Presenting the human security agenda as a policy response to the changing nature of violent conflicts and war, this collection traces its evolution in relation to conflicts in different contexts (Burma, India, Palestine, Canada, East Timor, Guatemala, Peru and African countries) and from the perspective of gender, addresses initiatives for peace with justice. Cases are analysed when the human security agenda, including UNSC resolution 1325, was in its initial phase and point to both the weakness of the concept and the unexpected direction it has taken.

Rosalind Boyd is an independent researcher, writer and lecturer based in Montreal and affiliated with McGill University since 1968. She was formerly (the only woman) Director of McGill's Centre for Developing-Area Studies (CDAS), Director/principal investigator of the CDAS program on Gender and Human Security, Special Advisor on International Research to McGill's Vice-Principal (Research and International Relations) and founding Editor of the journal Labour, Capital and Society. Her research and publications focus primarily on conflict situations and also on gender, labour, globalization, human rights, migration, refugees, democracy and environmental health. She has a doctorate of philosophy (PhD in Humanities) from Concordia University, Montreal and speaks English and French with some proficiency in Spanish, Urdu and Yoruba.

Chapter 1 Locating Gender in Approaches to Human Security: An Introduction, Rosalind Boyd; Part I Critical Debates on Human Security and UNSCR 1325; Chapter 1a Please Leave Your Weapons at the Door: Re-Gendering Human Security from Human Security Now to Disarmament, Kristin Valasek; Chapter 2 UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security: Perspectives on its Implementation by Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, Gunilla Lindestam de Vries; Part II Conflict and Insecurity: Women's Testimonies; Chapter 3 Challenges and Risks in Documenting State Sexual Violence in Burma, Nang Lao Liang Won, Rita Morbia, Christine Harmston; Chapter 4 Women's Security in a Globalized World: Lessons from Gujarat, India, Dolores Chew; Chapter 5 The Palestinian Women's Sector and the Promotion of Human Security, Manal A. Jamal; Chapter 6 No Sanctuary for Asylum-Seekers: The Impact of Canada's Refugee Policies on South Asian Women Claimants in Quebec, Laila Malik, Shree Mulay; Part III Interrogating the Initiatives for Lasting Peace and Justice; Chapter 7 Justice for Whom? Engendering Transitional Justice: The Case of East Timor, Corey Levine; Chapter 8 Reparations for Sexual and Reproductive Violence: Gender Justice and Human Security Challenges in Guatemala and Peru, Colleen Duggan, Claudia Paz y Paz Bailey, Julie Guillerot; Chapter 9 Human Security and the G-8 Africa Action Plan: What Provisions for Women and Children in Post-Conflict Communities?, J. Andrew Grant; Chapter 10 A Gendered Perspective on the Misuse and Proliferation of Small Arms/Firearms, Wendy Cukier, Amélie Baillargeon, Sarah Eagen; conclusion Conclusion, Rosalind Boyd;