Research Professor at the PRIO Center on Gender, Peace and Security. Leader of the EuroWARCHILD project.
Inger Skjelsbæk
Research Professor
Interests and experience
Languages spoken:
English, French and German
Working experience:
2021-2024: Director Centre for Gender Studies, UiO
2019- : Professor Gender Studies UiO
2016- : Member of the Leadership Group, CREX, UiO
2015-2019: Associate Professor in Psychology, UiO
2015-: Research Professor at PRIO
2009-2015 : Deputy Director at PRIO
Aug 2013 - Feb 2014: Research Director, Dimensions of Security Department, PRIO
2011/2012 (summers): Visiting scholar at the Human Rights Center, University of California Berkeley
2008-2009: Programme Leader of the Ethics, Norms and Identities programme at PRIO
2002-2003: Guest Researcher and Fulbright Scholar at the Institute of Slavic, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies (ISEEES) at the University of California, Berkeley, USA
1996- : Researcher at PRIO
Associate editor of International Feminist Journal of Politics since July 2011
Education
2007 Dr. Polit. Degree at the Institute for Psychology, University of Trondheim (NTNU). The title of the Ph.D. dissertation is "Sexual Violence In Time of War: Sexuality, Ethnicity and Gender Diversity in the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina". 1996, Cand. Polit. Degree from the University of Trondheim (NTNU) with a Master’s degree in psychology. The title of the Master’s dissertation was "Women and War: A Qualitative Study of the Construction of Femininity in the Wars in the Former Yugoslavia, El Salvador and Vietnam".1993, Cand. Mag. Degree from the University of Oslo with the following subjects: English language and literature, French language and literature, Psychology and Social science statistics.
Projects
All of Inger Skjelsbæk projects
Jan 2026 – Dec 2028
Knowledge for reconciliation: Truth and contestation in the aftermath of the Norwegian truth and reconciliation commission (RECON)
Knowledge for reconciliation: Truth and contestation in the aftermath of the Norwegian truth and reconciliation commission (RECON)
Jan 2025 – Dec 2027
How populist illiberal regimes shape gender norms in Europe (CONTEST)
How populist illiberal regimes shape gender norms in Europe (CONTEST)
Dec 2015 –
PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security
PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security
Feb 2013 –
Missing Peace Initiative
Missing Peace Initiative
Jan 2013 –
High-Level Seminars on Gender and Inclusive Mediation Processes
High-Level Seminars on Gender and Inclusive Mediation Processes
Jan 2021 – Dec 2022
Norway on the UN Security Council: PRIO Resources
Norway on the UN Security Council: PRIO Resources
Jan 2019 – Dec 2020
PRIO Stories
PRIO Stories
Feb 2018 – Apr 2022
Social Media in Armed Conflict through a Gender Lens: The Case of Myanmar
Social Media in Armed Conflict through a Gender Lens: The Case of Myanmar
May 2017 – May 2018
Gender and Countering Violent Extremism
Gender and Countering Violent Extremism
Jan 2017 – Dec 2018
PSYOPS: The Psychology of Political Struggle
PSYOPS: The Psychology of Political Struggle
Latest publications
All of Inger Skjelsbæk publications
Inger Skjelsbæk (2026)
Truths, secrets and securitized identities: Children born of war in Europe and beyond
Truths, secrets and securitized identities: Children born of war in Europe and beyond
The Missing Peace Series: Understanding Conflict-Related Sexual Violence through Research, Policy and Practice
Louise Olsson & Torunn L. Tryggestad (2026)
Backlash and Progress in a New Geopolitical Reality: Women, Peace and Security and the Ambiguous Role of the UN Security Council
Backlash and Progress in a New Geopolitical Reality: Women, Peace and Security and the Ambiguous Role of the UN Security Council
Book chapter in Backlash Against the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Norm Research in International Relations.
Jenny Lorentzen & Inger Skjelsbæk, eds, (2026)
Backlash Against the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: Contesting Gender Norms
Backlash Against the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: Contesting Gender Norms
Edited volume
Katrine Fangen & Inger Skjelsbæk (2025)
The Role of Gender in Violent Extremism
The Role of Gender in Violent Extremism
Book chapter in The Cambridge Handbook of the Psychology of Violent Extremism
Inger Skjelsbæk (2025)
Seksuell vold i krig og konflikt: 25 års innsats for beskyttelse, forebygging og straff
Seksuell vold i krig og konflikt: 25 års innsats for beskyttelse, forebygging og straff
Journal article in Internasjonal politikk
Jenny Lorentzen, Torunn L. Tryggestad & Inger Skjelsbæk (2025)
Introduksjon: 25 år med kvinner, fred og sikkerhet i nordisk utenrikspolitikk
Introduksjon: 25 år med kvinner, fred og sikkerhet i nordisk utenrikspolitikk
Journal article in Internasjonal politikk
Jenny Lorentzen, Torunn L. Tryggestad & Inger Skjelsbæk, eds, (2025)
FOKUS: Kvinner, fred og sikkerhet
FOKUS: Kvinner, fred og sikkerhet
Edited volume
Andrea Cocciarelli et al. (2025)
Children born of war in Ukraine: Policy considerations for a future peace
Children born of war in Ukraine: Policy considerations for a future peace
GPS Policy Brief
Michele Leiby, Inger Skjelsbæk & Kim Thuy Seelinger (2025)
Studying conflict-related sexual violence: What does it mean for researchers’ well-being?
