What place does gender have in mine action?

As an organization FSD’s focus is on locating and destroying landmines and unexploded ordnance to prevent accidents.  To do so FSD employs qualified personnel, operates state of the art equipment, and carries out its activities in strict compliance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and the FSD Standard Operating Procedures.  FSD works in a holistic, effective and professional manner which includes consideration of the human and social elements of mine action as well as technical considerations.

Whether FSD is working in areas with ongoing armed conflict, during the post-conflict phase, or in a development context, being able to accurately read the physical and social environment and tailor implementation strategies to yield the highest impact possible is integral to developing a strong mine action programme.  Ultimately targeting a larger proportion of the population with whom we work will allow FSD to do its job better – reach more people, destroy more explosive remnants of war, and meet internationally recognized social and technical standards.

Context Analysis

Gender does not, at its core, mean women or targeting only women and girls for special treatment.  Gender looks at how people experience life differently based on one prescribed attribute – whether they are male or female.  The Swiss Campaign to Ban Landmines defines gender as referring to the “social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men¹ ”.  Gender equality implies that “the interests, needs and priorities of both women and men are taking into consideration”.  

As it so happens, women tend, on a whole, to have their needs and priorities taken into less consideration by decision makers than those of men.  They disproportionately suffer the burden of poverty² and have less access to financial, natural, and health-related resources.  Applying a gender perspective to mine action means we insist that men and women have equal rights to the benefits produced by mine action activities.  

The concept of gender equality is not new.   The International Bill of Human Rights signed in 1948 recognises the formal equal status of men and women.  In 1978 the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women became the first legally binding international instrument for the protection of women’s rights.  More recently the Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security specifically links gender and mine action as it is “Emphasizing the need for all parties to ensure that mine clearance and mine awareness programmes take into account the special needs of women and girls.”  

Though the concept is not new, its application does not occur at the same time or in the same way even across relatively similar countries.  For example, the UK and the US granted their female citizens the right to an equal vote in the 1920s.  France, Belgium and Italy followed in the 1940’s.  Switzerland introduced women’s suffrage at the federal level for some women in 1971 although it was not until 1990 that all women in the country had the right to vote.

This example of women’s suffrage demonstrates that while gender is not at its core about women, social contexts can create a disadvantage for women which must be addressed.  Therefore, women are often the focus of gender equality movements.  In order for these movements for equality to be successful, both men and women need to work together to create a more equal playing field.  

Practical Steps to Levelling the Playing Field and Giving Whole Communities Access to the Benefits of Mine Action Activities

Male and females both have the right to benefit from FSD’s work.  How this concept is applied at the field level is influenced by the country context – including the religious, cultural and environmental factors.  However, FSD recognizes that the mine action sector is a traditionally male dominated sphere.  Because of this context it will take more effort on the part of managers and project designers to make sure that the whole community – including men, boys, girls and women – all have access to the benefits of FSD’s mine action work.  

Integrating the varying considerations, limitations and capabilities of all members of the community into a mine action programme does not have to be abstract or complex.  There are a number of publications including the UN’s Gender Guidelines for Mine Action Programmes that provide simple, concise checklists for ensuring that a programme is taking into consideration gender issues.  The checklists are organized by the four relevant mine action pillars – clearance, mine risk education, victim assistance and advocacy.

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¹ Gender and Landmines – from Concept to Practice, Page 4. The Swiss Campaign to Ban Landmines.

² http://www.mdgender.net/upload/tools/MDGender_leaflet.pdf