hate, and the urgent action needed to address online violence.  Our guests are: * Rasha Abdul Rahim [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasha-abdul-rahim-70115a174/?originalSubdomain=uk], Interim Executive Director of People Vs Big Tech and former Director of Amnesty Tech  * Odanga Madung [https://www.linkedin.com/in/odanga-madung/], co-founder of Odipo Dev, a data Consultancy in Nairobi Your hosts are:  * Dean Peacock [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-peacock-6614a913/], Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism * Reem Abbas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reem-abbas-76927a17/?locale=ar_AE], 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 [https://www.wilpf.org/] and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here [https://www.wilpf.org/mobilising-men-for-feminist-peace/discover/].

Selling Guns, Exploiting Gender: Holding Firearm Manufacturers Accountable

“It is not hunting culture. It is not personal protection culture. It is not safety culture. It is killing culture.” - Nicole Hockley Every day in America, 12 children die from gun violence, and another 32 are injured. These alarming statistics are fueled by exploitative marketing by gun manufacturers, who increasingly target children and men through video games, social media, and other channels. The ripple effect of U.S. gun culture and powerful lobbying groups reaches far beyond its borders, influencing policies and fueling gun violence globally, particularly through firearm trafficking. In this episode, we expose the troubling strategies used by the gun industry to promote firearms to young people. We hear from leading experts involved in legal cases and gun control advocacy, including a mother who tragically lost her child in a school shooting. We also explore potential advocacy and regulatory solutions to curb harmful marketing practices, and consider lessons from countries like Brazil, with regard to efforts in curbing gun acquisition and exploitative gun industry marketing through strategic litigation and public policy reforms. Our guests are: * Jonathan Lowy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanlowy/] - Founder & President, Global Action on Gun Violence * Natália Pollachi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nat%C3%A1lia-pollachi-75156326/] - Project Manager, Instituto Sou da Paz * Nicole Hockley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehockley/] - co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Your hosts are:  * Dean Peacock [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-peacock-6614a913/], Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism * Tessa Cerisier [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessacerisier/], Human Rights Programme Senior Advisor at WILPF  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 [https://www.wilpf.org/] and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here [https://www.wilpf.org/mobilising-men-for-feminist-peace/discover/].

In Pursuit of Feminist Peace: Understanding Militarised Masculinities | INTGenderChampions Crossover Episode

This episode is a collaboration with the International Gender Champions (IGC) Podcast. In this episode we zoom in on the need to address militarised masculinities in working towards feminist peace. Featuring four global experts and leaders, we explore how militarised masculinities are constructed, discuss the dangers of gender-exploitative marketing of weapons, and investigate the links between small arms proliferation and violent masculinities, and the entertainment industry.  We want to thank Hannah Reinl for interviewing the MMFP co-hosts, Dean Peacock and Reem Abbas in this episode.  Guests:  * Madeleine Rees, former Secretary-General of WILPF  * Reem Abbas, feminist activist, researcher and writer and Communications Coordinator at WILPF's Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace programme   * Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise  * Dean Peacock, Director of WILPF's Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace programme  For the full transcript, go to the website [https://genderchampions.com/news/igc-podcast-in-pursuit-of-feminist-peace-understanding-militarised-masculinities] of the IGC Podcast.  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 [https://www.wilpf.org/] and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here [https://www.wilpf.org/mobilising-men-for-feminist-peace/discover/].

The Courage to Say No: Understanding Conscientious Objection

“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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-peacock-6614a913/], Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism * Reem Abbas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reem-abbas-76927a17/?locale=ar_AE], 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 [https://www.wilpf.org/] and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here [https://www.wilpf.org/mobilising-men-for-feminist-peace/discover/].

How the MENA region has become a hotspot for mercenaries

“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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bassam-alahmad-aa16a45b?originalSubdomain=fr], co-Founder & Executive Director of Syrians for Truth and Justice  * Dr Sorcha MacLeod [https://jura.ku.dk/english/staff/research/?pure=en/persons/664378], Associate Professor in the Centre for Private Governance, Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen Your hosts are:  * Dean Peacock [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-peacock-6614a913/], Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism * Reem Abbas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reem-abbas-76927a17/?locale=ar_AE], 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 [https://www.wilpf.org/] and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here [https://www.wilpf.org/mobilising-men-for-feminist-peace/discover/].