Integrate Gender Perspectives by… Staff Function

Definitions

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV): Violence that is directed against a person on the basis of gender or sex. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty. Anyone can be the victim of SGBV, however women and girls are more often the victims. When used as a weapon of war, it is referred to as “conflict-related SGBV” or “CRSGBV”, and may be considered a war crime or crime against humanity.

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA): Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. Sexual abuse is the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

• Is the deployment material, information and training available in both official languages?
• Are internal personnel policies in place as required for the operation?
• Do operational orders include the policy on sexual misconduct, and are the personnel appropriately briefed?
• Are mechanisms in place to report to higher headquarters on specific personnel issues that may have a gender component (either explicit or implicit), such as incidents of sexual misconduct?
• Have standards of behaviour been described and communicated, for example, towards other Canadian and/or coalition personnel, towards the local population, etc.?
• Have explicit policies regarding the potential for sexual exploitation been communicated?
• Is there an established process to respond, report and/or investigate suspected incidents of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse within the population?

• Did the JIPOE include a PMESII/ASCOPE assessment describing the relevant socio-cultural factors of the operation?
• What are the local population’s attitudes and opinions towards the military?
• Has the need for demographically disaggregated data been identified in the intelligence gathering, collection and analysis plans?
• Has demographically disaggregated data been collected/used for the intelligence analysis?
• Do intelligence sources include women and men?
• Is there a requirement for interpreters and handlers of different genders and/or cultures?
• Is the role of women in society well described, for example, their possible influence on preventing and/or countering violent extremism?
• Do the risk and threat assessments of the AO describe possible differences for various groups, such as women, men, girls and boys?

• Do different groups within the local population have different security concerns?
• Has the operational plan identified events within the AO that have repercussion on operations, for example, local holidays or religious celebrations?
• In kinetic operations, does the battle damage assessment include the identification of any disproportionate impacts on women, men, girls and boys?
• Have relevant demographic groups been consulted on security objectives? If not, what barriers prevent their involvement?
• Do key leader engagements include organizations that represent all vulnerable populations?
• Does the operational reporting require demographically disaggregated data (sex, age, language, culture, etc.)?
• Is the composition of CAF engagement teams reflective of any special requirements for gender, age, rank, language, etc.?
• Do the ROEs address particularities within the socio-cultural context of the AO, for example, the use or occurrence of child soldiers?
• How can gender perspectives be included in operational tasks such as patrols, reconnaissance and counterinsurgency operations?
• Have any significant movement patterns for women, men, girls and boys been identified?
• Can patrols coincide with the population’s participation in social, economic, and political tasks, for example, wood/water collection, travel to/from school, income generating activities, etc.?
• Can patrol routes reflect the different security needs of women, men, girls and boys? For example, do they include areas identified by J2 as potential locations for human rights violations?
• Have women, men, and pertinent population sub-groups been included in the preparation for negotiations, political agreements, peace talks and engagements of leaders?
• Do the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programs include special considerations for the differing roles and societal expectations of women, men, girls and boys? For example, the specific needs of local female combatants or child combatants in terms of their housing, education, employment opportunities?

• Does the sustainment concept (intra-theatre movement, storage, feeding, etc.) unduly impact vulnerable populations?
• Has an assessment of the secondary effects of logistics activities on the local landscape/population been conducted? Have the negative effects been mitigated?
• Have we considered gender+ opportunities in the contracting and commercial activities being implemented? Do these support operational objectives? What are the impacts of “positive discrimination”?
• Are contracts given to companies that have a transparent record on human rights?
• Are contracts given to qualified businesses run by women and supporting vulnerable populations in local society?
• Are there any cultural host nation considerations for hiring various companies?
• Do the selected contractors respect CAF, NATO and United Nations standards for behaviour and treat employees appropriately?
• How do you enforce discipline with contracted personnel that exploit vulnerable populations (brothels, human trafficking, and child soldiers)?
• Has the hiring and employment of local civilian personnel been appropriately analyzed to allow for equal opportunity to all members of the population?
• In the camps or static locations, are there sufficient and adequate facilities for women and men (showers, bathrooms, laundry)?
• Is there a requirement for specific medical and personal supplies to care for women and children?
• Is it necessary to have women in J4 roles (such as contracting officers) to facilitate liaison with local businesses?

• Have gender+-based deductions derived from the planning process been captured in written orders?
• Do operational plans and orders integrate gender+ perspectives into the scheme of manoeuvre and do they contain a relevant Gender+ Annex that is operation-specific?
• Does the planning team have sufficient training on integrating gender perspectives?
• In the context of a training mission, is the force composition of CAF members considered in recruiting and training initiatives?
• Where cultural constraints apply, is the training of local women by female CAF members considered?
• Are local women included in the planning process for negotiations, political agreements, peace talks and key leader engagements? What barriers prevent them from being included?
• Are security sector reform programs inclusive, specifically in terms of training and infrastructure needs?

