Contents 1. Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.1 Audiences for this Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.2 Outline of this Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2. What is parliamentary oversight of the security sector?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2.1 Parliamentary oversight.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2.2 Parliamentary oversight of the security sector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2.3 Key actors within the parliamentary system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3. Why are gender equality and integrating a gender perspective important in parliamentary oversight of the security sector?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 3.1 To meet international and regional legal and normative standards for gender equality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 3.2 To ensure that laws and regulations concerning security are inclusive and address diverse needs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 3.3 To achieve gender-equitable budgeting for the security sector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3.4 To ensure that parliamentary oversight is diverse and inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 4. What would parliamentary oversight of the security sector that advances gender equality and integrates a gender perspective look like? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 4.1 Security and security needs are defined in an inclusive manner and with a gender perspective. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 4.2 Effective legislation and structures address GBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 4.3 Gender is mainstreamed into budgeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 4.4 Parliament plays a role in national action plans on Women, Peace and Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 5. How can parliamentary oversight of the security sector help advance gender equality and integrate a gender perspective? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 5.1 Gender analysis of the security sector, including in budgetary scrutiny. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 5.2 Engaging parliamentary gender structures in security sector oversight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 5.3 Inclusive processes, reaching out to civil society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 5.4 Co-operation between parliaments and national human rights institutions and ombuds institutions in ensuring effective security sector oversight.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 5.5 Achieving gender equality within the parliament.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 6. Key recommendations for integrating a gender perspective into parliamentary oversight of the security sector.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 7. Additional resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Image: Participant at International Women’s Day celebrations in the Solomon Islands holds up sign supporting women in parliament, 2014 © UN Women/Marni Gilbert.