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This paper argues that Integrating gender into Security Sector Reform increases responsiveness to the security needs of all parts of the community, strengthens local ownership of reform and enhances security sector oversight. It finds that challenges to successfully integrating gender are similar to those that have hampered SSR in post-conflict contexts: an impatience to complete programmes, leading to insufficient local ownership; and assumptions that models that have been used elsewhere can be replicated without due regard to context.

SSR is a process of transformation, which brings opportunities – and responsibilities – to create more inclusive and less discriminatory security sector institutions. Attention to gender in SSR highlights the fact that the forms of insecurity experienced by men and women are different, reflecting social processes and structures. In post-conflict settings, the incidence of violence against women and children is often higher than preceding the conflict. Sexual and domestic violence continues and increases in the post-conflict period, fuelled by the availability of weapons, trauma among men, and lack of jobs, shelter and basic services.

Not only do women, men, boys and girls experience security differently; key challenges to state security are also linked to gender and require gender-responsive SSR. The links between masculinities, youth and gun violence, for example, are well-documented.

Those designing SSR processes need to be alert to gender issues and to be willing to undertake gender mainstreaming. Gender mainstreaming in SSR should ensure that a broad range of men and women are consulted and participate in SSR. Further:

• Many donors that support SSR also do extensive work to support gender equality in post-conflict contexts. But the two areas of work are often planned and implemented independently of each other. SSR has much to gain by integrating the gender dimension; becoming more legitimate, more responsive to local needs and better able to address security and justice priorities.
• Gender issues are often of great cultural sensitivity. While external actors can encourage and support, initiatives must be led by local stakeholders. These local stakeholders represent the most important resource and opportunity for integrating gender in post-conflict SSR.
• Policies and approaches to SSR are increasingly codified by international organisations and donors. Steps should be taken to ensure that gender considerations are embedded in standard operating, monitoring and reporting procedures and training.
• Working with women's groups and others marginalised from pre-existing power structures can: build public trust; help to ground SSR in inclusiveness; and improve provision of security and justice across all parts of the community.
• SSR approaches that ignore gender will fall short of achieving their goal of effective and accountable delivery of security to all.