On 05 March 2024, SHaME hosted its final online event, a book launch and panel discussion with editors Kimberly Theidon, Dyan Mazurana and Dipali Anumol from Tufts University for their new book, Challenging Conceptions: Children Born of Wartime Rape and Sexual Exploitation.

Worldwide, tens of thousands of children have been born because of wartime sexual violence. The Women Peace and Security Agenda focuses on women’s experiences, priorities, and roles in peacebuilding during and after war. Several Security Council Resolutions focus on sexual violence during conflict. Yet there is only passing mention of the full range of sexual and reproductive rights and freedoms of women such as pregnancy, abortion and forced maternity. Additionally, while there are important advances in international calls to action for children born of sexual violence in conflict, there is a dearth of in-depth and longitudinal research to inform these calls to action.

A global audience joined editors Kimberly Theidon, Dyan Mazurana and Dipali Anumol as they shared contemporary research findings and insights regarding the health and wellbeing of children born of wartime sexual violence, their mothers, fathers and broader communities. The book launch was chaired by SHaME's Dr Rhian Keyse, with presentations by Kimberly, Dyan and Dipali, followed by a discussion and audience Q&A.

Presentations:
• Life Cycles: Children Born of Wartime Rape Across Time and Space – Kimberly Theidon
• (In)visibility: Concealment, Disclosure, and the Question of Categories – Dyan Mazurana
• Transformations: Intergenerational Reconciliation and Justice – Dipali Anumol

We created a safeguarding statement for this event, which you may want to consult: https://shame.bbk.ac.uk/wp-content/up...

Find out more about The SHaME Project at https://shame.bbk.ac.uk/.