Helen Berents
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hmberents.bsky.social
Helen Berents
@hmberents.bsky.social
860 followers 400 following 170 posts
children & youth. peace & conflict.
feminist. academic. baker. probably in that order.
researcher @ Griffith Uni. she/her
www.hmberents.com | https://theYPSobserver.substack.com/
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hmberents.bsky.social
Are you going to #BISA2026? @drswhite.bsky.social, @jmarshallbeier.bsky.social Katie Hodgkinson and I have two CPFs for your consideration:

Roundtable: "Integrating a youth lens across Intl Studies".

Panel: "Shaping the intl through a lens of accountability to children & young ppl"
BISA 2026 Roundtable: Integrating a youth lens across International Studies Always present, often overlooked, youth are not just ‘future promise’ but fundamental to the contemporary contours of IR as we face uncertain futures. This roundtable brings together scholars working across multiple sub-disciplines of international studies to reflect on how global challenges might be differently understood and addressed through integrating a youth lens. While much progress has been made in integrating critical intersectional and feminist approaches to international studies, including by drawing more attention to the role of race, class, gender and sexuality in shaping the international, less cross-cutting attention has been granted to age, especially children and young people. This roundtable invites a discussion from scholars across different sub-fields to both explore how youth perspectives shape the landscape of what is known, what a youth lens offers to interrogating and deconstructing knowledge in their field, and how youth-attentive scholarship offers new directions for the discipline in this moment of multiple crises and uncertainty. We are keen to include speakers from an array of topic areas, including but not limited to: • Peacebuilding • Development • Critical security studies • Conflict studies • Foreign policy • Environmental politics • Mass atrocities • Critical terrorism • Feminist IR To express interest to joining this panel, please email Sabrina White at S.L.White@leeds.ac.uk by Wednesday 29th October with a short paragraph about why you would like to be part of this roundtable discussion. CfP BISA 2026 Panel: Shaping the international through a lens of accountability to children and young people How would centring accountability to children and youth shift our understandings of this current moment of global crisis and what comes next? Can seeing young people as ‘who counts’ offer new pathways for International Studies to meet emerging challenges? This panel explores what an accountability to children and young people lens adds to approaches to addressing global challenges. Accountability is often equated with punitive and/or technical administrative matters rather than questions of global justice, normative frameworks and sustainable peace. By centring children and young people as the ‘who counts’ in accountability in theory and practice, this panel explores the contested place and status of children and young people in the international. Amidst rapidly declining investments in peace and development and vast increases in investments in war and conflict, young people’s rights are rendered optional or deferred until an unspecified ‘later. Threats to promotion and protection of children’s rights and agency exacerbate how we can imagine the scale and impact of global insecurities. This panel reflects on normative, theoretical and empirical conceptualisations of accountability to children and young people, and draws on how particular formations and applications of youth accountability shape possibilities in countering adultist lenses and opening space for counter-narratives of, for and by young people. We seek paper contributions from across multiple subdisciplines in international studies, including but not limited to international development, sustainable development, critical security studies, peace and conflict studies, and global governance. Please submit abstracts for your papers to Sabrina White at S.L.White@leeds.ac.uk by Wednesday 29th October.
October 20, 2025 at 10:32 PM
hmberents.bsky.social
The world is on fire and I’m more often furious & heartbroken than not lately. But I also made scrolls out of hot cross bun dough (with vanilla crème pat filling) and they are delicious and I’m paying attention to the small joys. #cakesnotcrises seems more accurate than ever.
April 20, 2025 at 7:18 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
Join us virtually on 29th April 9-10:30(AEST) for an event on 'Youth Peace Expertise'.

I’ll present findings from my DECRA on #YPS & whose expertise 'counts' in peace & security. Then be in convo w the fab Siobhan McEvoy-Levy & Prime Ragandang

Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/62a765...
April 17, 2025 at 7:25 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
How it started 🐶 How it’s going.

