We are excited to launch our latest animation Gendered Community Policing: Why it matters, how to do it. The fourth thematic animation in our Better Peace Initiative series explores why gender sensitivity and inclusivity matter and how to pay attention to this in community policing initiatives.
Click here to view and download the video
The growing complexity of contemporary wars demands new and innovative approaches to their prevention and resolution. Research has demonstrated a) that when civil society and women are included in peace negotiations, peace is 54% more likely to be sustainable b) how women’s groups make significant contributions when present.
In 2000, the United Nations passed Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1325, followed by seven subsequent resolutions. Driven from the ground up by the reality of women’s experiences of living in wars and working for peace, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda recognizes the significant role and contribution of women to peacemaking and security, and their right to inclusion in negotiations pertaining to war and peace.
Nevertheless, women often face much greater barriers to inclusion than others. In 2014, ICAN launched the Better Peace Initiative (BPI). Drawing on consultations with expert practitioners and mediators, we developed the Better Peace Tool (BPT), the open source booklet that serves as a foundation for the BPI. It gives a comprehensive overview of the history of peacemaking, looks at existing barriers to inclusion and then addresses how to overcome those barriers. It offers very practical steps and is easy to use and follow.
As the demand and momentum for gendered peacemaking and women’s inclusion grows, personnel in state and multilateral institutions as well as women peacebuilders are requesting guidance to inform their work. To meet this demand, we develop innovative tools that can be used by diplomats, governments and grassroots peacebuilders to ensure inclusivity and gender sensitivity in peace making. We produce short animations on gendered thematic topics that are commonly addressed in peace processes. This past year we have tackled new themes, such as gendered devolution and most recently gendered community policing. We also deliver expert advice, tailored seminars, trainings and capacity building for a range of actors, including the UNDPA, civil society actors, governments and others. The first cut of Gendered Community Policing: Why it matters, how to do it was screened in July at our inaugural Executive Seminar and Certification Course on Gendered and Inclusive Mediation in Ottawa, Canada. Based on feedback and reactions from partners and practitioners we revised and edited and this is the final cut!
The beauty of our products is that they are easily transferable and adaptable to local contexts, while ensuring a solid foundation of the core principles, values and ‘ingredients’ necessary to ensure effective inclusivity. We translate our animations based on demand and work closely with our partners to determine their needs and ensure that these are met.
We also welcome translation requests as well as suggestions for thematic topics to tackle. Please contact helena.gronberg@icanpeaceowrk.org for more information.
We thank the UNDP, the Compton Foundation, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development for supporting the Better Peace Initiative!