"Reaffirms the importance of appropriate expertise on issues relating to gender in peacekeeping operations and post-conflict peacebuilding in accordance with resolution 1325 (2000), recalls the need to address violence against women and girls as a tool of warfare, and encourages UNMIS as well as the Sudanese parties to actively address these issues".
Security Council Resolution 1590

The long years of war in Sudan have compounded gender inequalities in the socio-political and economic spheres and have escalated the scale and incidence of gender-based violence. A sustainable basis for the peace process therefore requires investments in upholding and protecting the equal rights of women and men.

Mandate

UN Security Council Resolution 1590 (March 2005):

• "To assist in the establishment of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme as called for in the CPA, with particular attention to the special needs of women and child combatants…" [4(a)(iv)]
• "To assist the parties to the CPA, in addressing the need for a national inclusive approach, including the role of women, towards reconciliation and peacebuilding" [4(a)(vi)]

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (October 2000):

• 4. "Further urges the Secretary-General to seek to expand the role and contribution of women in United Nations field-based operations, and especially among military observers, civilian police, human rights and humanitarian personnel"

• 5. "Expresses its willingness to incorporate a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations, and urges the Secretary-General to ensure that, where appropriate, field operations include a gender component"

• 8. "Calls on all actors involved, when negotiating and implementing peace agreements, to adopt a gender perspective, including, inter alia:

• 10. Calls on all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, and all other forms of violence in situations of armed conflict;

• 13. Encourages all those involved in the planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration to consider the different needs of female and male ex-combatants and to take into account the needs of their dependants.
  

Role of the UNMIS Gender Unit:

The GENDER UNIT was established in March 2005, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1590, which reaffirms SCR 1325, to implement a plan of action to guide the process of gender mainstreaming in all aspects of the work of UNMIS. The Gender Unit is based in Khartoum and is led by Amina Adam, Senior Gender Advisor, and currently consists of a team of 6 staff (see the Gender Contact page). In the coming months, the Gender Unit will be establishing 9 offices around the country, including in Darfur, the South and the East. Once fully operational, the UNMIS OGA will be one of the largest of DPKO's Gender Units.

The work of the UNMIS Gender Unit includes:

• Providing leadership and guidance for all components of UNMIS on gender mainstreaming;
• Providing training on gender issues for all incoming peacekeeping staff to UNMIS;
• Facilitating the organization of meetings/workshops/seminars aimed at raising awareness and understanding of gender issues;
• Providing support to the Government of National Unity (GoNU) and Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and the people of Sudan to facilitate the implementation of policies and programmes to advance gender equality within the context of the CPA;
• Liaising and collaborating with other UN agencies working on gender issues, governmental bodies and civil society organizations, including women's organizations, and academic institutions; and
• Developing a gender action plan specifically targeted to the Darfur emergency which will focus on prevention and response measures to address the high rate of reported incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.

TOP