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Consideration of the principle of equal rights and opportunities for women and men at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

03.02.2025

Consideration of the principle of equal rights and opportunities for women and men at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels

Gender approach at the strategic level

Military-political level

In order to ensure the consideration of gender issues at the tactical level, strategic goals should:

  • strengthen the role of UN resolutions on the status of women, peace, and security, emphasizing the crucial role of women in achieving sustainable peace;
  • recognize that civilians, especially women and children, constitute the majority of those suffering from conflict;
  • consider specific ways to protect women and children during the neutralization of armed groups;
  • mandate specific gender issues (for example, any disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs should apply to both women and men combatants and should not only target armed individuals);
  • formulate the mission with a gender approach - for example, instead of "forces ensuring a safe environment," it can be stated that "forces ensuring a safe environment considering the differing perspectives on security between women and men, acknowledging that women and men may understand security differently";
  • establish regular contacts with international and national organizations dealing with gender issues;
  • collect data disaggregated by gender to better understand the operational area and use them for future operational planning;
  • orient units to appoint gender advisors and coordinators;
  • allocate a budget for gender advisors and coordinators;
  • allocate funds to support initiatives that promote gender equality in the armed forces.


Recruitment and retention of female military personnel

Without an adequate number of female military personnel, it is impossible to consider gender aspects in the security sector. It is crucial at the strategic level to:

  • conduct recruitment campaigns for military service under contract to encourage women to join the armed forces;
  • provide military personnel with service conditions that inspire them to remain in the army for the long term and choose a career path;
  • promote women and men in proportion to their numbers;
  • consider equal opportunities for women and men in career paths to higher military appointments;
  • ensure that the organizational structures of the armed forces, their functions, and organizational culture support equal opportunities for recruitment and promotion for both men and women.

 

Gender approach at the operational level

The operational level acts as a link between the goals set at the strategic level and the military actions carried out at the tactical level. Operational command orders should consider the principle of equal rights and opportunities for women and men and provide specific recommendations for units to implement a gender approach at the unit level.

Operational Staff: Staffing and Procedures

The operational staff should take the following steps:

  • appoint a staff member responsible for implementing UN Security Council resolutions related to women, peace, and security;
  • consider gender-specific aspects in the main part of the operational plan and operational orders;

Insert Implementation of gender approaches in military functions at the operational level

J1: Personnel / Personnel Director

Ensure that:

  • deployment units have an officer with gender advisor duties;
  • there is a sufficient number of female military personnel who can participate in search operations, interact with local women, and those who have experienced sexual violence;
  • soldiers are informed about behavior standards towards the local population;
  • a zero-tolerance policy is in place for the use of sexual services;
  • a zero-tolerance policy is in place for sexual harassment or violence among military personnel.


J2: Operational Intelligence

  • Information collected from both men and women;
  • Data should be disaggregated to reflect the experiences of women, men, and minors;
  • Analyzed data are disseminated to commanders and staffs;
  • Procedures involve using intelligence data.


J3: Current Operations

Ensure that:

  • direct orders are given to units to conduct mixed patrols, and there is a sufficient number of female military personnel for operational search activities;
  • report templates are created that