WUNRN
SIPRI - Stockholm International
Peace Research Institute
SIPRI Yearbook 2008 - Armaments,
Disarmament & International Security - Chapter 4
INTEGRATING GENDER IN POST-CONFLICT
SECURITY SECTOR REFORM
MEGAN BASTICK
SUMMARY
Security sector reform (SSR) is essential to post-conflict peacebuilding in
order to prevent the reoccurrence of conflict, to enhance public security, and
to create the conditions for reconstruction and development. The importance of
women’s participation and gender equality in peacebuilding and
security is recognized by many governments and United Nations and donor
agencies. However, efforts to promote these goals are often planned and
implemented independently of each other, with the result that SSR fails to
include women and to address the security needs of the entire population—including
women, girls and boys.
Post-conflict SSR processes have used various
approaches to address gender issues.
Gender mainstreaming—assessing the
impact of SSR policies and activities on women, men, boys and girls at every
stage of the process—is a key strategy. It must be accompanied by steps to
ensure that both men and women participate and are represented in SSR
processes.
Participation of women in post-conflict security
services is crucial to creating structures that are representative, trusted and
legitimate, and are able to meet the security needs of both men and women.
‘Transitional justice’ and justice reform processes
have made advances in responding to gender issues. Ad hoc criminal
tribunals have prioritized prosecution of sexual violence.
Successful integration of gender
in SSR shares the broader challenges of SSR. External actors can encourage and
support, but initiatives must be led by local stakeholders. SSR has much to
gain by integrating gender.
Megan Bastick (Australia/United Kingdom) is Deputy Head of the Special Programmes Division at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).
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