Swiss FDFA - International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers

The initiative for this document, which is the first of its kind, was launched jointly by Switzerland and industry associations with the support of main governmental clients, humanitarian organisations and civil society. The International Code of Conduct (ICoC ) was elaborated in the last 14 months with the objectives of improving industries’ standards and ensuring respect for human rights and humanitarian law by private security service providers. The ICoC is based on the assumption that companies must respect human rights independently from the condition of national state law. For this reason the ICoC repeats important prohibitions like the prohibition to kill, the prohibition to torture, to discriminate or the prohibition of human trafficking.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Security Sector Reform and Gender (Tool 1)

 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.

 More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Police Reform and Gender (Tool 2)

 This 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

 More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) -Defence Reform and Gender (Tool 3)

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.

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

More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Justice Reform and Gender (Tool 4)

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.

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

More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Penal Reform and Gender (Tool 5)

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

More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Border Management and Gender (Tool 6)

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 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

More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector and Gender (Tool 7)

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

More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - National Security Policy-Making and Gender (Tool 8)

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

More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Civil Society Oversight of the Security Sector and Gender (Tool 9)

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 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

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Private Military and Security Companies and Gender (Tool 10)

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 

More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Security Sector Reform Assessment, Monitoring & Evaluation and Gender (Tool 11)

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.

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

More information can be found here.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Gender Training for Security Sector Personnel – good practices and lessons learned (Tool 12)

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

More information can be found here.  

ACT Alliance - Gender Policy Principles - 2008

Gender role differences may play a significant role when a crisis occurs. When disasters hit or a conflict erupts, emergency responses often fail to pay enough attention to the different needs, capacities and contributions of women and men, girls and boys. Gender concerns need to be addressed specifically, as women and men are affected differently.

NATO, CWINF (Committee on Women in the NATO Forces) Guidance for NATO Gender Mainstreaming, 2003.

The Committee’s principal mission is to advise NATO’s military leadership and member nations on critical issues and policies affecting service women in the NATO Forces. It is a consultative body which aims at promoting the most effective utilisation of the capability of service women in the Armed Forces throughout the Alliance. Furthermore, it supports the Alliance nations by providing informed guidance on gender-related and diversity issues and more specifically, operations-related lessons learnt from service women.

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), Megan Bastick, Integrating Gender in Post-Conflict Security Sector Reform, Policy Paper 29, 2008.

SSR strategies that promote the recruitment of women in security services, and ensure that women participate equally in security decision making, contribute to creating an efficient and legitimate security sector. More broadly, the integration of gender issues into SSR processes increases responsiveness to the security needs and roles of all parts of the community, strengthens local ownership of the reform process and enhances security sector oversight. It is a key condition for achieving successful and sustainable SSR through a legitimate and locally owned process.

Swiss Development Cooperation, Gender and Humanitarian Aid -Why and how should SDC integrate gender into Humanitarian Aid?  2008.

This report on Gender and Humanitarian Aid provides detailed issuecentered information and methodological support for mainstreaming gender equality in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian aid interventions.

This report «Gender and Humanitarian Aid» is meant in priority for SDC staff, coordinators, consultants and partners whose responsibility it is to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate humanitarian aid interventions. It makes explicit the gender dimensions of humanitarian aid in dealing with issues such as human trafficking, sex work, HIV/AIDS, genderbased violence, physical security, water and sanitation, shelter and site planning, food and agriculture in emergency situations. Under each one of these issues, it lists key questions and formulates minimal guidelines in support to SDC staff, consultants and partners’ efforts to mainstreaming gender equality in humanitarian aid interventions. At the end it lists other relevant publications, checklists, guidelines.

United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Women, Girls, Boys and Men: Different Needs - Equal Opportunities, November, 2007. (also available in Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish) USD 25

The target audience for this Handbook is field practitioners responding to humanitarian emergencies that result from conflict or natural hazards. Humanitarian Coordinators and others in leadership positions will also benefit from this tool as it provides guidance on how to analyse the situation from a gender perspective, implement gender-aware activities and measure effectiveness. The Handbook aims to help promote the ultimate goal of protecting and promoting the human rights of women, girls, boys and men in humanitarian action and advancing the goal of gender equality.

United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Women, Girls, Boys and Men: Different Needs - Equal Opportunities, November 2007. (also available in Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish) The target audience for this Handbook is field practitioners responding to humanitarian emergencies that result from conflict or natural hazards. Humanitarian Coordinators and others in leadership positions will also benefit from this tool as it provides guidance on how to analyse the situation from a gender perspective, implement gender-aware activities and measure effectiveness. The Handbook aims to help promote the ultimate goal of protecting and promoting the human rights of women, girls, boys and men in humanitarian action and advancing the goal of gender equality.

Save the Children USA-George Washington University, NGO Security: Does Gender Matter? , May 2006.

Geneva Call & PSIO (Program for the Study of International Organizations),  Women in Armed Opposition Groups speak on War, Protection & Obligations under IHL & HRL, Workshop report 8.2004

We know that the role of women as actors in armed conflict has traditionally been neglected and undervalued. Has their potential in the promotion of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHR) within armed opposition groups also been overlooked? Additionally, we recognize that in a number of ways women and girls experience and respond to armed conflict differently than men and boys. Would these differences make women within armed opposition groups potentially more receptive to supporting and promoting IHL and IHR? In seeking to learn more about the experiences of women and girls within armed opposition groups and to answer questions about their potential roles in promoting IHL and IHR, a unique workshop was held in August 2004, in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by Geneva Call and the Program for the Study of International Organization(s) of the Graduate Institute of International Studies. During the four day workshop, 32 women from 18 armed opposition groups met with a small group of peace and human rights activists, humanitarian actors, and scholars. The 32 women were members of armed opposition groups currently in armed conflict.

