As we celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, we take a moment to honour the remarkable contributions of three members of our GCSP community who have been instrumental in advancing gender equality, empowering women leaders, and championing women’s rights in the context of peace and security. Their dedication, resilience, and leadership have not only paved the way for more inclusive and equitable spaces but have also inspired countless others to break barriers and drive meaningful change. Today, we celebrate their impact and reaffirm our commitment to fostering a future where all women can thrive.

• Name: Constance Dumont
• Job Title: Project manager, International Security Dialogue Department, GCSP
• Nationality: French

Can you share a brief overview of your journey and what inspired you to work in peace and security?

From a young age, through school-run activities, I began volunteering for NGOs focused on expanding access to education for children in remote rural areas. Working with and for local communities, I realized I wanted to be in a field that brings people together to do good—for communities, for countries, and for society. I didn’t immediately know what that would look like in practice, but this became a core belief that guided me forward.

I went on to study Comparative Politics and International Relations for both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. My first position at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)in Geneva gave me a clearer sense of the work of international organizations and their impact. 

Today, as a Project Manager for the International Security Dialogue Department at the GCSP, I am part of a team that facilitates Track 1.5 and Track 2 dialogues, creating communication channels between actors to find common ground and, step by step, restore peace. 

How do you support and empower other women leaders, and what initiatives have you led or contributed to in advancing gender equality and women’s rights in this field?

As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion working group at the GCSP, I contribute to shaping policies and practices that promote gender equality and equal opportunities for all. 

I am committed to empowering the next generation of women leaders by supporting and guiding our department’s interns in their pursuit of careers in peace and security. I actively work to create an environment where they can develop both personally and professionally, equipping them with the skills and confidence to find their own space in this field.

I also co-developed and run a cross-institutional mentoring program that provides a dedicated space for learning and exchange across institutions. This initiative encourages participants to discuss their personal and professional growth, navigate their work environments, and explore career paths within the field of peace and security. The program also promotes conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion, reinforcing the importance of these values in our Centre.

What advice would you give to women aspiring to lead in peace and security, and what does International Women’s Day mean to you?

My advice: build yourself a community of women and men who inspire you, listen to you, enable you and believe in your work. Avoid comparing yourself to others, be true to yourself, to your values and understand what drives you to work in this field and how you as an individual with all your unique attributes can contribute.

Too often we forget the underlying inequalities that still exist between men and women, in society, in the workplace, depending on where you are born and what rights your country grants you as a citizen. International Women’s Day is a reminder of the fight that women have led for centuries to obtain equal rights, the wins that they have bravely and boldly achieved and the long way ahead for women around the world to be entitled to equal access to education, equal opportunities, equal representation and equal pay.

Read the story from the two other colleagues

• Empowering Women Leaders and Building Inclusive Movements for Lasting Change
• From Lived Experience to Women’s Leadership and Impact