Studying conflict-related sexual violence: What does it mean for researchers’ well-being?
Journal article in Journal of Peace Research
Inger Skjelsbæk (2024)
Children born of war: Bosnaian experiences
Children born of war: Bosnaian experiences
Conference paper
Latest news
All of Inger Skjelsbæk news
Friday, 29 May 2026
PhD course on Gender, Peace and Conflict successfully convened
PhD course on Gender, Peace and Conflict successfully convened
As part of the NORHED II project Partnership for Peace: Better Higher Education for Resilient Societies , PRIO and the PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security hosted a PhD-level course on Gender, Peace and Conflict, from May 27 to 29.
Tuesday, 24 Feb 2026
Vacancy: Inviting applications for a new Doctoral Researcher position at PRIO
Vacancy: Inviting applications for a new Doctoral Researcher position at PRIO
PRIO invites applications for a three-year, full-time position as Doctoral Researcher.
Friday, 30 Jan 2026
Call for PhD-Level Course on Gender, Peace and Conflict
Call for PhD-Level Course on Gender, Peace and Conflict
PRIO is offering a PhD-level course examining how gender shapes all phases of the conflict cycle—from conflict risk and prevention to mediation and peacemaking.
Thursday, 18 Dec 2025
Top 5 most-read PRIO policy briefs in 2025
Top 5 most-read PRIO policy briefs in 2025
The most-read PRIO policy briefs of 2025 covered key global conflict issues including Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, women’s exposure to violence, ethical challenges in peace processes and resource stress in fragile regions.
Friday, 3 Oct 2025
PRIO secures new funding from RCN and ERC
PRIO secures new funding from RCN and ERC
PRIO researchers have recently been awarded grants for exciting new projects, from the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and the European Research Council (ERC).
Friday, 26 Sept 2025
New funding for project on Norwegian truth and reconciliation commission in the South Saami area
New funding for project on Norwegian truth and reconciliation commission in the South Saami area
Analyzing the case of the Norwegian truth and reconciliation commission in the South Saami area.
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2025
PRIO partners in major European Research Council project on the conduct of war
PRIO partners in major European Research Council project on the conduct of war
PRIO is proud to announce its partnership in a major new European Research Council-funded research initiative.
Friday, 6 Jun 2025
PRIO Marks Leadership Transition with event on “Peace Under Pressure”
PRIO Marks Leadership Transition with event on “Peace Under Pressure”
PRIO welcomed guests for a special event this week, marking the transition of leadership from outgoing Director Henrik Urdal to incoming Director Nina Græger.
Friday, 1 Nov 2024
Inger Skjelsbæk nominated for Brageprisen 2024
Inger Skjelsbæk nominated for Brageprisen 2024
PRIO Research Professor Inger Skjelsbæk has been nominated for the prestigious Norwegian book award ‘Brageprisen 2024’ for her non-fiction book Sarajevos roser. Krigen i Bosnia og dens etterliv [Sarajevo Rose: The war in Bosnia and its aftermath].
Friday, 4 Oct 2024
Teaching - UiO Center for Interdisciplinary Gender Research (STK) Master class visit to PRIO
Teaching - UiO Center for Interdisciplinary Gender Research (STK) Master class visit to PRIO
Friday, October 4th, 16 students from the MA program on Gender, Peace and Conflict at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Research (STK), University of Oslo visited PRIO and the PRIO GPS Centre.
Latest events
All of Inger Skjelsbæk events
30 Jun 2026–2 Jul 2026
The Missing Peace Initiative Scholar Workshop 2026
The Missing Peace Initiative Scholar Workshop 2026
Thursday, 7 May 2026 09:00–16:00 UTC+02
EuroWARCHILD conference on children born of war
EuroWARCHILD conference on children born of war
Tuesday, 21 Apr 2026 09:00–10:00 UTC+02
The long road to justice: Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The long road to justice: Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tuesday, 8 Oct 2024 17:00–19:00 UTC+02
Boklansering: «Sarajevos roser: Krigen i Bosnia og dens etterliv»
Boklansering: «Sarajevos roser: Krigen i Bosnia og dens etterliv»
Thursday, 6 Jun 2024 09:00–11:00 UTC+02
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
Wednesday, 6 Dec 2023 18:00–20:00 UTC+01
Children of the Enemy – Film Seminar
Children of the Enemy – Film Seminar
1–3 Nov 2023
The Missing Peace Global Symposium on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
The Missing Peace Global Symposium on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Tuesday, 22 Aug 2023 08:30–09:45 UTC+02
Al-Hol: Flyktning-, integrerings- eller fangeleir?
