OSCE launches online training on mainstreaming gender in the security sector

At an event on 10 and 11 October in Vienna, the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department launched an online training course on mainstreaming gender in the security sector.

During the event Gender Focal Points from 11 OSCE participating States were guided through the e-learning course, learned how to benefit most from this programme and how to disseminate the acquired knowledge within their respective services.

Participants discussed existing challenges to mainstreaming gender in the field of border security and management. They also, shared good practices and success stories on how to integrate a gender perspective in their work.

Alessandra Scalia, Advisor for the Politico-Military Dimension of the 2018 Italian OSCE Chair said: “Inclusion of women increases the operational effectiveness of border security and management activities. Therefore, given the many challenges modern border management agencies face, the need to hire more women and support their career development has never been more urgent.”

On the second day of the event the Gender Focal Points engaged in discussions with the Vice Chair of the Institute for Inclusive Security on why women’s participation in the security sector is vital to preventing and resolving conflicts. Fully involving women in all efforts for the safeguarding and promotion of peace and security was also discussed. Participants also engaged in an exercise on drafting National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security as one of the new tools to translate commitments on promoting gender equality into concrete actions.

The online training course was developed under an extra-budgetary programme and made possible by the contributions of Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Norway.