抖淫视频

• Abbreviations
• Executive summary
• Summary of progress in meeting targets:
• Thematic programs
  • 1. Global Issues and Development Branch
  • 2. Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs)
  • 3. Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)
  • 4. Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Intelligence Bureau
  • 5. Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP)
  • 6. Partnerships for Development Innovation Branch
• Multilateral engagement
  • 7. Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations
  • 8. Canada at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  • 9. Permanent Mission of Canada in Geneva
  • 10. Canada at the International Organization of La Francophonie
  • 11. Canada at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
• Bilateral engagement
  • Middle East
    • 12. Middle East Programming
    • 13. Middle East Diplomatic Engagement
      • Iraq
      • Syria
      • Jordan
      • Lebanon
  • Africa
    • 14. South Sudan
    • 15. Burundi
    • 16. Democratic Republic of Congo
    • 17. Mali
  • Latin America and the Caribbean
    • 18. Guatemala
    • 19. Haiti
    • 20. Colombia
  • Asia
    • 21. Afghanistan
    • 22. Myanmar
• Annex A

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 194 抖淫视频 staff (at headquarters and missions) received training on gender equality delivered by gender equality specialists.
• 8 missions received tailored gender equality training by gender equality specialists.
• 22 抖淫视频 tools and guidance documents on gender equality were made available for use by staff (at headquarters and missions).

Completed Activities:

• Developed corporate training on gender equality and facilitated by gender equality
• Provided gender equality training to 抖淫视频 staff and international partners tailored to their specific context.
• Shared knowledge and expertise on the feminist approach and gender equality with 抖淫视频 staff and international partners and stakeholders.

Results and Progress: During the reporting period, 194 抖淫视频 staff at headquarters and missions were trained on gender equality delivered by the gender equality specialists, an increase from FY 2015/16 when 135 抖淫视频 officers were so trained. In January 2018, twenty Peace & Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) officers were trained in gender equality coding. Providing the same training to PSOPs officers and development officers on gender equality coding will ensure consistency in coding between the development and stabilization streams. Participants provided positive feedback regarding the Integrating Gender Equality in Programming and Managing for Gender Equality Results courses noting that the training provided a comprehensive overview of gender equality concepts and contributed to strengthening department-wide understanding for how to apply the new Feminist International Assistance Policy to their work.

During the reporting period, eight missions received gender equality training tailored by the specialists to their specific context, which is an increase from FY 2015/16 where five missions received gender equality training. Feedback from participants, especially senior management at missions, has been positive. For example, the head of cooperation from the DRC mission noted that the gender equality training provided a comprehensive overview of the Feminist International Assistance Policy.

During the reporting period, a gender equality toolkit was developed to guide 抖淫视频 officers and partners in designing and implementing feminist international assistance programming. This comprehensive programming toolkit marks the 22^nd tool and guidance document on gender equality as of March 31, 2018. Gender equality specialists regularly provided tailored advice alongside the available tools and guidance documents to project officers and partners to ensure gender equality results were systematically integrated into programming. Specialists also contributed to the development of other international gender equality tools and guidance. The department is working to make the gender equality toolkit publicly available to external partners.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 100% of bilateral development projects in fragile and conflict-affected states were assessed based on 抖淫视频 Gender’s Equality policy or the Feminist International Assistance Policy for appropriate gender equality analysis and gender equality results.

Completed Activities:

• Gender equality specialists provided gender equality technical support to bilateral development programs to conduct gender-based analysis and conducted gender equality assessments of all their projects.
• Gender equality specialists updated the gender equality programming toolkit to align with the Feminist International Assistance Policy.

Results and Progress: During the reporting period, 100% of bilateral development projects in fragile and conflict-affected states were assessed for gender equality analysis and results.  To comply with the corporate requirement and due diligence process for the project lifecycle at 抖淫视频, project officers for geographic programs are expected to liaise with their gender equality specialists who advise on gender equality assessments for each development project in fragile and conflict-affected states. The first indicator above “% of development projects continue to be assessed for gender equality analysis and results” ensures all development projects in fragile and conflict-affected states are accountable for maintaining this process going forward.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Target surpassed/OBJ 4

• 93% of humanitarian assistance funding integrated gender equality.
• 100% of humanitarian assistance funding integrated gender equality in DRC, Syria, and Iraq, which are countries of focus for the Action Plan and receive the most significant levels of humanitarian assistance funding.

Completed Activities:

• Revised Funding Application Guidelines for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including strengthened criteria and guidance on gender equality integration and GBV prevention and mitigation.
• Secured gender equality expertise to provide additional guidance to staff and NGO partners.

