This update covers the Human Rights (DROI) Subcommittee meeting on an open debate on "Follow-up to UNSC resolution 1820 concerning women, peace and security". At the meeting, women representatives from Afghanistan (Wazhma Frogh, network representative and Executive board member of the Afghan Women's Network (AWN)), DRC (Jeannine Mukanirwa Tshimpambu, Project Coordinator, Promotion et Appui aux Initiatives Feminines (PAIF)), and Liberia (Rebecca Daniels-Stubblefield, Project Coordinator, medica Liberia) spoke, then responded to questions from MEPs. The women are part of a 3 year EC funded project "Political Participation of Women and Girls in Afghanistan, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Peace and Security Policy" implemented by ISIS Europe Brussels, medica mondiale (Germany, Afghanistan and Liberia) and PAIF DRC. More information on the project: http://www.medicamondiale.org/themen/friedensarbeit/?L=1. The below briefing outlines the panellists presentations and the MEP question and response session.

• A listing of relevant EU, EP, UN, NATO, OSCE and other documents on gender, peace and security. Also lists European 1325 National Action Plans. Last update - May 2011.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

medica mondiale and ISIS Europe support women as agents of change in their communities and in national policies

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

medica mondiale and ISIS Europe soutiennent les femmes en tant qu'agents du changement dans leurs communautés et dans les politiques nationales.

medica mondiale and ISIS Europe support women as agents of change in their communities and in national policies.

This study analyses EU progress on implementing UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and related EU instruments, pertaining to the area of women and armed conflict. It gives a general global overview of where the international community stands on implementing the 2000 UNSCR 1325 on women peace and security and subsequent relevant UNSCRs 1820, 1888 and 1889 and then an analysis of EU policies and structures devised to implement the UNSCRs and EU guidelines on human rights. In CSDP missions, substantial progress has been made in integrating gender in Joint Actions, but implementing 1325 in planning and fact-finding is still not automatic. Another strong advance is the increase in Gender and Human Rights Advisors – with there now being 34 across the current missions. Work still needs to be done on strong Code of Conduct and dedicating budgets to the financing of mission activities on gender implementation. The study also concludes that the EU needs to continue to strengthen partnering and working with locals and local organisations (including in skills training) that fully understand and know how to work within their cultural and political constraints.

Study written by Giji Gya, Executive Director, ISIS Europe with the valuable assistance of Sini Cedercreutz, and current and former ISIS staff: Francisco Penalva, Sebastian Bloching and Oana Topala.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

This update covers the joint meeting of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), and the Human Rights (DROI) Subcommittee on an open debate of the study “Implementation of EU policies following the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325”, commissioned by DROI and presented to the Committees by Giji Gya, Executive Director of ISIS Europe. The focal point of this update is the exchange of views with experts from the Council, the United Nations and NGOs in the context of the 10th Anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution/UNSCR 1325 on

Women, Peace and Security.

10th Ann. 1325 (EU statements); EP study; Serbia; DRC; UNPOL; NAPs (France, Nepal); mediation

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU.

Following the meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) on 4 March 2010, this update includes the coverage of the exchange of views with experts on violence against women in armed conflict, with a particular focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU. It is also available in the Gender and Security section on our website.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS Europe is one of the authoratitive organisations working on gender & security in the EU. This e-list gives a run-down of events, action and documents in the EU on gender & security.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU. It is also available in the Gender and Security section on our website.

EU discourse and practice strives towards the effectiveness and efficiency in efforts towards crisis management and civilian missions. The majority of European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) missions are on Security Sector Reform (SSR), particularly dealing with police and defence reform. This article discusses the practicality from experiences and lessons learnt by looking at the perspectives that make SSR work.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU. It is also available in the Gender and Security section on our website.

 ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU. It is also available in the Gender and Security section on our website.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU. It is also available in the Gender and Security section on our website.

This study provides a survey of gender mainstreaming across all relevant EU external relations policy areas to give an overall picture of where the EU stands. While the study identifies a number of problems that need to be taken seriously, the general assessment is that the European Union has developed a relatively comprehensive array of policy documents and instruments now integrating gender mainstreaming and empowerment of women to its external policies. The author's main critique is that the EU approach to gender is fragmented across institutions and across pillars. Hence when recent developments and policies on peacebuilding, crisis management, prevention of violence and security-development nexus emerged, it was difficult to integrate gender comprehensively.

ISIS Europe's work on gender and security aims to ensure long-term consistency in the EU approach to gender sensitivity in responding to conflict; to review best practices; and to ensure that gender is not forgotten once it is ‘mainstreamed’. ISIS also produces a regular "Gender peace and security documents resource" update of gender and security in the EU. It is also available in the Gender and Security section on our website.

