Gender Mainstreaming PCVE Policy and Programming
A compilation of work analysing approaches to mainstreaming gender in policy and practice to preventing and counter violent extremism and terrorism.
Over the past 25 years, there has been a growing emphasis on the necessity of incorporating women's perspectives and a gender lens into peace and security policies and programming. This movement has been significantly influenced by the 10 United Nations Security Council Resolutions pertaining to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, which commenced with Resolution 1325 adopted in 2000.
Nonetheless, there exists a considerable ambiguity at the policy level regarding the objectives of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and gender mainstreaming strategies, along with occasional deficiencies in institutional dedication to the gender equality objectives they advocate.
RUSI’s efforts in this area underscore several practical challenges associated with high-level policy and the ensuing programming. The outputs detailed below provide an analysis and recommendations on how to convert counter-terrorism policy commitments into impactful gender-mainstreaming strategies for preventing and countering violent extremism programming.
Funding
European Union
Much of this work showcases learning over the course of multiple European Union funded projects and programmes which ran from 2014-2024.
Aims and objectives
This project highlights some practical challenges for implementation of high-level policy into on-the-ground programming and recommendations for meaningful gender-mainstreaming in the design, implementation and evaluation of P/CVE programming. Examining lessons learned from past programming helps to inform current policy conversations and improve P/CVE moving forward.
Analysing extremism and terrorism from a gender perspective is crucial for comprehending the influence of socio-cultural gender norms and role expectations on individuals' involvement in violent extremism. Gender influences every aspect of extremism, from recruitment processes to individual participation and the narratives that shape perceptions of such involvement. The prevalent gender-blind approach in security research, policy, and programming has resulted in a considerable deficiency of data regarding these gender dynamics.
Furthermore, analyses of extremist actors frequently employ gendered stereotypes. Males are typically characterised as the primary aggressive and active threat, whereas females are generally categorised as either victims or peacebuilders, or at best, relegated to lesser supporting roles in the context of violent extremism.
Our team aims to confront these gendered stereotypes and strengthen the evidence base by incorporating a gender lens into our research on extremism and terrorism, as well as strategies for preventing and countering these threats.
Project impact
The following are some of the key recommendations that have emerged to help improve approaches to mainstreaming gender in CT and PCVE programming – helping to close the gap between policy level commitments and on-the-ground implementation:
- Gender essentialisms and homogenisations hinder the outcomes of P/CVE programming.
- Commitment to mainstreaming gender must be institutionalised.
- A gender-responsive approach needs to be taken in all P/CVE program design, implementation and evaluation.
- Gender analysis should be included in P/CVE programme monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
- P/CVE programming must be supported comprehensively.
- Empowerment of women is not enough, equality is key.