Building capacity for mainstreaming gender into the security sector oversight in Poland

Oversight mechanisms play a key role in holding security sector institutions accountable. They receive and investigate complaints, issue reports and recommendations. Internal oversight includes the presence of inspectors, auditors and investigators within security sector institutions. External oversight encompasses relevant ministers, parliament, the judiciary, civil society, as well as national human rights institutions. Through their monitoring and advocacy work, and recommendations to improve the functioning of security sector institutions, oversight mechanisms can contribute to a more inclusive working environment within security sectors institutions and support the inclusion of a gender perspective in security operations, leading to an improved security of communities, and increased public trust in the security sector.

The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (WPS Agenda) act as catalysts for the advancement of gender equality in the security sector. WPS National Action Plans offer a supportive framework for a gender-sensitive and human rights-compliant security sector.

The training will support oversight bodies in Poland to integrate a gender perspective into their monitoring, reporting, oversight and advocacy activities related to the security sector.

Specific objectives for the training are to:

1. raise awareness on the importance of integration of a gender perspective in the security sector oversight work and institutions and provide practical guidance on how to do it;
2. introduce Women, Peace and Security National Action Plans as exercise for monitoring activities;
3. provide guidance on tools and methods for effective oversight like handling complaints and investigations or using trauma-informed approach in interviewing.

The training will benefit approximately 20-25 senior to mid-level representatives of oversight mechanisms in Poland. This will include the NHRIs, as well as other external and internal oversight mechanisms.

Background

A diverse and gender responsive security sector is more effective in meeting the diverse needs of the communities it serves. Effectiveness of the sector’s operations is closely tied to availability of trust and accountability to diverse groups of women and men. Institutional capacities are needed to incorporate diverse perspectives in the oversight, management and provision of security.

Contact

In case of questions, please reach out to Lisa Heemann, Human Rights Officer, ODIHR, at Lisa.Heemann@odihr.pl, and Sanja Nikolin, CHANGE Project Officer, at Sanja.Nikolin@odihr.pl