Women, Peace & Security - Gender-Sensitive Approaches in Peace Missions

Women’s empowerment, protection and participation in the context peace and security gained momentum with the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1325 in 2000. 20 years and several resolutions, action plans and projects later, many still struggle to consider inclusivity and gender sensitivity in their work in peace operations. At the same time, adopting gender-sensitive perspectives is essential to successful and professional crisis management.
Taking stock of the last 20 years, the course reviews and discusses the experiences and lessons learned from the application of gender-sensitive approaches in the context of EU, UN, OSCE and other peace operations. This course allows participants to reflect on and further develop the tools and skills they need to work in the area of gender, peace and security.

The course is organised under the umbrella of the Training Partner Platform and takes place in English.

Upon completing the course, participants will:

• Have understood and reflected on gender identities and roles in armed conflict and in peacebuilding;
• Recognise different types of sexual- and gender-based violence during armed conflict;
• Be familiar with UNSC Resolution 1325 and follow-up resolutions on women, peace and security, and know examples of how they apply in practice;
• Be able to conduct a gender analysis and stakeholder mapping of conflict settings;
• Know how to integrate a gender perspective into their work / into the programming of peace operations.

This course is designed for civilian, police, and military experts who work in peace operations or international organisations in the area of peace and security.

1. Relevance of the topic and reflections on gender identities
2. Gender roles and SGBV in armed conflict and peacebuilding
3. UNSC Resolution 1325 and related resolutions
4. Analysis tools: conflict and gender analysis, stakeholder mapping
5. Awareness of sexual exploitation and abuse
6. Basics of gender-sensitive project management

Prior experience with the issue of gender is not necessary. Experience in peace operations or with international organisations in crisis areas is a prerequisite.

ZIF Trainings

ZIF trainings are practice-oriented and reflect the operational reality of peace operations and (post-)conflict areas through exercises, role plays and scenario-based courses. Moreover, our trainings focus on the main areas of competence outlined in the ZIF Concept “Civilian Expert”. Additionally, we base our courses on contemporary concepts of adult education and peer learning. We try to create a joint learning space where participants and the training team can exchange freely and critically, and which provides room for self-reflection. Another important goal of our courses is to encourage a change of perspective. One way of achieving this is by mainstreaming the comprehensive approach (civilian, police, military), which is made possible through our cooperation within the German Training Partner Platform.