Gender in mine action: Guidelines and tools

There are numerous guidelines and references on gender generally, but only a few on gender in mine action specifically. The general gender guidelines are listed in our library, whereas guidelines/tools that focus specifically on gender in mine action are listed below.

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has recently launched a revised edition of the Gender Guidelines for Mine Action Programmes (March 2010). These guidelines are intended to help UN mine action field- and HQ-based personnel, as well as other stakeholders, to mainstream gender perspectives in all relevant mine action initiatives and operations. The guidelines consist of gender objectives, considerations, checklists, good practices and lessons learned for the different pillars of mine action.

The Inter Agency Standing Committee's (IASC) Gender Handbook in Humanitarian Action: Women, Girls, Boys and Men - Different Needs, Equal Opportunities provides a comprehensive framework for gender sensitive humanitarian actions in the areas of analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring, to ensure the needs, contributions and capacities of women, girls, boys and men are considered in all aspects of humanitarian response.

The United Nations Mine Action Service's (UNMAS) annual Portfolio of Mine Action Projects details a range of mine action projects that include actions against gender inequality. Specific activities include a variety of schemes aimed at:

• incorporating women into mine surveying processes;
• training women as mine clearance personnel;
• ensuring sufficient and appropriate female prostheses are available for female survivors;
• providing work and training schemes to survivors;
• raising gender and diversity awareness;
• increasing gender balance in operations teams;
• improving the extent of sex-disaggregated data in mine risk surveying and mine impact.

Instruments of International Law

A number of international law instruments are relevant to gender in mine action.

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (AP MBC, adopted in 1997)

The AP Mine Ban Convention is the cornerstone of the international effort to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel (AP) mines and provides a framework for mine action. Gender issues are not mentioned in the Convention but have been discussed at Meetings of States Parties, Intersessionals and Review Conferences. The Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014 mentions gender as a guiding principle in the introduction and in relation to Clearance, Risk Education, Victim Assistance, Cooperation and assistance, Sex and age disaggreagated data and Reporting.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions (the CCM, adopted in 2008)

The most recent international law instrument, the CCM prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of Cluster Munitions. Separate articles in the Convention concern assistance to victims, clearance of contaminated areas and destruction of stockpiles. The CCM specifically mentions the importance of gender on a number of occasions throughout its text, particularly in relation to gender-sensitive assistance. The CMC is the only convention that specifically underlines the importance of gender.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the CEDAW, adopted in 1979)

This convention provides the basis for ensuring women's equal access to and equal opportunities in political and public life, as well as in education, health and employment. States that have ratified the Convention are committed to submitting reports every four years on measures taken to comply with their obligations.

The Beijing Platform (adopted in 1995)

This declaration establishes gender mainstreaming as a major global strategy for the promotion of gender equality. Relevant to Mine Action is the "Women and Armed Conflict Diagnosis", Strategic objective E.2.; and Action 143 e.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the CRPD, adopted in 2006)

The CRPD provides a framework to address the needs of survivors and to ensure the full realization of their human rights and respect for their inherent dignity.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (the CRC), (adopted in 1989)

The mere presence of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in civilian areas violates nearly every article of the CRC. The CRC provides legal, moral and ethical frameworks for assessing and analysing the situation of children living with problems of landmines, and formulating an appropriate response. The articles that are of particular relevance for mine action are; Article 23 on physical disability; Article 24 on health care and rehabilitation and Article 39 on armed conflicts.

The Convention on Prohibitions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (the CCW, adopted in 1980)