In order to build effective, non-discriminatory and representative security sector institutions, it is essential to provide security sector personnel with effective and sustainable gender training and capacity-building. Preventing sexual harassment and gender-based violence perpetrated by security forces, as well as creating a respectful and healthy work environment for male and female staff are just two of the main objectives of these training processes.

The UN-INSTRAW Gender, Peace and Security Programme works to document experiences and best practices, to build knowledge communities gender training practitioners and to formulate guidelines and recommendations for the promotion of systematic and effective gender training within the security sector. In this area the Institute’s focus has been on participatory and inclusive development of action-oriented tools for practitioners, including: