14 GENDER IN OPERATIONS – How HQ ARRC Mainstreams UNSCR 1325 and Lessons Identified from TRIDENT JAGUAR 15
HQ ARRC made quick work of implementing this structure. The mainstreaming structure and its resulting Standard Operating Procedure was initially tested in November 2013 during the HQ’ s annual Exercise ARRCADE FUSION. Lessons Identified through this exercise and subsequent exercises resulted in the following amendments and additions to the initial structure:
• Incorporate a Gender Focal Point in the Operational Analysis Branch( OAB)
• Add technical level Gender Focal Points in the G2 Intelligence Branch to ensure that data is appropriately gathered to conduct gender analysis
• Ensure the G7 Scenario Development Manager is trained on the Gender Perspective
HQ ARRC at Ex TRIDENT JAGUAR 15, Stavanger, Norway
GENDER IN OPERATIONS
How HQ ARRC Mainstreams UNSCR 1325 and Lessons Identified from TRIDENT JAGUAR 15
Captain Evette Barnes- Pitchford, US Army
Background
With the introduction of UNSCR 1325, the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Women Peace and Security, Gender 1 as a human right has risen to a fervent global priority particularly in political arenas and security agendas. This resolution and subsequent related resolutions as well as the call for National Action Plans have highlighted not only the persistent gap in access to opportunities for women in economic participation, higher education and political positions, but also the greater health and safety risks, and less political representation. It also drew attention to the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women 2 and the exclusion of women as participants in the peace process. When military operations are implemented to stabilize such conflicts or respond to crisis, it becomes the inherent responsibility of that force to ensure that its actions take into account both intended and unintended consequences of its actions. As a result of NATO’ s commitment to support UNSCR 1325 the North Atlantic Council( NAC) endorsed a NATO Action Plan( NAP) outlining guidance to NATO and Partnered Organisations to mainstream the principles of UNSCR 1325 in NATO-led Operations.
Concurrently the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe( SHAPE) and Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation gave direction to its internal Command Structures as well as participating military organisations to support the principles of UNSCR 1325 through the issuance of Bi-Strategic Directive 40-1 3, Integrating UNSCR 1325 into the NATO Command Structure.’ This guidance covered gender topics in regards to mainstreaming of UNSCR 1325 with specific attention to the manning of forces, education and training of formations, standards of behaviour, operational planning and reporting, and the measures for protection of women during armed conflict. Subsequently, NATO gave direction through ACO to its Joint Force Commands and Rapid Deployable Corps to hit milestones towards the implementation of the Bi- Strategic Directive.
Implementation of the Bi-SC D 40-1 at the ARRC
Following the ACO Gender Conference in June 2013, the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps( ARRC) in the United Kingdom committed to the following targets towards achieving Gender Mainstreaming in its Command Structure:
• Charge DCOS Operations with the oversight of mainstreaming gender perspectives in HQ operations
• Re-designate a civilian Crisis Establishment( CE) post to establish a Gender Advisor( GENAD) post on CE
• Establish a Gender Field Advisor( GFA) role as a secondary duty to a Peacetime Establishment( PE) post within the HQ to oversee the Gender program in the HQ in garrison activities
• Identify a Gender Focal Point( GFP) in each Branch in the HQ in order to ensure that a Gender Perspective is incorporated into all divisional activities
• Consider gender analysis during the Mission Analysis Step of the Comprehensive Operations Planning Directive( COPD)
• Ensure that HQ staff are prepared and capable of incorporating gender perspectives as part of directing and managing a comprehensive approach
• Establish a Gender Lead role within the Exercise Control; screen for knowledge and experience not only with Gender at the political and legal level but more specifically with how it can be realistically applied to military operations( knowledge of Bi-SC D 40-1)
• The role of the GENAD( CE) should be filled with a subject matter expert with equivalent stature / rank to the HQ decision makers
• Collective training on the mainstreaming of gender perspectives must be an HQ wide event tailored to the operation
Gender Mainstreaming Exercised on TRIDENT JAGUAR 15
In May 2015 the ARRC deployed to TRIDENT JAGUAR 2015, at the Joint Warfare Centre( JWC) in Stavanger, Norway. The aim of this exercise was to train and evaluate the ARRC in a Joint Task Force HQ role. The scenario required the HQ to conduct planning and execution of a non-Article 5 Crisis Response, Small Joint Operation in a high intensity, complex, military-civilian, asymmetric, failing state environment using the SKOLKAN 2.0 scenario. The ARRC chose to include the mainstreaming of a gender perspective as one its Training Objectives for this exercise.
The SKOLKAN scenario presented a number of challenges for the application of the gender perspective. The basis of the scenario surrounded a growing regional crisis in the failing, fictitious Arnland which is struggling with challenges across the PMESII( Political, Military, Economic, Social, Infrastructure and information) domains, and requested NATO support to their failing government. The following two challenges resulted from the scenario’ s relatively embryonic development and the complexity of this scenario.
First there is a lack of depth in country book information. The SKOLKAN scenario is based on the real world geography of the Baltic region; the HQ Area of Operations was primarily based in Arnland; essentially the southern-most region of Sweden. With little data provided in
1 Gender refers to socially constructed differences in attributes and opportunities associated with being female or male and to the social interactions and relations between women and men. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or a man in a given context. In most societies, there are differences and inequalities between women and men in roles and responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken and access to and control over resources, as well as in decision-making opportunities. These differences and inequalities between the sexes are shaped by the history of social relations and change over time and across cultures.( UN Gender Statistics Manual). 2 Disproportionate effects include child care, shifts in labour force, access to healthcare, and sexual violence. 3 NATO Bi _ SC Directive 40-1: Integrating UNSCR 1325 and Gender Perspectives in the NATO Command Structure Including Measure for Protection during Armed Conflict.