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Civil service reform

Gender and security sector reform toolkit

Integrating gender in security sector reforms

Authors: ; Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF); the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW); the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
Publisher: United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women , 2008

Full text of document

Security sector reform (SSR) opens a window of opportunity to transform security policies, institutions and programmes by integrating gender issues. The Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkit is an initial response to the need for more information and analysis on gender and SSR 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.

Through comprehensive full-length Tools and shorter, more concrete Practice Notes, the Gender and Security Sector Reform Toolkitaddresses the following areas:

  • Security sector reform
  • Police reform
  • Defence reform
  • Justice reform
  • Penal reform
  • Border management
  • Parliamentary oversight
  • National security policy making
  • Civil society oversight
  • Private military and security companies
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Gender training for security sector personnel
Each tool provides sector specific information including an introduction; the rationale for why integrating gender strengthens the reform processes; practical actions to integrate gender into reform initiatives; and an overview of particular gender and reform issues in post-conflict, transitional, developing and developed country contexts.

(Adapted from author)