Al-Hol: Flyktning-, integrerings- eller fangeleir?
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2023 09:00–10:00 UTC+02
Turning Resolutions Into Results: Ending Cycles of Sexual Violence in Conflict
Turning Resolutions Into Results: Ending Cycles of Sexual Violence in Conflict
Wednesday, 1 Jun 2022 09:30–12:30 UTC+02
What Does It Mean to Be a Child Born of War?
What Does It Mean to Be a Child Born of War?
Latest comments
All of Inger Skjelsbæk comments
Thursday, 12 Dec 2024
We Need to Talk About Children Born of War
We Need to Talk About Children Born of War
Thursday, 23 Feb 2023
Don’t Forget the Children Born of War in Ukraine
Don’t Forget the Children Born of War in Ukraine
Friday, 1 Apr 2022
Women’s War
Women’s War
Sunday, 6 Mar 2022
Children Born of War Should be More Than an Afterthought
Children Born of War Should be More Than an Afterthought
Wednesday, 30 Dec 2020
Bosnia and Herzegovina – a Failed State 25 Years After the Peace Accords
Bosnia and Herzegovina – a Failed State 25 Years After the Peace Accords
Thursday, 12 Mar 2020
Gender and Preventing Violent Extremism
Gender and Preventing Violent Extremism
Monday, 17 Dec 2018
Children Born of War Are Not the Enemy. How Can They Be Integrated into Society?
Children Born of War Are Not the Enemy. How Can They Be Integrated into Society?
Friday, 5 Oct 2018
Nobel Peace Prize to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad
Nobel Peace Prize to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad
Monday, 21 Dec 2015
Bosnia 20 Years On
Bosnia 20 Years On
Friday, 10 Jul 2015
The Genocide in Srebrenica
The Genocide in Srebrenica
Recorded event
The long road to justice: Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The long road to justice: Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Podcast episode
Children Born of War: The Long Road to Recognition
Children Born of War: The Long Road to Recognition
Recorded event
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
30 Years After the Genocide in Rwanda: Gender, Accountability and Atrocity Prevention
Recorded event
Al-Hol: Flyktning-, integrerings- eller fangeleir?
Al-Hol: Flyktning-, integrerings- eller fangeleir?
Recorded event
What Does It Mean to Be a Child Born of War?
What Does It Mean to Be a Child Born of War?
In the media
November 2025
PRIO researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was featured in a profile peace by the Bosnian media outlet, Detektor, talking about sexual violence in war.
November 2025
PRIO researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was featured in a profile peace by the Bosnian media outlet, Detektor, talking about sexual violence in war.
January 2025
PRIO researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was interviewed about her EuroWARCHILD project in an article about Norway’s war children, by the Norwegian research magazine Forskning.no
December 2024
In an epiosde of the Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal podcast, entitled 'Masculinity and Femininity in Wartime', PRIO Research Professor Inger Skjelsbæk was interviewed on the topic of masculinity, femininity and their roles in mass violence – including wartime sexual violence.
October 2024
PRIO Research Professor Inger Skjelsbæk was interviewed on conflict-related sexual violence in relation to the war in Ukraine in a podcast epiosde produced by journalist Daria Zakharova-FL for Radio Free Europe Russia.
December 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was quoted in an article on the possible use of rape as a weapon of war by Hamas, in the Norwegian newspaper Vårt Land.
October 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk’s quote that ‘peace is more than the absence of war’ was mentioned in an article about the Israel-Palestine crisis, by the website News Diary Online.
September 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was mentioned as being a 2022 recipient of the Ingrid Aune commemoration award, by the Norwegian radio station, Radio Haugaland. Fagbladet, Samtiden and Head Topics.
March 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was mentioned in an article on post-soviet countries reflecting on Russia’s role in their histories on the news site, Global Voices.
March 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk was quoted in an interview about Norway’s former foreign Minister, by the Canadian news site, G-Lab.
February 2023
PRIO Researcher Inger Skjelsbæk co-authored an opinion piece on conflict-related sexual violence in relation to the war in Ukraine that was published by Aftenposten, and PRIO Blogs.
PRIO started listing media appearances on profiles in 2023. Earlier media appearances may not be listed.