Gender and Security Sector Reform and Transformation

The Gender and Security Sector Reform and Transformation programme has a two-pronged goal that is on the one hand intended to strengthen the integration of gender and women's issues into, and enhance the capacities of female security sector personnel to engage in security sector reform processes. On the other hand the programme seeks to demystify the prevalent perception that security is a male preserve by facilitating the involvement and engagement of women's civil society groups in traditional security discourse, policy formulation, institutions and programmes.

The programme is takes off from the premise that African security institutions and structures are still male oriented, driven and dominated. This is due to the following reasons: 1) African societies are highly patriarchal in nature and in most communities, security structures and operations are still largely seen as a male preserve. 2) Insecurity is not yet largely recognized as a core aspect of the vulnerability of the poor --and with the feminization of poverty and conflict in Africa, the vulnerabilities of women and girls are further exacerbated. 3) African communities are yet to recognize the added-value of women within the security sector and as such do not prioritize their concerns when engaged in processes such as SSR. 4) There is little or no communication and synergy between women in the security sector, which is needed to act in a cohesive manner to ensure women's inclusion, equal status and participation and gender mainstreaming in the new/emerging security structures.

Thus through its Gender and Security Sector Reform and Transformation programme, WIPSEN-Africa seeks to:

1. Strengthen the integration of gender and women's issues in security sector reform processes.
2. Enhance the capacities of female security sector personnel to effectively engage the system.
3. Address gender based violence within the security sector.
4. Demystify prevalent perception of the security as a male preserve and facilitate the creation of an efficient, accountable and participatory security sector that is responsive to the needs of women, men, boys and girls.