Background paper for the conference "From Commitment to Action - The EU Delivering to Women in Conflict and Post-Conflict - Implementing SCR 1325 and 1820 in EU missions: Improving immediate and long-term security for women", co-organised by the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and UNIFEM, in cooperation with the European Commission. Authors: Giji Gya, Charlotte Isaksson and Marta Martinelli.

Executive summary for the Report on ESDP missions in the DR Congo, commissioned by UNIFEM for the event

FROM COMMITMENT TO ACTION - THE EU DELIVERING TO WOMEN IN CONFLICT AND POST-CONFLICT

Implementing SCR 1325 and 1820 in EU missions: Improving immediate and long-term security for women

co-organised by the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and UNIFEM with the Commission

September 2008

By Giji Gya, Charlotte Isaksson and Marta Martinelli

This study on mainstreaming gender into ESDP missions in the DRC, commissioned by UNIFEM in preparation for the conference on 10 December 2008 "Implementing SCR 1325 and 1820 in European Union (EU) missions" has been undertaken jointly by three researchers focusing on three aspects of gender and gender mainstreaming: in EU policy and institutions; internally in the mission; and mission interaction with the local DRC population and actors on the ground.

The study found that amongst some innovative best practices by Gender Advisors in the missions, there still remain challenges and a huge lack of dedication and resources for working on gender integration so that it becomes fully mainstreamed in ESDP. There remains also a problem of resistance and scepticism on the "value" of integrating a gender dimension in missions and Gender Advisors to date have received little political support from Brussels.

Full background reports, information and report from the conference available here:

http://www.unifem.sk/index.cfm?Module=articles&Page=ArticleShow&ArticleID=93

This summary is of a UNFIEM background report for the conference on 10 October 2008 in Brussels on "Implementing SCR 1325 and 1820 in EU missions: Improving immediate and long-term security for women" co-organised by the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and UNIFEM with the Commission. It examines the unique case of Kosovo, where the ESDP mission is the first to have a full unit concentrating on gender and human rights in the mission. The foundations have been laid at institutional, legislative and policy levels for real progress in realising gender equality in Kosovo.

The Slovene EU Presidency and ISIS Europe are pleased to announce the launch to NGOs and civil society of the: Council of the EU 'Handbook on Mainstreaming Human Rights and Gender into European Security and Defence Policy' - a compilation of relevant documents (some recently declassified), guidelines and examples from CONOPS, OPLANS, MoUs, job descriptions and lessons learnt across ESDP and EU operations. Click on the link to view the handbook.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/hr/news144.pdf

October 2007 saw the launch in Brussels of the 1325 EU Partnership, which is a broad network of people and organisations (across the EU, national and international institutions (in the EU), governments, agencies, military, academia and field- and EU-based NGOs) that provides a regular meeting forum for policy makers and actors to enhance discussion and understanding of gender perspectives and implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 [31 October 2000] on women, peace and security (UNSCR 1325), within the EU. On the anniversary of UNSCR 1325 - 31st October 2000 - this is the report on the first meeting topic: A briefing on operational strategy in ESDP operations - 1325 in action. 
Summaries of speaker presentations by Lt General Vierecke, former Commander EUFOR RD Congo; Charlotte Isaksson, former gender advisor, EUFOR RD Congo; Nicole Reckinger, Human Rights Unit, Council of the EU; Anja Ebnother, Assistant Director, DCAF and Giji Gya, Programme Director, ISIS Europe.

Speaker biographies.

• The 1325 EU Partnership is a forum for policy makers, implementers and actors. The Partnership aims to provide discussion and understanding on gender perspectives and implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 [2000] on women, peace and security (UNSCR 1325) within the EU.

Presentation from the inaugural meeting of the 1325 EU Partnerhsip on 11 October 2007, to introduce the preambular and 17 operational paragraphs of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security, adopted in October 2000.

Presentation to the inaugural meeting of the 1325 EU Partnership
Gender advisor to the EUFOR RD Congo mission in 2006 presents a briefing on gender perspectives in operations. Presented at the inaugural meeting of the 1325 EU Partnership in Brussels, 11 October 2007.

Presentation to the inaugural meeting of the 1325 EU Partnership
Looking at the integration of gender perspectives and issues in SSR, Anja explains that women are highly underrepresented in security sector institutions, within Western Europe as well as post-conflict or transitional countries. Also that mainstreaming means ensuring that security and justice services are equally provided to men, women, girls and boys (for instance through increased capacity-building to address gender-based violence) and that the policies, mechanisms and capacity is in place to prevent the perpetration of human rights violations by security sector personnel (for instance through a code of conduct).

Nearly seven years after the first internationally binding agreement relating to women and security, and gender perspectives - UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) - how much has changed? This article examines implementing gender mainstreaming in the EU context of European Security and Defence Policy and explains why it is important at both strategic and operational level.