On 5 June 2026 Gabriela Villacis Izquierdo will defend her thesis examining feminist approaches contribute to shaping alternative forms of humanitarian action in Colombia.
- PhD student
- Date
- Friday 5 Jun 2026, 16:00 - 18:00
- Type
- PhD defence
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Aula B and livestream
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
Izquierdo's research examines three distinct but interconnected domains:
- self-declared feminist international humanitarian organizations
- women-led grassroots organizations and collectives
- crisis-affected women's own organising initiatives
Drawing on 11 months of ethnographic and interactive research conducted across Bogotá, Norte de Santander, Cauca and Putumayo departments between 2022 and 2023, Izquierdo uses multiple qualitative methods, including participant observation, semi-structured dialogues, collective discussions and storytelling circles with 108 research participants.
She challenges the narrow framing of humanitarian action as the activities and systems put in place by international actors by examining how feminist approaches contribute to shaping alternative forms of humanitarian action in Colombia, a context characterized by prolonged internal armed conflict, disasters and mixed migration flows.
Her research thus centres on the unrecognized or actively refused everyday practices of diverse actors, particularly women and feminists.
Watch the defence live
Abstracts
Download the English and Dutch thesis abstracts
Doctoral Board
Chair
Doctoral dissertation supervisor
Professor Thea Hilhorst
Dr Rodrigo Mena
Dr Kaira Zoe Canete
Full Doctoral Committee
- Dr Juan Ricardo Aparicio, Los Andes University
- Dr Julia Zulver, Swedish Defence University
- Dr Cindy Horst, PRIO
- Professor Dirk-Jan Koch, ISS
- Professor Wendy Harcourt, ISS
- More information
The ceremony will begin promptly at 16:00 hrs in the ISS auditorium (Aula B) of the ISS, Kortenaerkade 12, The Hague. The doors will be closed after the start of the Public Defence, but will be briefly opened after the candidate’s introduction to allow latecomers to enter.
Children under 7 years old are not allowed in the Aula during the first part of the ceremony.
The ceremony will be followed by a reception in the Atrium of the ISS.
Professors are invited to join the academic procession.
- Related links
- ISS PhD programme
