Gender

 

1. Structure and mandate

The Gender Section has a physical presence in Kinshasa, Beni, Bunia and Goma.

Security Council resolution 2612 (2021) calls on MONUSCO to take full account of the cross-cutting issue of gender in all its mandated activities, to ensure the full, equal, effective and meaningful representation and participation of women at all levels, and to report to the Security Council in greater detail on this issue. Within this framework, the Gender Section supports the Mission's leadership, the different components, sections and offices in their strategic planning and operational activities to better integrate gender issues and improve women's involvement in all activities, projects and programmes. The section works on three main areas:

  

2. Priorities of the unit

Gender mainstreaming and accountability

The section strengthens the Mission's accountability through the Gender Markers, an assessment, monitoring and reporting tool, to produce results related to gender issues and the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda through gender sensitive analysis and indicators. 113 indicators were defined by the substantive and support sections. 24 gender focal points with tandems have been appointed and assist their respective sections to deliver on the indicators. The section also ensures knowledge transfer and capacity building of all staff (civilian and uniformed) on gender in peace operations through mandatory training, induction sessions and specialised training.

Women, Peace and Security Agenda and support to the Resolution 1325 2nd Generation National Action Plan

The Gender Section implements the Women, Peace and Security agenda and supports the 2nd generation NAP (National Action Plan) of Resolution 1325 of the Democratic Republic of Congo through initiatives to improve the participation and representation of women in the political and peace processes. In the political process, contacts, awareness-raising and advocacy with political actors are carried out to improve the position of women. Training is organised for women politicians and leaders on political communication and for media actors for a more equitable and gender-sensitive communication. More than 437 journalists, including 181 women, have benefited from this programme. Young women are promoted as peace ambassadors and students are trained in women's leadership. In the area of conflict resolution and peacebuilding, the section has established and strengthened the capacities of a network of more than 350 women mediators for qualitative and quantitative participation in peace efforts in their communities. In the area of protection and prevention, the section ensures that protection plans and strategies are gender-sensitive and that women can fully participate in the security governance of their communities through the mechanisms put in place, including local protection committees and early warning networks. The section has initiated a mapping of areas at risk for women and girls in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, in order to inform decision makers for appropriate action. The section is implementing an initiative to promote positive masculinities as a tool to prevent violence against women, including sexual and gender-based violence. 

Gender parity

The section supports the Mission in the implementation of the gender parity strategy. The aim is to increase the proportion of women among the Mission's staff and to create and maintain an inclusive environment within the Mission for greater effectiveness. With a representation of 28% in December 2016, the representation of women in the Mission is now 32.3% for international civilian staff, 16.1% for national staff, 5.3% for UNFICYP and 25.9% for the Police.

 

3. Main aspects of the Gender Section's co-operation with the Integrated Office

The main aspects of cooperation with the Integrated Office are support for the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas. The Integrated Office participates in the implementation of the Mission's gender strategy through the definition of gender-sensitive indicators against which it reports. In addition, the process of developing the transition plan was an important aspect in which the gender section worked to better integrate the gender dimension.