READY FOR TODAY – EVOLVING FOR TOMORROW
GENDER ADVISING AT HQ ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS – A SUCCESS STORY?
Capt Nina Schommers( DEU-A)
Adopting a gender perspective means considering the socially constructed attributes of men, women, boys and girls, thus taking the entire population into account, whilst recognising their differences. The point to prove is that the implementation of gender perspective into the planning and conduct of military operations will have a positive effect on immediate, and more importantly long term, mission success.
officer. The focus of the GENAD, however, is directed outward. He or she observes the behaviour and the effects of a military unit in its assigned area of operations. GENADs focus on the civilian population in theatre, not on equality and equal rights within HQ ARRC or NATO Forces.
“ Women’ s participation in global security isn’ t a favour to women. There can be no lasting peace without equal inclusion of both men and women.”( Secretary General Stoltenberg, 2016).
Diversity- Representatives from 11 NATO headquarters, 12 nations, soldiers and civilians came together to discuss the integration of the Gender Perspective within NATO
For this purpose, the position of Gender Advisor( GENAD) at HQ ARRC was introduced in 2014. During peacetime establishment, the GENAD position is a part-time job which becomes a full-time position in exercises and missions, as staff numbers are increased. A GENAD is the point of contact for the commander when it comes to gender-specific issues during missions.
Viewing operations from a different angle turned out to be a real necessity for HQ ARRC for the first time in 2015, when it assumed its role as a Joint Task Force. At the moment, the most important job of the GENAD at HQ ARRC is to raise awareness for gender-related issues. This includes clarifying the term and its impact on the conduct of operations. HQ ARRC follows the NATO guidelines on the subject and has now firmly established its position as both an advocate and a pioneer in the field of gender at the highest tactical level.
Why is the Integration of the Gender Perspective Important for HQ ARRC?
Often, the GENAD is associated or even confused with an equal opportunities
It is a fact that wars have different effects on men, women and children. All too often, conflicts cause great harm to the civilian population, especially to those who are particularly vulnerable. Genderbased crimes such as mass or gang rapes, trafficking of women and girls, slave trade, forced marriages and the recruitment of child soldiers are often used as warfare strategies. This is why they have to be assessed as part of the enemy situation, just like the type, strength and behaviour of the enemy forces.
NATO has officially applied the gender perspective since 2009. The work is based on NATO’ s Bi-SC Directive 40-1(“ Integrating UNSCR 1325 and Gender Perspectives in the NATO Command Structure Including Measures for Protection during Armed Conflict”). The directive determines that the gender
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