Integration of Women and Gender Perspectives in the Armed Forces Workshop: Canada and Malaysia partner to advance the Women, Peace, and Security agenda in the Indo-Pacific

May 4, 2023 - Defence Stories

By Lieutenant-Commander Delphine Bonnardot, PhD, Public Affairs Officer and instructor IWGPAF Malaysia

From 27 February to 3 March 2023, the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre (MPC) hosted a regional iteration of the Integration of Women and Gender Perspectives Workshop (IWGPAF) funded and administered through Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Program (MTCP).

The MTCP was established in 1963 to build defence relationships with select, non-NATO countries through the delivery of sponsored language, professional development, and operational cooperation training in Canada and abroad. The Program has 70 member countries in total, 12 of which are located in the Indo-Pacific. Malaysia acceded to the MTCP in 1966 as one of its earliest members, and has proven an excellent co-host for a range of regional activities.

“Today, Canada, through its collaboration with the Malaysian Armed Forces, has emphasized its support to UNSCR 1325 and the WPS agenda. I am very pleased to see so many countries represented from across the Indo-Pacific region. Your presence here, and your collaboration with the Canadian Armed Forces, are emblematic of the kind of cooperation envisioned in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Courses like this help our armed forces to develop essential skills, but they also build awareness and a more equitable society.”

His Excellency Wayne Robson, High Commissioner of Canada to Malaysia.

36 officers and non-commissioned officers from Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, and Thailand attended the IWGPAF workshop at MPC. Around 70% of participants were women, and around 30% were men, demonstrating the universal importance of the topics addressed.

“Discussions on the issue of gender and gender perspectives show how important it is to recognize that we are not utilizing our full population of both men and women. We are leaving 50% of our talent to the side, and that 50% we want to have deployed in the best possible way to help the growth of our countries and our militaries.”

Brigadier-General Fadzillah Abdullah, Director General, Defence Operations and Training Division, Malaysian Armed Forces, and WPS Champion.

Information was presented on topics such as equity, integration, and bias, gender-sensitive conflict analysis, United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and the development of UNSCR 1325 National Action Plans, including security force responsibilities.

“The benefits of these training courses are undeniable. They develop and enhance trusting cooperation on both sides and are a tangible demonstration of the commitment to collaboration, cooperation, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. We are proud to ensure that skills and available talent are utilized in militaries around the region through our partnership with the MTCP.”

Colonel Mohd Zamri Bin Adbullah, Commandant MPC.

Participants discussed barriers to women’s inclusion in the armed forces, as well as to their deployment on peace support and other operations, and learned about initiatives to address these at the global, regional, and national levels. Principles of change and leadership were explored and Canadian and Indo-Pacific best practices were shared. Throughout the workshop, participants practiced using Gender-Based Analysis Plus to support operational planning.

“Training offers like the IWGPAF uphold, reinforce, and deepen cooperative engagement, with the broader aim of reinforcing regional stability and the rules-based international order upon which our collective security and prosperity depend.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Jason King, Canadian Defence Advisor to Malaysia.

This cooperative initiative is a concrete example of the value Canada and the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces place on fostering both gender equity and our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, in line with the recently-released Indo-Pacific Strategy. Its success demonstrates the importance of learning from one another and working together for a more inclusive, secure, and prosperous future where diversity is strength. 

Links

• MTCP - Military Training Cooperation Program - Activities
• MPC About MPC | MPC
• WPS Women, peace and security