Harry turns TEN today! 🥳 a whole decade of this goober bringing joy, goofiness, cuddles and love to our lives. How lucky are we (so so lucky). 🎈💙 @brkeogh.bsky.social
A small all white puppy sits on the grass. He’s got long gangly legs that stick out and a heart shaped nose as he looks off to the side of camera A white dog with big black spots on his side lies on the grass with the sun setting behind him. His tongue is hanging out and it looks like he’s got a big grin
April 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
hmberents.bsky.social
Delighted to contribute to the Disorder of Things symposia on @paulcinnamon.bsky.social & @drljshepherd.bsky.social's book, 'Governing the Feminist Peace'.

Come for the feminist musings. Stay for the blue banded bees.

thedisorderofthings.com/2025/04/07/e...
April 7, 2025 at 11:35 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
For the record, we had it sorted in 2012, when there were two rates: 'fully waged' and simply 'concession' (which covered "students, non-salaried, casual, pensioner').

Why has there only been one other OCIS in the 7 confs/ 14 years since that has managed to do this?
March 27, 2025 at 5:42 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
This frustrates me often, but the current trigger has been that OCIS #OCIS2025 has, once again, decided they won't offer a reduced rate for precarious/unwaged folks. This is our discipline's peak regional conf. Straight talk: we are telling ECR colleagues that we don't care, that they aren't welcome
Screenshot of OCIS 2025 website showing 'Full registration' rates: Full- Early $490AUD Full - Standard $550 Full - student $295
March 27, 2025 at 5:42 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
This post is also is a call for submissions to the YPS Database (www.ypsdb.org), ahead of its first formal update in the coming weeks. Thanks for your support!

(a reminder that you can submit resources at any time via the form on the website, and they will be added in the next update).
March 16, 2025 at 10:59 PM
hmberents.bsky.social
The proposal to support ECRs by embedding 'postdoctoral fellowships' into grants is great...that absolutely should happen more. But to only give ECRs roles within senior-led grants reduces independence, limits pathways, reproduces apprenticeship models & is not how SocSci/Humanities research happens
The proposed new scheme design will enable ECRs to be named as investigators, with flexible postdoctoral salary options. ECRs will have access to fellowships embedded in project schemes. Aligned with each scheme’s objectives, the expectation is that fellows will work in a supportive environment to develop their research and leadership skills. Grants will also support research leaders to maximise the benefits that senior researchers bring to the research sector by mentoring and helping new researchers reach independence. The proposed model will be supported by a principles-based redesign of the ARC’s approach to assessing career interruptions. This could include a reformed application and assessment process featuring two-stages, and including, as appropriate, an anonymised first stage of assessment – focused on the quality of the research problem and method – to ensure that those who do not yet have an extensive track record are not disadvantaged.
February 25, 2025 at 8:17 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
They undertook consultations, were told that research needs to be better funded in Australia from all stakeholders, but given that was 'out of scope' they just rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic?

(screenshot from Discussion paper here www.arc.gov.au/sites/defaul...)
Inevitably, the feedback included commentary from the sector about the need for strengthened funding for NCGP schemes. While the level of funding is not in the scope of the review, the model presented in this Discussion Paper is designed to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the program to deliver research outcomes that benefit Australia
February 25, 2025 at 8:13 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
New issue of @ispjournal.bsky.social & in it our article on care-full research now has pg #s!

