Inger Skjelsbæk

Inger Skjelsbæk is a prominent Norwegian scholar who has made significant contributions to gender studies, peace research, and political psychology. Currently serving as Professor of Gender Studies at the University of Oslo and Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), she has established herself as a leading expert on conflict-related sexual violence and gender dynamics in war. After earning her PhD in social psychology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology with research on sexual violence during the Bosnian war, she held several leadership positions at PRIO, including Deputy Director from 2009-2015. Her research focuses on gender-based violence in conflict zones, particularly in the Balkans, and the intersection of gender with peace and security issues. She has authored numerous influential works, including groundbreaking research on war rape survivors in Bosnia-Herzegovina and studies on Nordic gender equality. Her excellence has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the 2022 Ingrid Aune Memorial Prize for her research on conflict-related sexual violence. As Director of the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Oslo (2021-2024) and leader of the EuroWARCHILD project, she continues to shape international understanding of gender dynamics in conflict and post-conflict situations.