1 The Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe Supporting the implementation of UNSCR 1325 by promoting a comprehensive approach to integrating a gender perspective in the security sector

2 Outline of the Presentation  OSCE’s three dimensions and how together they contribute to promoting security  OSCE’s commitments to Gender Equality and UNSCR 1325  Principals that guide the OSCE in promoting national level implementation of UNSCR 1325  OSCE’s institutions and programs that support participating States in meeting these commitments

3 The three dimensions of the OSCE  Politico-Military Dimension  Arms control, Border management, Combating terrorism, Conflict prevention, Military reform, Policing  Economic and environmental Dimension  Anti-trafficking, Economic and Environmental activities  Human Dimension  Anti-trafficking, Democratization, Education, Elections, Gender equality, Human rights, Media freedom, Minority rights, Rule of law and Tolerance and non-discrimination

4 The Human Dimension of Security  Integrating the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the development of democratic societies and strengthening the rule of law in all areas related to security  As important to the maintenance of peace and stability as the politico- military or economic dimensions.

5 OSCE commitments on Gender and UNSCR 1325  OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality 2004 that call for OSCE structures to promote the implementation of UNSCR 1325  OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 14/05 Women in Conflict Prevention, Crisis Management, and Post-Conflict Rehabilitation

6 Why the OSCE and UNSCR 1325? UN SCR 1325 supports a systematic inclusion of gender in security processes

7 Principals that guide the OSCE in promoting national level implementation of UNSCR 1325  Developing national level implementation plans is not an end in itself  Such plans must be backed up by financial means and political willingness to translate policy into practice.  UNSCR 1325 promotes the integration of a gender perspective in all areas of peace and security, including all concrete peacebuilding measures and programming  It involves a broad group of actors spanning from Police to Parliamentarians to Civil Society

8 Principals that guide the OSCE in promoting national level implementation of UNSCR 1325  Ensuring national implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security means developing and implementing practical actions that operationalize the principles it sets forth.  Supporting this process must integrate a gender perspective in the work of relevant actors, and the institutions that they represent – including the security sector and its supporting structures.  By ensuring that day to day decision making processes include a gender perspective, interventions in security related matters will benefit both men and women equally.

9 Reasons for mainstreaming gender in the security sector  Introducing a gender perspective as a part of security sector will make it more:  Accountable  Transparent  Sustainable  Responsive  It will also ensure that different needs and priorities are duly addressed

10 Relevant Institutions of the OSCE OSCE Field Missions and Offices  Provide concrete support to participating States in implementing OSCE commitments Gender Equality Unit of the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna  Works to ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed in all levels of the OSCE

11 OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw Human Rights, Women, and Security Human Rights Department  Programme objectives:  Bring added value to the field of protection and promotion of women’s human rights and gender equality  Integrate a gender perspective in the context of promoting security – through all phases including conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict reconstruction

12 Human Rights, Women, and Security Programme (ct’d)  Activities:  Contribute to the implementation of UNSCR1325 by integrating a gender perspective in the security sector and its supporting institutions – work that is based on the Gender and SSR Toolkit that was developed in cooperation with INSTRAW and DCAF  Integrate a women’s rights perspective in other areas related to security, such as conflict prevention and early warning

13 THANK YOU – QUESTIONS? Linda Öhman Human Rights Officer Human Rights, Women and Security ODIHR – Human Rights Department Warsaw, Poland