The Defence Team’s support for the Women, Peace and Security agenda
The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda recognizes a critical truth: gender inequality is not only a social issue, it is a root cause of insecurity and a driver of instability that can lead to conflict in any context. As one of ten federal partners implementating this agenda in Canada, the Defence Team is committed to integrating WPS considerations into every aspect of our work. This means that our mandates, strategies, and tactics at the policy, operational, and institutional levels are not only responsive to gender considerations, but actively contribute to building a more inclusive, stable, and secure environment both at home and abroad.
On this page
What is the WPS agenda?
The WPS agenda was established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (you are now leaving Canada.ca) in 2000, recognizing the unique and disproportionate effects of armed conflict on women and girls. The WPS agenda emphasizes the protection of human rights in conflict zones, the role of women in peace processes, and the integration of gender perspectives in all security efforts. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has been the coordinating department for Canada’s national action plans on WPS since 2000. GAC delivered Canada’s third national action plan in 2023: Foundations for Peace: Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (C-NAP 3).
Why is our support for the WPS agenda important?
Gender equality is the foundation for a more peaceful world. The absence of gender equality has a negative impact on both domestic and international security. When the Defence Team implements the WPS agenda internally and in operations, this enables not only meaningful participation and career success for all Defence Team members, but also peace and security for vulnerable groups in crisis and conflict situations. It also provides greater appreciation understanding the threats, risks, and other factors that affect humans in situations of conflict and crisis.
Canada joins numerous international partners (you are now leaving Canada.ca) in advancing the WPS agenda as an important tool to help tackle a wide range of emerging global security threats.
How does the WPS agenda impact Defence Team members?
As noted in the Defence Team’s third WPS implementation plan published in 2023 – Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Implementation Plan for Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security – 2023 to 2029 – we are committed to strengthening our operational planning and implementation by factoring in how people’s identities, backgrounds and experiences influence their experiences.
This commitment prioritizes the meaningful inclusion and participation of women across the institution, particularly women with diverse identities. The CAF considers intersectional factors in evolving security and defence issues, such as conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence and the impact of conflict on children.
What is the relationship between Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and the WPS agenda?
GBA Plus is a way to use evidence and analysis to make sure we develop, implement, and maintain policies, programs, services, initiatives and operations that are inclusive and responsive to the varying needs of the people they affect. The “plus” in GBA Plus acknowledges that people have multiple factors that makes up their identity, such as their sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, religion, age, or mental or physical disability. The intersection of identity factors can influence how a person experiences policy, programs, services, initiatives, and operations. This interdependence of multiple identity factors is often referred to as “intersectionality.”
Operationally, an intersectional analysis can provide a snapshot of human factors at play in an area of operations. It can also identify how social, political, and economic norms cause power imbalances which may lead to threats and risks that affect humans in situations of conflict or crisis. . Building awareness of biases based on who people are – in the CAF and within other countries – across all stages of military operations enables the CAF to better plan, assess, and conduct operations by identifying and responding to the actual and diverse needs of vulnerable populations, as well as threats to own forces, and to develop more effective response options.