Cristal Downing

Cristal Downing

Project Director, Gender and Conflict
New York

Crisis Group Role

As Director of the Gender and Conflict Project, Cristal supports colleagues across Crisis Group's programs in analysing how conflict impacts people of different genders and their diverse roles in preventing and responding to conflict. She also designs and carries out research and advocacy on these issues.

Professional Background

Previously, Cristal worked at the UN University Centre for Policy Research, where she collaborated with partners across the UN, in government and in civil society to assess effective support for individuals leaving armed groups, with a particular focus on women and girls. 

Prior to this, she was Senior Policy Adviser at the UK Mission to the UN, leading the UK’s Security Council work on Women, Peace, and Security, as well as on Colombia, Venezuela and other country-specific and thematic files. Previous experience includes research, advocacy and practical work from within NGOs and international organisations, focused on reintegration of ex-combatants, access to education in conflict, and other topics related to conflict prevention and resolution

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

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