Gender and security

Mainstreaming Gender in Security Policies and Programmes

UN 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. The United Nations has been at the forefront of mainstreaming gender into all its policies and programmes. UNDSS 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 UN Security Management System (UNSMS) and our Security Risk Management (SRM) processes.

Additionally, the establishment of a permanent Gender and Inclusivity Unit within UNDSS 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 UN security officer on standby for crowd control UNDSS / Chris Kariyo

The UN Security Management System (UNSMS) 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 UNSMS 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.

UNDSS gender strategy

A group of women taking a group photo outside a building

A group of UN personnel after a gender training UNDSS / Chris Kariyo

In addition to working to ensure gender-responsive operations, UNDSS is in the process of implementing its second edition of the UNDSS Gender Strategy. The update in the UNDSS Gender Strategy is led by the ASG, and supported by UNDSS 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 UNDSS to promote an inclusive work environment for all. After receiving feedback from UNDSS 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. UNDSS / Chris Kariyo

UNDSS is working to incorporate gender perspectives into all UN Security Management System (UNSMS) training curricula. The UNDSS 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 UNDSS members are required to complete UN 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 UNICEF female security experts, is currently coordinated by UNDSS with UN Women and UNHCR also holding coordinating roles. Requests for WSAT are coordinated between UN Country Teams or Security Management Teams and UNDSS.

Commitment to Inclusivity

UNDSS 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, UNDSS 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 UNDSS mandate, recognizing that diversity, equity, and inclusion education and actions are integral to UNDSS’ effectiveness, efficiency, and credibility around the world.

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

Further Information

Three female security officers conducting a mirror search on a vehicle

UN Security officers doing a vehicle search at an entry of a UN compound UNDSS

For more information on the work on Gender in UNDSS, please contact the UNDSS Gender Advisers at UNDSSGenderAdvisers@un.org. For more information on the efforts undertaken across the UN Security Management System (UNSMS) by UNDSS and its Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) partners, please contact undss.policy@un.org.