• When planning communication infrastructure, is consideration given to minimize the impact on the local population?
• Has a gender+ assessment been conducted for the infrastructure required to support Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) (i.e. methods of communication used by locals, etc.)?

• Have all levels of Task Force personnel completed the required gender perspectives training?
• Are concepts and scenarios on gender perspectives incorporated into individual and collective training/exercises?
• Are there gender+-specific training objectives in pre-deployment confirmation exercises?
• Is training on International Humanitarian Law and applicable human rights conventions and statutes conducted?
• Is there a requirement for briefings on gender+ considerations to include cultural/societal norms and expectations of local populations?
• Is there a requirement for briefings on Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse?
• Are gender+ considerations captured in Lessons Learned?
• Are pertinent gender+ lessons learned reviewed and included in subsequent planning cycles?

• Is appropriate funding available for gender+-balanced educational and employment opportunities?
• Is there funding allocated to projects that support vulnerable populations?

• Do the liaison/engagement activities of the Operational Planning Process include groups representing equal participation, security and human rights empowerment for all vulnerable populations in the AO?
• Have links been established with organizations that respond to Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, women’s security, safety, human rights, and any other gender+ dimensions related to the operational mandate?
• Have liaisons been established with international organizations, institutions of the host government and local civil society to examine and address gender perspectives?
• Is there an understanding of the typical roles and expectations of women, men, girls and boys in society, and also in the family unit?

• Are secure environments for all CAF members factored in the planning of the construction and operations of facilities?
• Does the design and planning of camps consider the differing needs of both genders, as well as various diversity groups?
• Do facilities have personal care areas for all personnel that are safe and secure?
• Has the impact of infrastructure development on the local population been considered?
• What is the impact on the physical landscape of military infrastructure work? Has an assessment been done on its impact on the local population?
• Are vulnerable populations consulted on priorities for development construction?
• Have we assessed the impact of mobility or counter-mobility operations on specific sections of the population?

• Are male and female medical staff included in the Task Force composition?
• What are the necessary medical training, skills and equipment requirements for the area of operation?
• Are there any cultural constraints that must be considered when delivering medical assistance?

• What International Humanitarian Laws pertain to this area of operations?
• Are the gender+ perspectives of the judicial system of the area of operations considered?
• How are women, men, girls and boys treated differently by the host nation’s legal system?
• Is legal advice required for any particular gender+-related issue in the area of operations?

• Are operational objectives informed by and aligned with the Government of Canada’s stated foreign policy with regard to gender+?
• Does the country in which we will be working have a National Action Plan?
• What gender+ considerations impact the strategic or political environment in the area of operations?

• Who are the stakeholders/influencers that can facilitate communications with affected groups in theatre? Can the group of stakeholders/influencers provide a better understanding of the conflict or the conduct of operations?
• Does the communication strategy use language and messaging that considers different groups of people (GBA+)?
• Do the target audiences identified adequately reflect the true diversity of the people in the AO?
• What communications products are best suited for the specific groups of people with whom we want to communicate?
• Through what medium will target audiences be reached?

• Does the planning and conduct of Information Operations consider influencing various sub-groups of the population, and include the various methods of communication used by each? (J2/J3/J5/J9)
• Is there an understanding and/or methodology in place to respect traditions and boundaries within the conduct of operations?
  For example, cultural traditions that may place women within the private spheres of society, etc.? ( J2/J5/J9)
• Which organizations implement UNSCR 1325 within this AO? ( J2/J9)
• Which social development projects are important? Is the priority on supporting local security efforts, safety/rights of vulnerable populations, or is it broader social, political and economic development? (J2/J5/J9)
• Have we assessed the potential impact of the operation on the population, including any secondary or tertiary effects? ( J2/J3/J5)
• How can the population impact the operation? ( J2/J3/J4)
• Does the area of operation include areas of significance such as tribal/religious areas, political boundaries, internally displaced persons settlements, trade routes, etc.? Has mitigation been developed to address unintended impacts? (J2/J3/J5)
• Have relevant gender+ items been considered in the development of targeting, for example, timings, locations, pattern of life, etc.? ( J2/J3)
• Are social development projects (supporting security, safety and rights vulnerable populations as well as their social, political and economic development) considered by planners for adoption/ acceptance? (J2/J5/J9)
• Have the GENAD and/or GFP positions been identified in the personnel requirements of the Task Force? ( J3/J5/J7)
• Does the force have trained personnel to conduct the following military tasks should the need arise ( J3/J5/J7):
  • Performing searches on men, women and children;
  • Language interpretation for various sub-groups;
  • Providing medical care to men, women and children;
  • Engaging with men, women, boys and girls, or mixed-gender groups; and
  • Responding to incidents with a gender-related component, such as conflict-related sexual violence.
• Are the needs of all affected populations (male and female combatants, child combatants) included in the planning and conduct of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programs (i.e. housing, education, employment opportunities)? (J3/J5)