WUNRN
Author: Miranda Gaanderse
Editor(s): Kristin Valasek
DCAF 2010
English - http://www.dcaf.ch:80/Publications/Publication-Detail?lng=en&id=126675
French - http://www.dcaf.ch:80/Publications/Publication-Detail?lng=en&id=126678
Despite
ongoing efforts to improve the accountability and effectiveness of the security
sector in West Africa, the different security and justice needs of men, women,
boys and girls are often marginalised and women remain largely excluded from
security and defence decision-making processes. Nevertheless, there are
examples of innovative initiatives taken across West Africa to integrate gender
issues into security sector reform (SSR) processes and security sector
institutions (SSIs).
This report highlights the lessons identified and country-specific examples
shared during the regional conference “Security for All: West Africa’s Good
Practices on Gender in the Security Sector” held in Saly, Senegal, 22 -24 June
2010. Organised by UNOWA and DCAF in partnership with the ECOWAS Gender
Development Centre, MARWOPNET and AMLD, this working-level conference brought
together over seventy gender and security sector practitioners and researchers
from West Africa. The report includes guidance and examples on eight
interconnected topics:
1. Gender assessments of the security sector
2. Provision of security and justice services to women and men
3. Civil society oversight: collaboration between women’s organisations, gender
machineries and SSIs
4. Gender and security policies
5. Internal oversight mechanisms
6. Recruitment, retention and advancement of female security sector personnel
7. Female security sector staff associations
8. Gender training
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