States are obliged to ensure that the full range of measures for responding to FTFs are
not directly or indirectly discriminatory through disproportionate impact on the rights
of women.242 Despite recognition on paper, analysis of the role of gender in counter-terrorism policies, and FTF responses in particular, remains limited.243 States should seek
to better understand the gendered dimensions of FTF engagement, including the underexplored role of masculinity in FTF mobilization244 and the impact of it on women. They
should also carefully monitor, assess and address the different impact of laws and policies on women and men. Furthermore, gender-sensitive training or educational programmes should be provided for judges and prosecutors, for border control, law enforcement, prison and probation service personnel, as well as for social services personnel
and others dealing with returning FTFs. This is critical to ensure that relevant professional groups understand the gender-specific risks and challenges women involved in or
associated with FTF-activities may face. Training is also important to enable relevant
officials to identify victims of sexual and gender-based violence, address their special
needs and also give real effect to FTF-related gender policies.245 The integration of a
gender dimension into efforts to address FTF threats and challenges is consistent with
successive UN Security Council resolutions and is required by OSCE commitments246
and equality obligations under international human rights law.
242 For more detailed recommendations on the complex relationship between gender equality and countering terrorism see UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism, Report to the UN General Assembly, UN Doc.
A/64/211, 3 August 2009. See also: F. Ní Aoláin and J. Huckerby, “Gendering Counter-terrorism: How to, and
How not to”, op. cit., note 219; “Tightening the Purse Strings: What Countering Terrorism Financing Costs
Gender Equality and Security”, Duke Law International Human Rights Clinic and Women Peacemakers Program,
op. cit., note 89.
243 See, for example, UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism, Report to the UN General Assembly, UN
Doc. A/72/495, 27 September 2017, in which the current mandate holder, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, identified gender
mainstreaming in counter-terrorism as a key focus area of her term.
244 See F. Ní Aoláin, “Masculinity, Jihad and Mobilisation”, Just Security, 18 October 2016, https://www.
justsecurity.org/33624/masculinity-jihad-mobilization/; and in more detail F. Ní Aoláin, “The Complexity and
Challenges of Addressing the Conditions Conducive to Terrorism in Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism” in
M. Nowak and A. Charbord (eds.), Using Human Rights to Counter Terrorism (Cheltenham, United Kingdom and
Northampton, USA: Edard Elgar Publishing, 2018), pp. 166-194.
245 For further recommendations on gender-related aspects see also the previous sections of the present document. See also: UN CTITF Guidance 2018, op. cit., note 10, pp. 24-26.
246 See for example UN Security Council Resolutions 2122 (2013), 2242 (2015) and 2354 (2017). See OSCE
Ministerial Declaration on VERLT, op. cit., note 152, which calls on participating States among other things to
take into account a gender perspective in their efforts to counter terrorism and prevent and counter VERLT (para.
13).
Guidelines for Addressing the Threats and Challenges of “Foreign Terrorist Fighters”
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