EU Positions and Actions

Gender and Disarmament in the EU

In this video you will learn about the EU’s approach to incorporating gender in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control policies.

This video will cover:

• EU official policy approach
• EU Action Plans and Strategies
• CSDP Missions
• the role of gender advisors

Gender in the EU – Some Actors

European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) FEMM is a Committee of the European Parliament focused on the challenge’s women continue to face despite successes in women’s empowerment. Work to move beyond gender mainstreaming in all EU policies to making gender equality a priority in the EU.

Recognizes that gender equality results in better legislation. Link to webpage: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/femm/about

EU Task Force on WPS The task force is a useful forum of exchange and partnership between the EU institutions, Member States and civil society. It was established in 2009 as an informal task force. In 2019 the name changed to EU Task Force on WPS. It meets four times a year:

• twice at the strategic level, which includes members of the EEAS and Presidency of the Council of the EU; and
• twice at the technical/working level.

Political and Security Committee (PSC)

The PSC is a permanent body within the European Union and is responsible for the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). As such, the PSC is home to the WPS Agenda and EU’s implementation. The body meets at the ambassadorial level and serves as a preparatory body for the Council of the EU. Link to PSC: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/preparatory-bodies/political-security-committee/

EEAS Principal Advisor on Gender and UNSCR 1325

The position was established in 2015 to increase visibility and importance of gender issues within EU’s external policy and action as well as enhance EU engagement with international, regional and national actors on gender- and WPS-related policies and actions. The EEAS Principal Advisor on Gender and UNSCR 1325 regularly reports to the PSC. The position is currently held by Ambassador Mara Marinaki of Greece.

European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

EIGE works within the framework of the EU policies and initiatives. It does not contribute to Common and Foreign Security Policy though. The Institute is however an integral actor in promoting equality between women and men across the European Union and offers expertise to the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Member States and Enlargement countries on gender. Link to EIGE website: https://eige.europa.eu/

High-Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity

The informal group is comprised of representatives responsible for gender mainstreaming at the national level and is chaired by the European Commission. The group holds regular meetings focusing on the EU gender equality agenda. It is also the main forum for planning follow-up of the Beijing Platform for Action inside the EU, including developing indicators. It also prepares the EU for the annual meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Reference Link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality/who-we-work-gender-equality/high-level-group-gender-mainstreaming-and-advisory-committee-equal-opportunities-women-and-men_en

Case Study: EUFOR RD CONGO

Operation EUFOR RD Congo: mandated to support the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) during the national election process, both for President and Members of Parliament. The elections would enable the first democratic vote in 40 years. For the first time the EU appointed a gender advisor to the operation with the task of sensitizing, training, monitoring and supporting officers and soldiers with different responsibilities.

Ms. Charlotte Isaksson, a gender expert in the Swedish Army, was appointed as gender advisor in 2006.

Ms. Isaksson also trained multiplicators – both women and men who could act as gender advisors and pass their knowledge and skills to others.

Gender Activities included

• observations
• planning
• direction and guidance on gender issues
• weekly gender report
• monthly statistics and information on female participants
• production of “soldier’s card” for troops on the ground containing clear instructions on gender issues, such as sexual abuse, and how to deal with child soldiers. The cards served as a framework for standard actions and behaviors to follow when confronted with different scenarios during the mission.
• Isaksson, Charlotte, Presentation on EUFOR RD Congo Mission, EU Operation Headquarters Postdam, September 2009, accessible on Public Intelligence website: https://publicintelligence.net/eufor-rd-congo/

Most of the time women have not been asked for their views and perceptions. Yet, if you are to integrate a gender dimension into any activity, you have to assess the different impact those activities might have on women and men and in order to do that, it is a paramount to collect as much first hand information as possible.

Charlotte Isaksson

Read full document

Gender Coach Programme on SALW

The video provided by the United Nations Development Programme and the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearninghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) highlights facts and figures that exemplify the gender differences in small arms and light weapons (SALW) when it comes to ownership and misuse of firearms.

It also focuses on work being done by the Gender Coach Programme, which was launched in 2017, to promote the inclusion of gender in SALW control policies and best practices. Please note that the video does not include narration.

The programme

1. increases capacities of SALW Commissions to mainstream gender in SALW control
2. improves access to sex-disaggregated data
3. increases knowledge and expertise on gender aspects of SALW
4. increases participation of women in SALW control policy making

The work is supported and funded by the EU:

• EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 of 19 November 2018
• EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/2011 of 17 December 2018

Women in Civilian CSDP Missions

Between 2007 and 2013 there was an increase in women participation in Common Security and Defense Policy, or CSDP, missions. Overall, the proportion of women rose from 20% to 26% and the absolute number of female civil personnel in CSDP missions increased from 240 to 869. However, most personnel appointments are made through national secondments – meaning Member States’ individual efforts in achieving gender balance and collecting gender-disaggregated data is as important as EU-wide policies and commitments.