Civil Society and NGO Reports, Papers and Statement

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
The Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit is an initial response to the need for more information and analysis on gender and security sector reform processes. It is designed to provide policymakers and practitioners with a practical introduction to why gender issues are important in SSR and what can be done to integrate them.

The Toolkit includes 12 Tools (which can be found on this webpage) and easy-to-follow Practice Notes on different areas of security sector reform, including: SSR, police reform, defence reform, justice reform, penal reform, border management, civil society and parliamentary oversight, private military and security companies, national security policy-making, gender training, and SSR assessment, monitoring and evaluation.

To view the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 1: "Security Sector Reform and Gender”
Kristin Valasek
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool is designed to provide a basic introduction to SSR and gender issues for the staff of national governments (including in donor countries), security sector institutions, and regional and international organisations, responsible for the development of SSR policy and programming. Civil society organisations, academics and researchers working on gender and security matters will also find it useful. The tool includes:

* An introduction to SSR and gender
* The rationale for why integrating gender issues strengthens SSR processes
* Practical ways of integrating gender into SSR policy and programme cycles
* An overview of specific gender and SSR issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 2: “Police Reform and Gender”
Tara Denham
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool is intended for use by various actors working on police reform including: police officers and recruitment staff, government officials, international and regional organisations and civil society organisations as well as parliamentarians and researchers. It is designed as a reference tool, with a mix of background information and practical examples and tips to assist in the design and/or implementation of the reform process. The following information can be used as a starting point for incorporating gender issues into a police reform processes The tool includes:

* An introduction to police reform
* The rationale behind integrating gender issues and ways in which this can strengthen police reform initiatives
* Entry points for incorporating gender issues into different aspects of police reform, including practical tips and examples
* An examination of particular gender and police reform issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 3: “Defence Reform and Gender”
Cheryl Hendricks and Lauren Hutton
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool aims to introduce political and implementation actors to the need for a gender perspective in the conduct of defence reform activities. It therefore addresses both the technical aspects of defence reform, such as the conduct of defence review and recruitment policies, as well as more political level activities, such as civil oversight of the defence sector. Local ownership of SSR processes is widely acknowledged and advocated in current international discourse. National actors, located in government ministries, defence services, research institutions and civil society are therefore a target audience of the tool. The tool provides insight into defence reform processes and the manner in which women can be integrated into the armed forces and defence structures. It also highlights areas for advocacy and civil society mobilisation in the quest for democratically controlled armed forces. The tool includes:

* An introduction to defence reform
* The rationale for why integrating gender strengthens defence reform processes
* Practical actions to integrate gender into defence reform initiatives
* An overview of particular gender and defence reform issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 4: "Justice Reform and Gender”
Shelby Quast
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool focuses on the institutional reform of the judiciary, law reform and access to justice, with specific emphasis on gender equality. It is directed toward the personnel responsible for justice reform within national governments, international and regional organisations and donors. Parliamentarians, law societies and judges’ networks, civil society organizations and researchers focusing on justice reform may also find it useful. It examines justice reform within the broad and often overlapping contexts of post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed countries. Any justice reform effort is highly context-specific, and no one-fits-all template can be applied to a reform process. The tool provides suggestions and recommendations that can be adapted to the specific reform context within which you are working. The tool includes:

* An introduction to justice reform
* The rationale for why integrating gender strengthens justice reform processes
* Practical actions to integrate gender into justice reform initiatives
* An overview of particular gender and justice reform issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 5: “Penal Code Reform and Gender.”
International Centre for Prison Studies
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool on penal reform and gender provides guidance on responding to gender issues within penal systems. It aims to assist those responsible for management, policy making or reform of prisons within their own countries; international and regional actors supporting prison reform; as well as parliamentarians, civil society organisations and others that play a role in overseeing and monitoring prisons. The tool includes:

* An introduction to penal reform
* The rationale for why integrating gender strengthens penal reform processes
* Practical actions to integrate gender into penal reform initiatives
* An overview of particular gender and penal reform issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 6: “Border Management and Gender”
Angela Mackay
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool focuses on border management reform and the different ways in which border transactions impact the lives of women, men, boys and girls. It encompasses the various border control functions – customs, immigration and law enforcement – and demonstrates the operational benefits of ensuring that gender perspectives are included in border management policies, procedures and practices. The tool is designed to provide a basic introduction to border management and gender issues for the staff of national governments (including donor countries), as well as for international and regional organizations (such as the UN, OSCE, IOM and EU), responsible for the development of border management policy and programming. Parliamentarians, civil society organisations, academics and researchers working on border management and/or gender issues will also find it useful. The tool includes:

* A conceptual introduction to border management and gender
* An outline of ways in which integrating gender strengthens border management
* Actions to integrate gender into border management
* Examination of specific gender and border management issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 7: “Parliamentary Oversight of the
Security Sector and Gender ”
Ilja Luciak
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool seeks to highlight the importance of parliamentary oversight of the security sector and the benefits parliamentarians derive from integrating a gender perspective into their work. The main audiences at the national level include parliamentarians, parliamentary staffers and political parties. Members and staff of regional parliamentary bodies, such as the Pan African Parliament, the Central American Parliament, the European Parliament and the OSCE and NATO Parliamentary Assemblies are also a target audience; as are institutions and groups of parliamentarians, such as the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa, which undertake parliamentary assistance activities. Government security sector reform and governance project officers, civil society organisations, researchers and academics working on the intersection of security, parliaments and gender will also find this tool useful. The tool includes:

* A conceptual introduction to parliamentary oversight of the security sector
* An outline of the importance and benefits of integrating gender into parliamentarians’ work on security issues
* Actions on how to integrate gender into parliamentary oversight
* Examination of gender and parliamentary oversight in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 8: “National Security Policy-Making and Gender”
Peter Albrecht and Karen Barnes
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool provides an introduction to the benefits and opportunities of integrating gender issues into national-level security policy making. As strategic documents, security policies are critically important in establishing a coordinated response to security threats, and can serve as a platform for security sector reform (SSR) processes. Ensuring that gender issues are integrated into security policies may increase participation and local ownership, and create policies and institutions that are more likely to effectively and sustainably provide security and justice to men, women, girls and boys on an equitable basis. The tool is designed to be a resource for staff responsible for initiating security policy-making processes within the executive branch of government, including those responsible for drafting, implementing and evaluating security policies. In addition, the tool may be useful to a variety of other actors involved in security policy-making processes, including parliamentarians and parliamentary staffers, ministerial staff, civil society organisations, municipallevel government, international and regional organisations, and donor countries supporting the development of security policies. The tool includes:

* An introduction to SSR and gender
* The rationale for why integrating gender issues strengthens SSR processes
* Practical ways of integrating gender into SSR policy and programme cycles
* An overview of specific gender and SSR issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 9: “Civil Society Oversight of the Security Sector and Gender”
Karen Barnes and Peter Albrecht
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool is designed to be a resource for civil society organisations (CSOs) engaged in oversight of the security sector, as well as those CSOs that seek to play a more active role in this regard. The tool is also relevant for policymakers and officials in national governments, international and regional organisations, and donor countries around the world that are engaged in designing and implementing security sector reforms and that could play an active role in strengthening and supporting civil society engagement. The tool includes:

* A description of the role of civil society in oversight mechanisms
* The rationale behind the inclusion of gender issues and ways in which this can strengthen and enhance oversight
* Entry points for incorporating gender into different aspects of civil society oversight, including practical tips and examples
* An overview of integrating gender into civil society oversight in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed countries

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 10: “Private Military and Security Companies and Gender”
Sabrina Schulz and Christina Yeung
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool addresses the gender aspects and challenges of a relatively new phenomenon: the privatisation of security on a global scale. So far, reliable research data is scarce. Moreover, much of the relevant information, such as companies’ standard operating procedures as well as the contents of most of their contracts, is strictly confidential. However, this must not lead to complacency. In order to ensure the effectiveness and long-term success of security sector reform (SSR) involving Private Security Companies (PSCs) and Private Military Companies (PMCs) it is indispensable to integrate gender aspects into all operations. The tool includes:

* An introduction to PMSCs and their increasing role as part of the security sector
* The rationale for why integrating gender strengthens PMSCs
* Practical actions to integrate gender into PMSCs and their operations
* An overview of particular gender and PMSC issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 11: “Monitoring and Evaluation and Gender”
Nicola Popovic
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool explores two dimensions of gender-responsive assessments, monitoring and evaluation (M&E). First, the tool looks at existing SSR assessment frameworks, monitoring and evaluation strategies, and how to include a gender perspective in the different tools and approaches. The tool also discusses gender mainstreaming initiatives in security sector institutions, including how to conduct a gender audit and M&E of gender mainstreaming. Inclusive and participatory processes of data gathering; interdepartmental cooperation and coordination; the collection and use of data disaggregated by sex, age and ethnicity; gender-responsive results-based management; gender-sensitive indicators; and focus group interviews are tools and methods presented and discussed in this publication. The tool includes:

* An introduction to assessment, monitoring and evaluation
* The rationale behind the inclusion of gender issues and ways in which this can strengthen and enhance assessment, M&E
* Entry points for incorporating gender into SSR assessment, M&E
* How to conduct gender audits of security sector institutions, as well as monitor and evaluate the impact of gender mainstreaming initiatives

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit 12: “Gender Training for Security Sector Personnel”
Toiko Tõnisson Kleppe
UN-INSTRAW, DCAF, ODIHR, 2008
This tool is designed to provide a basic introduction to SSR and gender issues for the staff of national governments (including in donor countries), security sector institutions, and regional and international organisations, responsible for the development of SSR policy and programming. Civil society organisations, academics and researchers working on gender and security matters will also find it useful. The tool includes:

* An introduction to gender training for security sector personnel
* Practical tips and examples of good practices in gender training for security sector personnel
* Entry points for incorporating gender into training for security sector personnel

To download the toolkit, please click HERE

Integrating Gender in Security Sector Reform Assessments, Monitoring and Evaluation: Summary of a Virtual Discussion
UN-INSTRAW, August 2007
In order to begin a dialogue on how to integrate a gender dimension into systematic assessment of security needs, actors and entry points for reform, UN-INSTRAW organised a platform for discussion on this subject in June 2007. The issues raised during this discussion will serve as an input to a comprehensive tool on this topic, which will be published as part of the Gender & Security Sector Reform Toolkit developed by UN-INSTRAW, DCAF and ODIHR later this year.

During the four-week virtual discussion, almost 170 experts from various areas of expertise on gender and the security sector, and from across the world exchanged experiences and discussed what a gender-sensitive assessment, monitoring and evaluation process could look like. This summary attempts to highlight the main issues that were addressed by the participants of this virtual discussion.

For the summary of the virtual discussion, please click HERE

To read the ten recommendations arising from the virtual discussion, please click HERE

Scanning Security Sector Institutions for Their Gender Responsiveness
Nicola Popovic
Gender, Peace and Security Specialist, INSTRAW, June 2007
In order to respond to the need for integrating gender into security sector reform (SSR) training, policies and programs, several different gender mainstreaming initiatives have been attempted. The application, monitoring and evaluation of these initiatives are important. There are different ways to apply a systematic approach to integrating gender into SSR programs and initiatives. One good way to start the transformation of the security sector toward greater gender sensitivity and responsiveness is to audit and assess security sector institutions themselves on their applied gender dimension, balance and mainstreaming efforts. This paper is based on one of the tools of a forthcoming jointly developed toolkit by DCAF, ODIHR and UN INSTRAW on gender and security sector reform analysing the integration of gender into SSR assessment, monitoring and evaluation.

For the full report, please click HERE

Gender and Security Sector Reform
Kristin Valasek, Gender and Security Sector Reform Officer
Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), June 2007
What are the gender entry points in security sector reform (SSR)? Are gender issues being integrated into current SSR initiatives? As security sector reform is increasingly on the agenda of the international development, peace and security community, it is essential that we develop the arguments, research, methodologies and tools to ensure that gender issues are mainstreamed into SSR policies and programming.

For the full report, please click HERE

A Beginner's Guide to Security Sector Reform (SSR)
By global facilitation network for security sector reform
March 2007

Negotiating the Transition to Democracy and Reforming the Security Sector: The Vital Contributions of South African Women
Sanam Naraghi Anderlini and Camille Pampell Conaway, Women Waging Peace, Policy Commission, August 2004

UN Documents and Reports

Government Statements and Reports

Books, Journals and Articles