In it @caltinmollica.bsky.social, Hayley Payne, Casey Odger-Jewell, & Savannah Spalding & I reflects on lessons a youth-led, adult-supported project can offer Intl Studies broadly doi.org/10.1093/isp/...
Text of an article abstract: Abstract Feminists have long called attention to often profoundly uneven power relations in international relations research, assumptions regarding who is able to be a “knowledge producer,” and the risks of extractive research. In research “on” and with young people, these dilemmas are compounded by ageist suppositions about youth competencies. This paper reflects on efforts by the authors to design and undertake a youth-led, adult-supported research project on youth activism and peace processes in South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar through virtual interviews. It discusses how our approach to skills training, mentorship, and research design empowers youth researchers to engage in dialogue with youth peacebuilders to establish a more collaborative research agenda. Centering collaboration offers opportunities for more responsive engagement with communities traditionally marginalized within the research environment. The global pandemic has raised questions about research at a distance, the requirements of “participation,” and the ethics of reciprocity with research participants as knowledge producers. In each case, challenges raised difficult questions about the ethics of pursuing research in these complex contexts. We offer the idea of care-full research that centers a feminist, reflexive approach, is collaborative in multiple ways, and generates new possibilities for knowledge creation amidst multiple crises and beyond. Screenshot of a page of the journal International Studies Perspectives detailing the title, authors and publication details as follows: Conducting Care-full Research: Collaborative Research amidst Corona, a Coup, and Other Crises Helen Berents, Caitlin Mollica, Casey Odgers-Jewell, Hayley Payne, Savannah Spalding International Studies Perspectives, Volume 26, Issue 1, February 2025, Pages 88–109,
February 17, 2025 at 4:02 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
I'm back in my interview transcripts with youth peace advocates & for the second time today I've come across an interruption which is me apologising to an interviewee for the loud birds in the background. And I can't stop thinking about the timeless old post about Australian birds
text above a picture of a kookaburra reads: - american birds: chirp chirp european birds: cheep cheep australian birds: FUCKIN AHAHAHAHAHAHA you also talked about – asked you about positive examples and places where things worked, but I guess on a more individual level – sorry they were very noisy birds in the background, I’m sorry if you can hear that. No worries.
January 30, 2025 at 12:35 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
The escalation of violence in the DRC is hugely concerning & being ignored.

The DRC #YPS Coalition has just written an open letter to UNSG António Guterres calling for immediate action to halt violence, & uphold commitments to youth made via the DRC YPS NAP.

