Gender and security | Department of Safety and Security

Mainstreaming Gender in Security Policies and Programmes

惇蹋厙 personnel work with significant security challenges, including those that expose them to the risk of violence or other security-related threats. These threats may be a result of several factors, including their gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. 惇蹋厙 has been at the forefront of mainstreaming gender into all its policies and programmes. 惇蹋厙DSS recently increased its efforts in this regard, working with the partners of the Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) to develop and improve gender sensitivity and responsiveness in all aspects of the 惇蹋厙 Security Management System (惇蹋厙SMS) and our Security Risk Management (SRM) processes.

Additionally, the establishment of a permanent Gender and Inclusivity Unit within 惇蹋厙DSS serves to provide support regarding gender-related challenges and opportunities. The unit actively reviews policies within the department to ensure gender-sensitive requirements are met.

Policy & guidelines

A female security officer in uniform standing infront of a crowd — A 惇蹋厙 security officer on standby for crowd control 惇蹋厙DSS / Chris Kariyo

The 惇蹋厙 Security Management System (惇蹋厙SMS) Policy on Gender Considerations in Security Management was developed to raise awareness and guide security decision-makers in assessing and addressing security-related threats, risks, and vulnerabilities of all United Nations personnel, especially those most vulnerable. The policy affirms the United Nations＊ commitment to ensuring that its security management system is more gender-sensitive and that it provides appropriate and effective responses, management, and mitigation measures.

The 惇蹋厙SMS Policy on Gender Considerations in Security Management is supported by ※Guidelines on Gender-Based Security Incidents§. These Guidelines provide practical advice to security personnel on the preparation and response to gender-based incidents.

Between 2016 and 2017, the Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) Working Group on Gender Inclusion developed a Manual on Gender Inclusion in Security Risk Management and updated the 2006 Security Guidelines for Women.

惇蹋厙DSS gender strategy

A group of women taking a group photo outside a building — A group of 惇蹋厙 personnel after a gender training 惇蹋厙DSS / Chris Kariyo

In addition to working to ensure gender-responsive operations, 惇蹋厙DSS is in the process of implementing its second edition of the 惇蹋厙DSS Gender Strategy. The update in the 惇蹋厙DSS Gender Strategy is led by the ASG, and supported by 惇蹋厙DSS Gender and Inclusivity Unit. The unit is working with leadership and Gender Focal Points to ensure the updated strategy is clear and concise, highlighting the commitment by 惇蹋厙DSS to promote an inclusive work environment for all. After receiving feedback from 惇蹋厙DSS members and outside evaluators, the Gender Strategy 2.0 has five main objectives:

Encourage Gender Mainstreaming by developing a Gender-Responsive Policy
Strive towards Gender Parity
Enable and Strengthen Gender Responsive Leadership
Support and Build on an Inclusive Work Environment
Highlight Equitable Career Growth Opportunities

Gender focal point training

Three people in a room with one talking on a tabletop microphone — A gender focal point participant addressing a training session. 惇蹋厙DSS / Chris Kariyo

惇蹋厙DSS is working to incorporate gender perspectives into all 惇蹋厙 Security Management System (惇蹋厙SMS) training curricula. The 惇蹋厙DSS Training and Development Section (TDS) is committed to ensuring that its training programmes are gender-sensitive and to this end, observations and suggestions would be most welcome.

All 惇蹋厙DSS members are required to complete 惇蹋厙 Women＊s ※I Know Gender§ and ※Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse§ training upon appointment, and additional gender-related training are offered both in person and online. For example, ※Women＊s Security Awareness Training§ (WSAT) is a short course delivered by women security professionals, for women, and aims to improve security awareness, understanding, and capability. This programme, initiated in 2008 by WFP and 惇蹋厙ICEF female security experts, is currently coordinated by 惇蹋厙DSS with 惇蹋厙 Women and 惇蹋厙HCR also holding coordinating roles. Requests for WSAT are coordinated between 惇蹋厙 Country Teams or Security Management Teams and 惇蹋厙DSS.

Commitment to Inclusivity

惇蹋厙DSS provides security and support to diverse communities and individuals all over the world facing a range of security risks and threats. To provide security in varying contexts, 惇蹋厙DSS understands the value a diverse workforce brings to accomplishing its goals, and the responsibility of ensuring a safe and inclusive working environment and empowering historically underrepresented groups. Continuing to evolve as an organization to become a more inclusive and gender-responsive department is intrinsically linked to the 惇蹋厙DSS mandate, recognizing that diversity, equity, and inclusion education and actions are integral to 惇蹋厙DSS＊ effectiveness, efficiency, and credibility around the world.

To learn more about some of the terms used on this page, please refer to the 惇蹋厙 Women Gender Equality Glossary

Further Information

Three female security officers conducting a mirror search on a vehicle — 惇蹋厙 Security officers doing a vehicle search at an entry of a 惇蹋厙 compound 惇蹋厙DSS

For more information on the efforts undertaken across the 惇蹋厙 Security Management System (惇蹋厙SMS) by 惇蹋厙DSS and its Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) partners, please contact undss.policy@un.org.