This report covers the key protection and obligations for women and girls in armed opposition groups under IHL and IHR.  It documents and analyzes the ways women experience empowerment in armed opposition groups, and the ways they are disempowered. The report then moves to cover key disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) issues raised by the women participants. It concludes with an investigation into the potential gains and obstacles facing women and girls within armed groups and those wishing to work with them in promoting and enforcing IHL and IHR within armed opposition groups. Each section is followed by key lessons learned from discussions with women in armed opposition groups.

Security Management Initiative, Professional Development Brief number 2, Gender and Aid Agency Security Management, 2009.

This brief argues that aid agencies would benefit from incorporating gender as one of a number of contextual factors informing security management. At the same time, insufficient understanding of how to mainstream gender can inadvertently lead to unsafe practices. It begins by providing an overview of key definitions – namely “gender,” “security,” “gender mainstreaming,” and “gender neutrality” – and discussing the lack of a “field” of literature or practice on gender and security management. Drawing on the growing raw evidence base on how gender affects aid agency security, as well as on a slim body of literature, it shows that there are three key issues for gender and aid agency security management. Perspectives from research and practitioners on how to address these issues to strengthen the gender-security management link are presented, including further quantitative and qualitative research, with attention to appropriate methodologies. Aid agencies can apply this research to policy and practice through mainstreaming gender into security management; making staff aware of the wide range of ways in which gender is relevant; instituting context-specific assessments of gender-specific risks; integrating gender-specific risks into the security assessments that are conducted in emergency contexts; and involving gender experts in a reciprocal process.

This ICRC study is an extensive reference document on the impact of armed conflict on the lives of women. Taking as its premise the needs of women, e.g. physical safety, access to health care, food and shelter, in situations of armed conflict, the study explores the problems faced by women in wartime and the coping mechanisms they employ. A thorough analysis of international humanitarian law, and to a lesser extent human rights and refugee law, was carried out as a means to assess the protection afforded to women through these bodies of law. The study also includes a review of the ICRC's operational response to the needs of women as victims of armed conflict. Overview of contents and executive summary

ICRC, Addressing the needs of women affected by armed conflict- an ICRC guidance document, 2004.

Building upon the ICRC study Women Facing War, this guidance document intends to translate the findings of the study into practical terms. Aimed at staff concerned with the planning and implementation of humanitarian programmes, this document is intended as a means of sharing ICRC's experience in this area with other organisations. It is an important tool which can be used to address women's needs on an operational level, illustrating best practices and lessons learned.

Geneva Call and the Program for the Study fo International Organisation(s) (PSIO), Women in Armed Opposition Groups in Africa and the Promotion of IHL and Human Rights,  2005.

What role do women leaders within armed opposition groups play in promoting or violating international humanitarian law and human rights law during situations of armed conflict? Are there ways for national and international humanitarian and human rights actors to work more effectively and successfully with such women to promote these laws during armed conflict? In addition, during the tenuous periods of peace negotiations, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), and the emergence of new forms of power-sharing governments in the aftermath of conflict, what are the key human rights issues that arise for women associated with armed opposition groups? Finally, what are the ways for such women to work in conjunction with NGOs and civil society organizations to address some of the key issues of violence and inequality that propelled many of them to join the armed opposition in the first place? During November 2005, a workshop was held is Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to address these questions, learn more about the experiences of women and girls within armed opposition groups in Africa during and after armed conflict, and put forward recommendations regarding their potential roles in promoting international humanitarian law and human rights law in conflict and postconflict periods.

United Nations Department of Safety and Security, Be Safe Be Secure: Security Guidelines for Women (New York: UNDSS, 2006).  

The Guidelines are the result of specific requests from women staff members at the UN. “They are not designed to be comprehensive but to complement the existing security measures at a given duty station or mission, and to assist [readers] in taking control of [their] own personal safety and security”. The Introduction states that male colleagues should also be familiar with the Guidelines “in order to better share the concerns of women and to provide the right assistance at the right time”. The Guidelines cover travel to the duty station; arrival at the duty station; security while travelling; security in hotels; security at home; transport; personal safety; sexual harassment; and rape awareness (prepared with the assistance of St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Centre Rape crisis Programme, New York).

Alexis Gaul, Michael Keegan, Majorie Lawrence, & Maria Lya Ramos, “NGO Security: Does Gender Matter?” (Research paper, Capstone Seminar in International Development, May 8, 2006).

The George Washington University researchers were commissioned by Save the Children USA to examine the question of “how gender impacts security for non-governmental organisations’ field staff”. Their findings were that NGO security continues to be a male-dominated field; security policies and procedures are perceived to be gender-neutral; implementation of security policies and procedures is influenced by local cultural norms; ad hoc data collection of incidents and lack of gendered trend analysis may limit the ability of security directors to react to changes in the risk environment; most trainings do not include a gendered component, but women are more likely to incorporate trainings that include a gender component; and gender-specific risks exist and need to be addressed. They recommend further research; better communication between gender and security specialists; assessment of gender-specific risks and their incorporation into trainings; systematic security incident reporting and analysis, with consideration of gender; and local and international NGO partnerships for enhancing security.