10
Oct
“Security is the centre piece for social justice” – Ambassador Monica Juma
Fahamu – Networks for Social Justice and the African Security Sector Network (ASSN) co-convened a two-day dialogue to undertake a critical review of methodologies currently utilised to mainstream gender in ongoing peace and security processes in Africa.
The dialogue, which took place on 6-7 October 2011 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was timely in its objective to assess and sharpen engagement around these methodologies as transformative instructional tools for the operationalisation of the AU Security Sector Reform Policy Framework, once adopted in 2012.
Overall discussions during the dialogue also assessed how these methodologies can be systematically and structurally embedded into Africa’s peace and security agenda in order to transform gendered hierarchies in our societies. As underscored in the keynote speech delivered by Ambassador Monica Juma, “security is the centre piece of social justice”.
The methodologies assessed include: a) policy advocacy, reviews and development; b) design of modules and delivery of gender training to security personnel; c) establishment of gender structures within security institution including through offices, units and/or appointment of gender focal points; d) institutionalisation of quotas for recruitment of women; and e) collaboration with women’s groups and institutions. Think pieces on each of these methodologies fed into plenary discussions and working groups, which generated key recommendations at the end of the meeting.
The dialogue emerged with two main sets of recommendations. The first are specific to the different methodologies listed above. By emphasising that none of these methodologies are ends in themselves the meeting proposed a number of strategies aimed at evolving holistic approaches that engage at different levels, all the actors currently engage in SSR work on the continent. ASSN and Fahamu as co-convenors of this dialogue will endeavour to take these on board their work, with ASSN doing so in the context of its continued support to the AU SSR Office.
The second set of recommendations were specifically directed at the AU Women and Gender Development Directorate (AU-WGDD) which suggested a critical review of the draft AU Gender Training Manual for Peacekeepers. A conversation with the Director of the AU-WGDD, Ms. Litha Musyimi-Ogana resulted in the positive receipt of this recommendation.
Other representatives from the African Union who spoke at the dialogue include – Dr. Tarek Sharif, Head of Defense and Security Division of the AUC Peace and Security Department; Ms. Yetunde Teriba, Deputy Director AU-WGDD, Dr. Norman Mlambo AU- SSR unit. Also represented were UN Women – AU Liaison office, NEPAD, AU SSR Office, African Leadership Centre (ALC), Institute for Security Studies (ISS), FEMNET, Urgent Action Fund – Africa, Femmes Africa Solidarite (FAS), and Equality Now.