EUMS launches its Missions and Operations Gender Monitoring Team (MOGMT)
Incorporating the Gender Perspective
Military operations in today’s world require a diversity of qualifications and resources to ensure that peace and security is achieved and maintained. Women are disproportionately affected by armed conflict but their participation, experiences and perspectives, as part of an integrated approach, are paramount to conflict resolution and lasting stability.
The reform of the security and justice sectors is key to ensure stability and sustainable peace in conflict-affected regions. However, such transformation can only be successfully achieved if the rights, needs and perspectives of the entire population are considered and addressed.
Working with an integrated gender perspective positively contributes to the achievement of the objectives of crisis-management missions and operations through improved situational awareness and comprehensive understanding. It also fosters a more comprehensive engagement with different parts of the population and strengthens the credibility of a mission by clearly signalling the EU’s determination to promote solutions that benefit all: men, women, boys and girls.
Promoting gender mainstreaming within CSDP missions and operations
The EU is committed to improve its internal gender balance within the EU institutions, including in CSDP missions and operations. Currently, women constitute 24% of international staff in civilian missions, while in military missions and operations women make up 7% of total staff. Efforts to ensure gender balanced teams is an important element since diversity enhances the effectiveness of the missions. It is also important for the image of the missions, to set a good example and show that women are represented at all levels and in all functions.
A gender perspective is considered a cross-cutting element to be integrated in all aspects of the mandate delivery. A range of specific projects and activities related to human rights and gender equality are carried out in parallel. In addition, dedicated Gender Advisers and focal points are strategically positioned in all CSDP missions and operations to facilitate gender mainstreaming, while the overall responsibility for gender mainstreaming lies with the Heads of Mission and Commanders.
Currently, the EU deploys over 5,000 women and men on 11 civilian and 7 military crisis-management missions and operations, under the framework of its Common Security and Defence Policy. These Missions and Operations understand that the complementary skills of both male and female personnel are essential for the effectiveness of EUMS operations, and adhere to the principle of gender equality in all activities. Not only because it as a fundamental EU value, but because gender mainstreaming renders crisis management more efficient.
Promoting global stability, assisting our partners in addressing their security challenges and enhancing their resilience are key components of the EU's foreign policy, as is the promotion of core values such as the respect for human rights and gender equality. Some key areas of consideration when promoting the gender perspective in the CSDP Missions and Operations include:
-
Leadership commitment - The gender responsive leaders “lead by example” and use their position of authority to communicate their commitment to working towards gender equality in the organizational entity.
- Technical capacity and expertise- The appointment of specific gender and human rights advisers and focal points in the CSDP missions and operations will assist the senior management to implement the concrete measures to integrate the gender perspective internally and externally.
- Organisational culture- It is important to ensure that norms, customs, beliefs and codes of behaviour in the organisation support the goal of gender equality. We need to ensure that conducive working conditions, adequate training and codes of conduct are in place.
- Accountability - We needs to make sure that there is an adequate monitoring and reporting framework to ensure that we take concrete action beyond strategy documents and policy statements.
All these areas are important in the overall strategy for effective integration of the gender perspective in the CSDP missions and operations.
The EUMS Missions and Operations Gender Monitoring Team (MOGMT)
Against this background, the EUMS created the Missions and Operations Gender Monitoring Team (MOGMT) as a forum for regular interaction to discuss gender related cooperation at the operational level.
The goals of the MOGMT are as follows:
- Guide and support to the operational implementation of the Gender Action Plan III in the military CSDP missions and operations;
- Support planning and implementation of gender related policies and activities;
- Share lessons learnt and best practices and promote active networking among gender advisers and focal points;
- Promote capacity building and training
- Enhance monitoring and regular reporting about gender related activities
- Promote strategic communications and visibility of gender related activities
- Promote partnerships with NATO, United Nations and other international organisations
The establishment of the Missions and Operations Gender Monitoring Team will be a key enabler in implementing a Gender perspective and a valuable resource to the EU’s CSDP (Military) Missions and Operations.
The intent is that the MOGMT interactive forum will help our collective efforts to implement the gender equality agenda internally and externally in the military CSDP.