Please share! #youth4peace
Ref/N: 001/CJPS-RDC/2025 Open Letter to the UN Secretary-General Regarding the Concerning Security Situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Joint Letter from Members of the Congolese Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security (CJPS RDC) to Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, on the Urgent Need to Protect Vulnerable Populations in North Kivu and South Kivu Amid the Escalation of Conflict in Eastern DRC. January 25, 2025 To Mr. António Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Secretary-General, We, the youth gathered under the National Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security of the Democratic Republic of Congo (CJPS RDC), address you today regarding the intensification of conflicts in the eastern part of our country, particularly in the towns of Sake (North Kivu) and Minova (South Kivu), where urgent and effective solutions are critically needed. After more than two decades, the conflicts persist. We are a generation born and raised in war, a war that continues to claim innocent lives despite abundant documentation and repeated calls for action, as reflected in your recent statements and those of the African Union. You are undoubtedly aware that the recent escalation of conflict has deprived young people of their ability to fully contribute as agents of peace, as recognized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250. One undeniable aspect of this conflict’s escalation is not only the worsening humanitarian crisis but also the millions of people, including children, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities, left in darkness without access to clean water. Bombings have severely damaged electrical infrastructure, plunging the city of Goma and its surroundings into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Schools have been closed, making it impossible for students to attend classes, while hospitals, deprived of water and electricity, are overwhelmed with injured individuals and others affected by the conflict. Among the notable c… We urge you to demand an immediate humanitarian truce from the conflicting parties to enable the urgent restoration of essential infrastructure, particularly access to clean water and electricity, to save human lives. Young people need your support to ensure that peaceful and diplomatic efforts can bring an end to the gunfire and the tragedies faced by populations left to their grim fates. Restoring peace requires the support of all actors, both regional and international, who can positively influence the resolution of this long-standing conflict. We, the youth engaged in implementing the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security in the DRC, invite you to issue a call to action to: 1. Respect and protect civilian populations in accordance with international humanitarian law (IHL). We remind you that attacks on civilians, including forced displacement, sexual violence, and looting, constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions. These actions require an immediate response to ensure the safety of civilian populations and to restore vital supply routes to Goma. 2. Guarantee fundamental rights in accordance with international human rights instruments The ongoing violence in eastern DRC violates fundamental human rights as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The international community therefore has an obligation to ensure justice and reparations for the victims. 3. Implement the commitments of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda under Resolution 2250Pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, States and international institutions have the obligation to ensure the participation of young people in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.We call for urgent measures to include local youth leaders from North Kivu an… 4. Respect survivors’ rights to justice and provide them with appropriate support 5. Ensure humanitarian assistance adheres to the principles of neutrality and impartiality The international community, including United Nations agencies, must intensify humanitarian assistance while respecting the core principles of IHL: neutrality, impartiality, humanity, and independence. Conflict-affected areas must receive immediate aid without discrimination. 6. Sanction violations in accordance with international obligations Those responsible for human rights violations and war crimes, including complicit states, must face independent investigations and targeted sanctions in accordance with the Rome Statute and the mechanisms of the International Criminal Court (ICC). 7. Support youth in conflict prevention and resolution 3 Young people are often among the first affected by war, sometimes forced into combat or placed in extremely vulnerable situations. By actively integrating local youth leaders into peace processes— such as the Luanda, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa efforts—we can build sustainable and inclusive solutions. Mr. Secretary-General, we urge you to use your moral and institutional authority to compel the warring parties and their allies to take concrete, urgent, and sustainable measures to protect young people, children, and all vulnerable populations, and to put an end to the grave human rights violations. We rely on your unequivocal commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of the youth affected by this conflict. Please accept, Mr. Secretary-General, our respectful regards. On behalf of the National Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security in the DRC, represented by its Co- Chairs: Co-Chair and Executive Secretary (Young African Leaders Initiative in the DRC - YALI DRC) Co-Chair and Executive Secretary (National Partnership of Children and Youth in Peacebuilding - NPCYP) Co-Chair and Executive Secretary (Youth for Peace - YFP DRC)
January 26, 2025 at 10:48 PM
hmberents.bsky.social
(Re)starting the year this week after somehow falling to the ubiquitous Covid last week. Ending the work week with a picnic and reading by the water— @paulcinnamon.bsky.social & @drljshepherd.bsky.social’s Governing the Feminist Peace. Harry seems to approve of both location & reading material⭐️
In the foreground a book sits open with a pencil resting on it. In front of the book a black and white dog sits with his head turned back towards rhe camera and a goofy grin. The person and dog are sitting on the grass next to a body of water with mangroves visible A photo taken lying down looking up at the sunlight through the leaves. Interrupting the photo is the close up head of a white dog that has his eyes shut and his floppy ear catching the sunlight.
January 17, 2025 at 4:22 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
Back in 2019, I had a few observations after first using it, all of which remain true.
Screenshot of three tweets from Aug 29 2019 from my old account on the bad site. Text reads: A few initial findings: a. in news that will surprise no one, research is the first to suffer unless I made time for it. I have regular time-slots in my calendar as appts w myself for research—early each morning, & with a fab weekly writing group (shout out to writing groups!). b. That service roles and the ‘miscellaneous’ meetings take up much more time than I thought (even though I knew this would be the case). Some of this is that it is a new role, but some is just the reality of many small tasks adding up. c. Despite having evidence, I still get anxious that I’m not doing ‘enough’ or should be doing ‘more’. I’ve found the spreadsheet a helpful addition to continuing to strategise & resist, & to practice a feminist ethics of care
January 1, 2025 at 11:32 PM
hmberents.bsky.social
This is the SIXTH iteration! In 2019, exhausted, and with a new large service role, I needed a way to know I had done 'enough'. Brendan designed a (now very basic looking!) spreadsheet and it was so helpful to resist institutional pressures to overwork and obfuscation of the time it takes for tasks
January 1, 2025 at 11:32 PM
hmberents.bsky.social
How your email finds me until January
A white dog lies in long grass up a hill from the photographer. His lead snakes back to the bottom of the photo where there is a pink orange and white checked picnic blanket visible. The dog is lying on his side, very relaxed. In the background you can see blue sky and big fig trees
December 20, 2024 at 7:24 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
These brilliant, wonderful Drs graduated yesterday & I popped into the venue before the ceremony to celebrate w them and their wizard robes!

