gender

Gender and Security Sector Reform

Commentary on toolkit from UN-INSTRAW

It is widely acknowledged that security sector reform (SSR) is an essential part of the peace-building process in post-conflict situation. In particular, the integration of gender into SSR is crucial in reducing sexual and gender-based violence especially towards women and girls; to think through a “gendered lens” on what “security means for women and girls, because it usually means something very different from the traditional understanding of international relations theory; and how male dominance reinforces and perpetuates gendered vulnerabilities. INSTRAW’s training manuals and guides, therefore, are a timely response in this process of re-conceptualising “security”.

However, without a feminist understanding of what is gender and why promoting gender equality is important in development, a risk with these manuals and guides is the danger of assuming gender is a “fix it” tool, something one whips out of the development kit to solve operational issues, streamline programmatic responses, or donor compliance. The integration of gender into security sector reform may also risk taking certain things for granted, such as the assumption that by reforming the security sector, women will benefit from the trickle-down effect, as opposed to asking the harder questions which feminists have been raising: whether an institution (i.e. the military) which legitimises the use of violence can be made user-friendly? So the use INSTRAW’s training manuals and guides is to be encouraged but with the caveat that they are not a fix-it tool but a starting point to much more important discussion on more fundamental issues of secutry and gender based violence, which these manuals cannot address.

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UN-INSTRAW’s Gender, Peace and Security Programme

Security Sector Reform (SSR) is increasingly prioritized by governments, and on the agenda of international development, peace and security communities. SSR opens a window of possibility to transform security policies, institutions and programmes, creating opportunites to integrate gender issues.

The integration of gender issues is being recognised as a key to operational effectiveness, local ownership and strengthening oversight. For example, increasing the recruitment of female staff, preventing human rights violations, and collaborating with women’s organisations contribute to creating an an efficient accountable and participatory security sector, which responds to the specific needs of men, women, girls and boys.

Despite the recognition of the importance of integrating gender issues in SSR, there has been a lack of resources on the topic. This toolkit is an initial response to the need for information and analysis on gender and SSR, It is designed to provide policy makers and practicioners with a practical introduction to why gender issues are important in SSR and what can be done to integrate them.

Each SSR context is unique. As such, the strategies and recommendations provided in the Toolkit may not always be directly applicable, and should always be adapted to the local context.

The 12 Tools and corresponding Practice notes can be downloaded here.

© 2009 People and Development.