Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
37. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the mechanisms the Defence Forces have in place to ensure that UNSCR 1325 is at the centre of all defence activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34623/21]
View answer297. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence his views on the capacity of the Defence Forces to deal with the increased use of sexual and gender based violence in conflict zones. [34701/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 297 together.
Ireland implements UNSCR 1325 through our National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security. Irelands 3rd NAP on Women Peace and Security was published in June 2019 and covers a five-year period up to 2024. Its implementation is overseen by an Oversight Group, which includes representatives from both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces.
Ireland is committed, through its third NAP on WPS, to women’s protection in fragile and conflict-affected zones and the prevention and combatting of all human rights violations against women, including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Gender-Based Violence.
In line with the NAP for the implementation of UNSCR 1325, the Defence Forces launched their own “Defence Forces Third Action Plan for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 and Related Resolutions” in December 2020. The third iteration of the Defence Forces action plan has three key priorities spanning the life of the plan, namely,
a. reinforcing initiatives already in place whilst aiming to capture their effectiveness;
b. the consideration of the effects of harmful masculinities and discriminatory gender norms;
c. the development of Defence Forces processes addressing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The Defence Forces WPS Action Plan commits to the comprehensive training of peacekeepers on the gendered impacts of conflict, increasing the participation of women in peacekeeping missions, ensuring trained Gender Advisors are deployed to Peacekeeping missions and strengthening the gender responsiveness of the UN. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces report on the implementation of these commitments to the Oversight Group for Ireland’s national level plan.
The Defence Forces are a member of the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence (ICGBV). The Consortium works in over 50 countries worldwide to prevent, mitigate and respond to gender based violence.
The Defence Forces have gender advisers in each of the military headquarters at home and gender focal points are appointed to overseas missions. The gender advisor in Defence Forces headquarters has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions within Defence Forces policies, programmes and operations both on island and overseas.
The promotion of a strong gender perspective is a key element in all our peacekeeping operations and is an integral element to improving the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping. It is widely acknowledged that the presence of women contributes greatly in resolving conflict with local populations on the ground. It broadens the skills set available within a peacekeeping mission and provides role models for women, both at home and abroad.
The Defence Forces is an inclusive, equal opportunity organisation that encourages participation of women at all levels, throughout the Defence Forces.