It is truly the best part of my job to support & encourage PhD students in their journey and to see them wear the floppy hat! My final students at QUT! 🙌💃✨
Four women stand in front of an enormous glowing sign that says QUT GRAD with lightbulbs. Three of the four women are wearing the black and crimson robes for a PhD graduation, with the floppy black bonnet. The fourth woman is in a blue dress with gold spots. All four have big smiles and their arms around each other
December 16, 2024 at 10:29 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
Every year I get a teeny tiny bit better at saying no to things that are interesting and fabulous but which I really don’t have time for. Every year I need this reminder though
An image of a flow chart that starts with a box that says “decision to take on a new project” with an arrow down to a box that says “do you have enough time to do this?” From this box two arrows extend. One reading ‘yes’ and one reading ‘no’. Both arrows lead to boxes which say “no you don’t”
December 11, 2024 at 7:50 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
The Five Eyes report the authors mention in fact largely focuses on those under 18, however it is dismissed as 'tricky' & the ASPI piece talks about 'young adults'. This elision is common when dealing w Qs of agency of children: it is 'too hard' & so sidelined. Yet it is where we have to start 3/
The terms minors and young people are both used in the paper, with the term minors more common. The paper is largely based on information and case studies about minors. Five Eyes partners recognise that the issues that minors experience, for example online radicalisation, can also apply to young people aged 18–25 years and that is reflected in parts of the paper
December 10, 2024 at 8:22 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
Last month, I launched the YPS Database, a comprehensive resource library of the YPS agenda since its inception: www.ypsdb.org

Launch-day reflections: lnkd.in/gz7Ymez9

I hope the YPSDB might help others engage w the ongoing work of youth peace advocates & their allies! Happy anniversary, YPS!🎉
A logo that reads 'Youth, Peace, and Security Database' next to a stylised image of three hands above five rectangles indicating a set of documents. The image is rainbow and on a dark blue background
December 9, 2024 at 7:59 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
Out of office on. No emails. No work. We’re in Japan fora holiday and it’s my birthday today and there has already been hikes and onsens and temples and museums and, of course, incredible cake. See you in two weeks, folks! 🍂⛩️🥳🍰
Photo of a Japanese garden. The photographer is standing on a stone bridge over water and the tree in the photo is covered with bright red leaves with the sun shining through Picture from an old style restaurant in Japan looking over a Japanese garden. The sun is coming in through the windows onto the wooden floor and the garden is filled with white pebbles, big stones and carefully trimmed bushes of green A woman in a blue waterproof coat holding a green umbrella stands amidst a long row of Japanese stone lanterns along each side of a stone path. There are trees overhanging the wet path and the stone lanterns have cylindrical bases with hexagonal lanterns and a curved ‘roof’ A woman in a white and black striped shirt and black cardigan smiles at the camera from across a table. In front of her is a cold coffee in a glass and a piece of rich chocolate cake with ice cream. In front of the photographer is another plate with an espresso cheesecake and ice cream and a cafe latte in a blue mug
November 26, 2024 at 8:39 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
Yesterday @drljshepherd.bsky.social & I ran the 5th (!) annual Making Space workshop for ECR women & gender diverse international studies scholars in Australia.

It remains a highlight of my year, a wonderful supportive space, w honest generous reflections from mentors & mentors alike …
Photo from my backyard because zoom meetings aren’t photogenic. Photograph of the top of trees with a blue sky with scattered clouds. In the foreground are yuccas with their spiky long leaves and white flower spikes on top. Behind that is a spreading poinciana with feathery green leaves and spots of red where the flowers are beginning to come out
November 23, 2024 at 5:05 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
I'm excited to announce the launch of the Youth, Peace & Security #YPS Database: an online, searchable resource library of docs related to the agenda!

🔹Visit: ypsdb.org

🟡Read some launch-day reflections: theypsobserver.substack.com/p/announcing...

🥳Thrilled this is now live & hope it is of use!
A logo for the Youth, Peace and security Database. On a dark blue background, the logo is three hands outstretched over five horizontally stacked rectangular shapes representing books or documents. The logo is a soft rainbow colour from purple on the left with reds and greens and then yellows on the right
November 20, 2024 at 5:00 AM
hmberents.bsky.social
Hi new folks! It's so nice to see all the new friends here! I research the politics of young ppl in peace, conflict & crises. I'm a feminist peace scholar, working at intersections of IR, youth sociology & childhood studies & w participatory methods. I'm also treat-provider for (the best boy) Harry⬇️
A white dog sits smiling at the camera with his big tongue hanging out of his mouth. He is in a grey harness, sitting on the grass in a field with trees and blue sky behind him.
November 19, 2024 at 11:46 PM