3. Why are gender equality and integrating a gender perspective important in parliamentary oversight of the security sector? Gender equality must be at the core of parliamentary decision-making. A gender-sensitive parliament responds to the needs and interests of both men and women in its composition, structures, operations, methods and work. It derives its legitimacy from representing constituents’ voices in all their diversity and in an inclusive manner. Ultimately, it is a parliament that is more efficient and effective.* Parliaments can and should contribute to good security sector governance: making security sector institutions more transparent, accountable, compliant with human rights and gender sensitive, operating on the basis of the rule of law. Gender equality is integral to good security sector governance because this equality is a fundamental human right and a democratic principle; it is essential to the rule of law. (See Boxes 2 and 4 for definitions of key gender terms used in this Tool.) * The Inter-Parliamentary Union, the European Institute for Gender Equality and OSCE/ODIHR have published tools on gender-sensitive parliaments, listed in section 7. Box 2: Gender and gender equality Gender refers to the roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society at a given time considers appropriate based on biological sex. It also refers to the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as those between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and learned through socialization processes. They are context- and time-specific and changeable. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or man in a given context. In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources and decision-making opportunities. Gender equality is a fundamental human right, and a goal to which governments and international organizations have committed. Gender equality means that “the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of individuals will not depend on whether they are born male or female” (UN OSAGI, 2001). In the context of the security sector, this means that women and men have equal opportunities to participate in the provision, management and oversight of security, and that the security needs of women, men, girls and boys are equally met. Source: UN OSAGI (2001) Important Concepts Underlying Gender Mainstreaming, New York: United Nations. Pursuing gender equality and integrating a gender perspective help to provide effective security. Effective provision of security recognizes and addresses the different security needs of all parts of communities, including of women and men, girls and boys, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) persons. Image: Egyptian women line up to vote in parliamentary elections, 2011 © UN Women/ Fatma Elzahraa Yassin.