Consultant to Develop a Guidance Note on Integrating Gender into Counter Terrorism policies and Programmes for the UN System

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the UN, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

There have been a number of recent developments regarding the integration of gender into the UN’s counter-terrorism agenda. While the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted by consensus in September 2006 does not include a reference to gender, the fifth review resolution of the Strategy (2016) calls upon all Member States to empower women and consider the impact of counter terrorism measures on women’s human rights and women’s organizations. It also recommends that Member States consider implementing the recommendations from the Secretary General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism which includes gender equality and empowering women as one of its seven priority areas for action. The Plan essentially mainstreamed language on the importance of a human rights and gender approach, as well as the commitment to earmark funds within these efforts to further women’s rights and empowerment.

The UN human rights system also addresses the issue of women’s human rights and terrorism and violent extremism. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) General Recommendation No. 30 on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations recommended that State Parties, “reject all forms of rollbacks in women’s rights protections in order to appease non-State actors such as terrorists, private individuals or armed groups.” The Human Rights Council requests the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism to inter alia, “integrate a gender perspective throughout the work of his/her mandate.” The 2009 report to the General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur focused on a gender analysis of counter terrorism measures.

An increasing number of resolutions of the Security Council reference the deliberate targeting of women and girls rights by terrorist groups, the need to protect civilians including women and girls in areas affected by terrorism, and to ensure the participation of women and girls in developing strategies to prevent and counter terrorism. Resolution 2178 (2014) focuses on the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and recognizes for the first time the need to empower women as a mitigating factor to the spread of violent extremism and radicalization. In October 2015, the Security Council adopted resolution 2242, providing one of the most important pronouncements of this body to date on the issue of countering terrorism and violent extremism, and the linkages to women, peace and security. It delivers a roadmap and issues a call to action for ensuring a gender perspective in all efforts; that an emphasis is placed on prevention responses; and that women and women’s groups are given meaningful opportunities to participate in the decision-making processes, particularly at senior levels, where strategies are designed and implemented. While there is a growing awareness on the importance of harnessing women’s role in CVE, little have been done in compiling/ mapping good practices, challenges and lessons learned in integrating women’s rights and gender in CVE efforts.

It is clear that the UN system has a mandate to integrate gender and human rights in its support to Member States in the field of preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism. UN Women is recruiting a consultant to develop a guidance note that documents good practices and lessons learned to support the integration of a comprehensive gender perspective in the UN’s assistance to Member States in this area. Under the overall supervision of the Peace and Security and the Human Rights Teams at UN Women, and in close collaboration with OHCHR’s New York Office Global Issues Section, the consultant will analyze good practices, and provide recommendations for strengthening, reinforcing and scaling up existing interventions that have proven effective.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of Responsibilities

Conduct a mapping of interventions related to preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism in terms of their integration of a gender perspective. This will include a review of existing examples and analysis, and consultations with a range of stakeholders, including UN entities, other international organizations, national authorities and policy-making institutions, civil society, academics and experts.
Based on the mapping, provide recommendations for the UN system on the key issues that need to be addressed in a guidance note, case studies distilling potential good practices, and concrete examples for the UN on integrating women’s human rights, and more broadly, gender, in efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism to pursue.
Compile recommendations into a draft guidance note that will be shared for comments with key stakeholders including members of the CTITF Working Group on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law; and to the newly established CTITF Working Group on adopting a Gender Sensitive Approach to Preventing and Countering Terrorism.

Deliverables

Submission of an annotated outline to UN Women and OHCHR for comments within 15 days from the start of the contract.

Submission of a mapping for the guidance note to UN Women and OHCHR for comments within one month from the start of the contract.
Guidance note that integrates the findings of the commissioned mapping within 3 months from the start of this contract. The guidance note should include relevant case studies detailing good practices and lessons learned. UN Women, OHCHR and members of the CTITF Working Group entities will provide comments and feedback to the consultant.
Incorporate the feedback and present the final guidance note to UN Women and OHCHR.

Competencies

Strong knowledge of women’s rights, women’s rights networks and human rights concerns related to counter terrorism are essential. Knowledge of latest developments in the women, peace and security agenda, the UN’s frameworks on counter terrorism and related inter-governmental processes are an advantage;

Excellent analytical and writing skills;

A past publications record is highly desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A master’s degree in gender studies, law, development, political science, international relations or a related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of experience addressing gender and human rights issues in the context of peace and security, counter terrorism, policy-making and/or equality, anti-discrimination and development efforts.

Language:

Fluent in English;

Other UN languages an asset.