Research and Learning Projects
Katrina is an experienced researcher and education professional. She is best known for navigating complex questions and translating them into accessible materials for broader audiences.
Katrina est une chercheuse et une professionnelle de l’éducation expérimentée. Elle est surtout connue pour sa capacité à résoudre des questions complexes et à les traduire en documents accessibles à un public plus large.
Academic Research
Katrina's academic research explores the dynamics between the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) resolutions of the UN Security Council. These, coupled with local peacebuilding approaches, are at the centre of Katrina's intellectual curiosity.
Katrina's doctoral research is entitled: “Where participation and tokenism meet: An analysis of ‘meaningful participation’ in decision-making on matters of peace and security.”
The purpose of this research is to explore the concept of meaningful participation as outlined in the first pillar of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on WPS and YPS. Both policy frameworks emphasize "participation" as their first goal and recommend that UN Member States prioritize the participation of women and youth in conflict prevention, resolution and peace processes. Both resolutions also underscore the importance of the role of women and youth in these political processes and promote equal participation in decision-making, including in governance structures. Thus, Katrina's research addresses the following question: What do young women activists intend by demanding for meaningful participation in decision-making on matters of peace and security?
Katrina is documenting evidence of self-identified young women activists’ perspectives of their involvement in peace and security decision-making structures. She also highlights challenges to their substantive contributions and cites positive examples. The ultimate goal is to ensure that young women’s voices are recognized and that their experiences are prioritized in scholarly research.
Other Academic and Research Inquiries
Katrina's research interests are interdisciplinary in nature, within the fields of Human Rights, International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Peacebuilding, Public Policy, Security Studies, and Women and Youth Studies. Click below for some examples.
Academic Collaborations and Guest Lectures
Katrina has contributed to a number of academic and learning collaborations, some highlights include:
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Leading the graduate-level New York University Center For Global Affairs (NYU CGA) Research Practicum in partnership with the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)
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Designing undergraduate-level modules for the Women’s Human Rights Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy Resource (WHRTLAR), as part of a consortium of experts and non-governmental organizations working on the promotion and review of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
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Contributing to curriculum development for the first "Youth Peace and Security Primer" course through the UN System Staff College in collaboration with Folke Bernadotte Academy
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Grant manager for projects on de-tokenization of young people in civic spaces, awarded by UN Women and Canada Service Corps
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Joining the Peace Professionalism Project as a Research Collaborator, affiliated with Saint-Paul University
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Training collaboration on Women, Peace and Security/gender for women peacekeepers (September-December 2014), in collaboration with the University of Winnipeg Global College and the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO)
University Guest Lectures include:
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Senghor University, Alexandria (February 2025): Youth, Peace and Security
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United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), New York (October 2024): Women, Peace and Security & Mediation
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Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy (June 2022 and 2023): High-Level Course on Women, Peace & Mediation
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Université libre de géopolitique, Abidjan, Ivory Coast (July 2021 and 2022): 5th and 6th edition of the Free University of Geopolitics in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at the invitation of the Canadian Embassy in Ivory Coast, keynote lecture on Women, Peace and Security
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University of California, Los Angeles, USA (April 2021): Undergraduate course Public Affairs 10: Social Problems & Social Change, on social change and the non-profit industrial complex
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Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada (March 2021): Graduate-level course ESC 5315 Gender and Conflict, on post-conflict reconstruction
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University of Winnipeg Global College, Winnipeg, Canada (August 2017 and 2018): Undergraduate course HR-2600: Human Rights UniverCITY Summer Institute, on peace work of young women in conflict-affected areas (focused in the Democratic Republic of Congo)
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University of Winnipeg Global College, Winnipeg, Canada (Fall 2015): Teaching Assistant for undergraduate field course HR-3550 Human Rights, Human Security and the United Nations
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University of Winnipeg Global College, Winnipeg, Canada (Summer 2015): Teaching Assistant for undergraduate course HR-2650 Sex Trafficking Global to Local
Toolkits and Guides:
Leclerc, K., & Wong, S. (2024). Beyond Tokenism A Toolkit for Genuine Youth Participation in Civic Spaces. Canadian Coalition for Youth, Peace & Security. https://www.canadayps.org/more-than-tokens
Contributor: Beeckmans, R., & Hellema, M. (2024). Youth, Peace and Security: Fostering Youth-Inclusive Political Processes. United Nations Development Programme. https://www.undp.org/publications/youth-peace-and-security-fostering-youth-inclusive-political-processes
Leclerc, K., & Despain, A. (2023). Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in Conflict, Crises and Emergencies: A Toolkit for Gender-Sensitive Crisis Response. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. https://gnwp.org/gender-based-analysis-plus-toolkit/
Leclerc, K., & Farion, S. (2022). Exchanging Ideas, Shaping Peace: A Guide for Intergenerational and Intercommunal Peace Exchanges. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. https://gnwp.org/peace-exchange-guide/
Contributor and Copy-Editor: Cabrera-Balleza, M., Iyer, M., & Khanal, P. (2019). Young Women & Girls Read, Lead & Build Peaceful Communities: A Toolkit for Young Women & Girls on Literacy, Leadership, Economic Empowerment, Media & Theater. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. https://gnwp.org/ga4p-toolkit/
Veillet Chowdhury, E., Leclerc, K., & Yzique Zea, K. (2018). Our Voice Makes a Difference: A guide to civil society advocacy on Women, Peace and Security. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. http://gnwp.org/publications/csw-toolkit/
Publication Coordinator: Fal Dutra Santos, A., & Cabrera-Balleza, M. (2018). From Best Practice to Standard Practice: A toolkit on the Localization of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. https://gnwp.org/localization-toolkit/
Publication Coordinator and Contributor: Fal Dutra Santos, A., & Cabrera-Balleza, M. (2017). No Money, No NAP: Manual for Costing and Budgeting National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. https://gnwp.org/no-money-no-nap/
Launch of "No Money, No NAP" at UN Women in New York | October 2017
Launch of "GBA+ in Conflict, Crises and Emergencies" at the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN in New York | March 2023