The 2023 OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security, a nine-week online training course organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, was launched on 29 May.
The call for applications closed on 10 April, with a record number of applicants resulting in 150 young professionals (85% female) from 48 OSCE participating States and 9 Partners for Co-operation being enrolled this year. Between 29 May and 28 July, participants will learn about conflict prevention and resolution tools through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation in the OSCE area via the OSCE's E-Learning Platform. Later this year, some successful graduates will be invited to a one-week in-person training in Vienna.
The Scholarship for Peace and Security in the OSCE area seeks to empower young professionals, in particular women, to engage in the security sector, especially the politico-military security field. The course emphasizes preventive responses to crises and conflicts and strengthens mediation support and post-conflict rehabilitation efforts; through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; towards confidence- and security-building in the OSCE area.
Alina, a 2023 participant from Ukraine, said "Learning about preventive actions of war and putting emphasis on preemptive diplomacy, mediation, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace, will be a unique and invaluable experience. I am sure that the program will contribute to my professional development in my future career in peacekeeping and human rights protection".
Sophia, from Germany, added "I am eager to share my insights with the other participants and challenge their thinking that gender in the politico-military security field is mainly adding women and stir. I am also eager to listen to and learn from the other participants and experts, as knowledge is key".
The Scholarship for Peace and Security in the OSCE Area is held annually, targeting the underrepresentation of women at all levels of the decision-making process in peace and security.
