Gender Mainstreaming in DPA

The Department of Political Affairs is committed to integrating a gender perspective into its work while also contributing to broader forums for advancing gender mainstreaming throughout the U.N. system.

DPA is a member of the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) and the Inter-Agency Taskforce on Women, Peace and Security. The Department also works closely with the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement for Women (OSAGI), and with members of the Network on issues related to gender mainstreaming, women, peace and security, and the implementation of Security Council Resolution
1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security.

Recent activities geared toward gender mainstreaming within the Department include:

  • Workshops for headquarters and field-based staff on ways to integrate Security Council Resolution 1325 into their work in the areas of conflict prevention, peacemaking and peace building.
  • Expert group meetings – cosponsored with OSAGI and the Division for the Advancement of Women -- on Peace Agreements as a Means for Promoting Gender Equality and Ensuring Participation of Women, and on Enhancing the Role of Women in Electoral Processes in Post-Conflict Countries.
  • DPA’s Electoral Assistance Division, in collaboration with OSAGI, produced a Handbook on Women & Elections as a guide for promoting the participation of women in elections.
  • Workshops and seminars held by DPA field missions for members of governments and civil society on gender equality, Security Council Resolution 1325 and women’s participation in elections.

DPA’s objectives for further integrating a gender perspective in its work include:

  • Incorporating gender dimensions into the planning of DPA assessment missions, peace building and peace support missions;
  • Incorporating gender mainstreaming guidance in instructions to envoys of the Secretary-General and facilitating their efforts to integrate Resolution 1325 (2000) into peacemaking activities;
  • Ensuring that a gender analysis is carried out in the development of all DPA policies, programmes and reporting;
  • Develop guidance and capacity-building tools, and providing the necessary training for headquarters and field-based staff;
  • Appointing gender advisers and focal points for women in all DPA missions;
  • Supporting and facilitating local women and sub-regional women’s organizations in their conflict prevention, peacemaking and peace building activities;
  • Supporting and facilitating local women’s capacity building, aimed at their increased and effective participation at all stages of peace processes, including elections;
  • Providing targeted support to transitional governments and local NGOs on implementing S/RES/1325 (2000);
  • Ensuring that gender perspectives are incorporated in all Secretary-General’s reports prepared by the Department.