Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ

Gender and security

Mainstreaming Gender in Security Policies and Programmes

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ 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. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ has been at the forefront of mainstreaming gender into all its policies and programmes. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Security Management System (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSMS) and our Security Risk Management (SRM) processes.

Additionally, the establishment of a permanent Gender and Inclusivity Unit within Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ security officer on standby for crowd control Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS / Chris Kariyo

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Security Management System (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSMS) 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSMS 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.

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS gender strategy

A group of women taking a group photo outside a building
A group of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ personnel after a gender training Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS / Chris Kariyo

In addition to working to ensure gender-responsive operations, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS is in the process of implementing its second edition of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS Gender Strategy. The update in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS Gender Strategy is led by the ASG, and supported by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS to promote an inclusive work environment for all. After receiving feedback from Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS 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. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS / Chris Kariyo

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS is working to incorporate gender perspectives into all Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Security Management System (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSMS) training curricula. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS members are required to complete Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵICEF female security experts, is currently coordinated by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵHCR also holding coordinating roles. Requests for WSAT are coordinated between Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Country Teams or Security Management Teams and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS.

Commitment to Inclusivity

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS 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, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS mandate, recognizing that diversity, equity, and inclusion education and actions are integral to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS¡¯ effectiveness, efficiency, and credibility around the world.

To learn more about some of the terms used on this page, please refer to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women Gender Equality Glossary

Further Information

Three female security officers conducting a mirror search on a vehicle
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Security officers doing a vehicle search at an entry of a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ compound Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS


For more information on the efforts undertaken across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Security Management System (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSMS) by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDSS and its Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) partners, please contact undss.policy@un.org.