2-3 October 2012
ACCRA, Ghana – A stakeholders’ forum on ‘The Impact of and Persisting Challenges to Effective Gender Mainstreaming in African Security Institutions‘ was held on 2-3 October 2012 at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, Ghana.
The forum, co-convened by the African Security Sector Network (ASSN) and the Women Peace and Security Institute (WPSI), marked the end of the ASSN’s Gender and SSR project under the sponsorship of the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
It brought together 30 participants from West Africa, Southern Africa and Europe, among them representatives of security institutions, research institutions, local UN offices (UN Women and UNDP), governmental institutions, Civil Society Organisations involved in Women, Peace and Security issues and independent consultants.
Proceedings began with an opening address by the Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Brigadier-General Benjamin Freeman Kusi, who highlighted similar efforts by KAIPTC to mainstream Gender within the Security Sector. Brigadier-General Kusi informed participants that KAIPTC had so far conducted baseline studies on Gender mainstreaming within security institutions in 11 African countries, and that WPSI had been founded as a result of some of the recommendations of the baseline studies, its mission being to support the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 on Women, Peace and Security.
He expressed his delight at the collaboration that had made the forum possible and pledged KAIPTC’s full support, saying he hoped the outcome of the forum would have an impact on the broader African Gender and SSR agenda.
General Nii Carl Coleman, Co-Executive Director of African Security Research and Dialogue/ASDR (the ASSN’s regional hub in West Africa) also delivered a speech on behalf of the ASSN network, thanking the participants for taking the time to participate in the forum and welcoming them to freely deliberate on the objectives of the gathering.
The ASSN’s Jane Abubakar then outlined the core objectives of the stakeholders’ forum, which were as follows:
1.To provide a platform for information and data sharing on the status of Gender Mainstreaming between African Security Institutions;
2.To stimulate discussion on the impact of and persisting challenges to Gender Mainstreaming in the African Security Sector; and
3.To identify useful and timely strategic policy actions for advancing best practices and overcoming the challenges identified.
The first day centred on presentations about the findings of baseline studies conducted by the ASSN and partner institutions.
In recognition of the diverse backgrounds of the participants, WPSI Programme Manager Tolu Lewis-Tamoka gave a preliminary background presentation on Gender and SSR, the purpose being to equip all the participants with a functional understanding of the issues involved in Gender mainstreaming within the Security Sector.
This was followed by three presentations on the baseline studies conducted by consultants contracted by the ASSN. These were Jean Millimounou (Guinea Conakry), Michèle Pépé (Côte d’Ivoire) and Florence Kaindaneh (Sierra Leone). Each presentation formed the basis for a 15-minute discussion session moderated by Professor Kossi Agokla of the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), during which participants discussed the findings and contributed their views.
There were also presentations on baseline studies by ASSN partners. Joana Opare, a Gender consultant, made a presentation for WPSI/KAIPTC while Kristi Valasek from the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) made a presentation on her organisation’s baseline studies. This session was moderated by Dr. Cheryl Hendricks of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS).
The second day focussed on presentations on international policies relating to Gender mainstreaming within the context of SSR. These included a presentation on UN mandates on Gender and SSR by Kristi Valasek; the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Policy Framework on Gender and SSR by Dr. Cheryl Hendricks; and the African Union SSR Policy Framework by Dr. Awino Okech. These presentations were followed by discussions on the Gender and SSR related policies in a session moderated by Dr. Justina Dugbazah of the Africa Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Participants then entered a plenary session to discuss the impact of and challenges to effective Gender Mainstreaming in African Security Institutions, followed by another session on policy recommendations and next steps. These sessions were moderated by General Coleman, Dr. Justina Dugbazah and Afua Ansre of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
The second half of the day dwelt on a third plenary session centring on the following two core questions:
1. What practical steps can be taken to rally political support for Gender-related work in SSR at the national, regional and global levels?
2. How can female enrolment in security institutions be improved, and how can the numbers be sustained?
This session was moderated by Abratha Doe, the National Coordinator of the Women, Peace and Security Secretariat in the Liberian Ministry of Gender and Development, while Dr. Cheryl Hendricks captured the salient points of the discussions.
The forum was formally closed by General Coleman, who thanked the participants for their insightful ideas and engaging discussions, and for making it possible for the objectives of the stakeholders’ dialogue to be met.