PHILADELPHIA -- The Alice Paul Center for Research on Women, Gender, and Sexuality at the University of Pennsylvania will host an international conference, "Gender, War, and Militarism," Oct. 25-26 at Penn.

"This event will be the first truly major conference to consider the crucial gender-related issues in contemporary conflicts including genocidal rape, women and child soldiers and women as peace activists and is, by far, the most international in scope to date," Shannon Lundeen, associate director of the Center, said.

Experts in international relations, law, Middle Eastern studies, peace studies, political science and women's studies will address issues of war and gender in conflict zones around the world.

The conference opens to the public on Oct. 25 from 9:45 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in Bodek Lounge of Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St. From 4 to 7:30 p.m. the conference will continue in Room 200, College Hall, 3450 Locust Walk.

The second day of the conference, Friday, Oct. 26, is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Room G06, Huntsman Hall, 3730 Walnut St.

The schedule is available at www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/gwmconference.