Six Years On: Women and the Renewed Conflict in Tigray

An in-person event marking six years since the outbreak of war in Tigray, examining its enduring impact on women and girls.

About

Six years after the outbreak of war in Tigray, Ethiopia, and nearly four years after the signing of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, the region is once again experiencing armed conflict. Renewed fighting and deadly drone strikes are deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis, exposing the fragility of a cessation of hostilities agreement that has failed to deliver lasting security, accountability, or meaningful recovery.

For women and girls, the renewed conflict compounds the devastating legacy of the 2020–2022 war, which was marked by widespread conflict-related sexual violence, mass displacement, and the destruction of essential health services. Survivors continue to face significant barriers to care and justice, even as renewed hostilities expose communities to further violence, displacement, and deprivation.

The return to war raises fundamental questions about the consequences of impunity, the limits of peace agreements without meaningful implementation, and the marginalization of women from decisions that shape their safety and future.

Marking six years since the war began, this discussion brings together researchers, humanitarian advocates, and policy experts to examine the gendered consequences of the renewed conflict, the failures of peacebuilding and accountability efforts, and the actions needed to protect civilians and advance a just and durable peace.

Speakers

Dr. Lauren Carruth, Associate Professor, American University

Dr. Lahra Smith, Associate Professor, Georgetown University

Meaza Gebremedhin, Executive Director, Harambee Collective

Abdullahi Boru Halakhe, Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa, Refugees International

Moderator

Dr. Sarah Miller, Senior Fellow, Refugees International

Profiles

Lauren Carruth is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Environment, Development & Health at American University's School of International Service. A medical anthropologist specializing in humanitarian assistance, global health, displacement, and the Horn of Africa, she has conducted extensive research on the challenges crisis-affected communities face. She is the author of Love and Liberation: Humanitarian Work in Ethiopia's Somali Region and has previously worked with the World Food Programme and UNICEF in Ethiopia. Her scholarship examines the intersection of humanitarian response, health inequities, and the lived experiences of vulnerable populations.

Lahra Smith is an Associate Professor and Director of the African Studies Program at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, with a joint appointment in the Department of Government. A political scientist specializing in African politics, citizenship, gender, and migration, her research focuses particularly on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. She is the author of Making Citizens in Africa: Ethnicity, Gender, and National Identity in Ethiopia. Her scholarship examines how ethnicity, political institutions, and competing understandings of citizenship shape rights, belonging, and conflict in Ethiopia.

Meaza Gebremedhin is an intersectional feminist, human rights advocate, and policy strategist with expertise in the Tigray conflict, gender justice, and humanitarian response. She has played a leading role in international advocacy on Tigray, engaging policymakers and multilateral institutions on civilian protection, accountability, and the humanitarian consequences of war. Her work bridges grassroots organizing, international policy advocacy, and humanitarian leadership. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Harambee Collective, leading survivor-centered humanitarian programs, health systems recovery, and advocacy initiatives. Meaza holds an MA in International Relations and an MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy and Programming from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Abdullahi Boru Halakhe is a Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa at Refugees International, with over a decade of experience in conflict, security, human rights, and humanitarian policy. His work spans the Horn of Africa and beyond, with a focus on forced displacement, civilian protection, and regional security. He has advised organizations including the International Crisis Group, Amnesty International, the African Union, and the United Nations. His recent advocacy has addressed the renewed conflict in Tigray and its humanitarian and regional implications. He holds a master's degree in International Security Policy from Columbia University.

Dr. Sarah Miller is a Senior Fellow at Refugees International specializing in forced displacement, refugee protection, and humanitarian policy. Her work has focused extensively on the Horn of Africa, including research and advocacy on the Tigray conflict, displacement, and the protection of conflict-affected populations. She leads Refugees International's engagement on internally displaced persons and contributes to its Labor Market Access initiative. She has advised UNHCR, the ILO, and the World Bank, among other organizations, and teaches at Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of International Migration. She holds a doctorate in International Relations from the University of Oxford.

Organizing Institutions

This event is jointly organized by:

• American University's School of International Service
• Refugees International
• Harambee Collective
• Georgetown University's African Studies Program
• Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

Paractical

Parking is available underneath the School of International Service or Bender Arena