Results and Progress: During the reporting period, gender equality considerations were integrated into 93% of Canada’s humanitarian assistance programming.  This progress was accomplished largely due to Canada’s continued improvements in meeting the specific needs of women and girls in humanitarian contexts.  These measures included:

• Updating the 抖淫视频 Humanitarian Funding Application Guidelines for NGOs and informing organizations that proposals include gender equality analysis specific to the context.
• Providing additional guidance and reference documents to both staff and NGO partners.
• Working more closely with gender equality specialists and hiring a senior consultant on gender and humanitarian assistance to develop internal tools to increase staff capacity to address gender equality considerations in programming.
• Assessing a sample of humanitarian projects to identify lessons learned to strengthen future programming.
• Prioritizing gender-responsive humanitarian proposals for funding.
• Advocating for the importance of gender-responsive humanitarian action in various relevant forums.

Canada will continue to support principled, timely, and needs-based humanitarian assistance that better addresses the particular needs and potential of women and girls.  Going forward, this includes working with implementing partners and the international community to improve approaches that enable women and girls to be agents of change, whereby they are consulted and included in the decision-making process.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 4

• 13 Canadian events, statements, speeches and interventions to the UN Executive boards and other forums brought explicit attention to GBV in emergencies.

Completed Activities:

• Canada co-chaired of the States/Donors Working Group of the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies.
• Canada advanced messages through multilateral partners and forums to support strengthened prevention of and response to GBV. This included the World Food Programme, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and through the development of a Global Compact on Refugees.
• As part of revisions to the Funding Application Guidelines for NGOs, requirements for integrating GBV risk mitigation based on the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action were included.

Results and Progress: Advocacy with partners in order to address prevention of and response services for GBV are important elements of Canada’s efforts to address GBV in emergencies. During the reporting period, Canada used at least two channels to advance its efforts: bilateral engagement with partners, particularly large humanitarian agencies; and joint action with other donors and partners, through the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies. Overall, there were 13 Canadian events, statements, speeches and interventions to UN Executive boards and other forums that explicitly bring attention to GBV in emergencies.

As co-chair of the Call to Action working group, Canada has promoted joint donor advocacy on GBV as well as joint work planning and increased information sharing between donors. One positive impact of this joint advocacy has been a strengthened approach by the United Nations Population Fund to its humanitarian operations, including a dedicated coordinator for the GBV Area of Responsibility, and the soon-to-be established Humanitarian Trust Fund.

Bilateral engagement has also been important. In some cases, it has helped raise the profile of GBV within an organization, such as a speech by the Head of Canada’s Permanent Mission in Rome at the World Food Programme; in other cases it has helped to ensure that GBV is included in international documents such as the Global Compact on Refugees.

While continued advocacy at the global level is important, moving forward, Canada will also seek opportunities for advocacy on GBV in emergencies at the field level.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 4

• $215M^{Footnote 2} disbursed by Canada to provide access to or increase use of SRH services in fragile and humanitarian settings.
• 23 public Canadian interventions in international forums that explicitly promoted SRHR in fragile or humanitarian settings.

Completed Activities:

• Canada supported five interventions on SRHR in fragile or humanitarian settings in international fora at the Minister and Deputy Minister level within FY 2017/18. Overall, during the reporting period, there were 23 public Canadian interventions in international forums that explicitly promoted SRHR in fragile or humanitarian settings.

Results and Progress: The Health and Nutrition Bureau contributed to promoting SRHR in the global development agenda through its participation in and support to high-level international events. The Bureau continues to build momentum on SRHR, particularly in fragile states and humanitarian settings, by ensuring that Canadian representatives have the opportunity to continually raise awareness on the importance of SRHR, in particular with regard to the WPS agenda. During the reporting period, Canada made 23 public interventions in international forums that explicitly promoted SRHR in fragile or humanitarian settings and demonstrated Canada’s high-level commitment to this issue. The Bureau supported five of these public Canadian interventions, which are:

1. At the Family Planning Summit on July 11, 2017, the Minister of International Development announced $50M in funding for SRHR in humanitarian and fragile settings. Following the announcement of the Feminist International Assistance Policy, the event was the first high profile event for Canada to voice its new leadership on SRHR.
2. In September 2017, the Minister of International Development spoke at UNGA She Decides Torchbearers’ meeting. The Minister champions the SheDecides global movement and outlined during this meeting Canada’s actions in SRHR and called for better data to target the most vulnerable people in fragile settings.
3. The Minister of International Development also spoke at Global Financing Facility Flagship event at UNGA on the importance of SRHR and reaching women and girls in fragile settings. The Flagship event marked the start of the Global Financing Facility First Replenishment Period (2017-2018).
4. The Deputy Minister of International Development spoke at the UNGA session on the role of SRHR in economic empowerment. This high-level ministerial event provided an opportunity to raise the importance of taking a multisectoral approach to SRHR.
5. On March 1, 2018, the Deputy Minister of International Development spoke at the She Decides Conference in South Africa. The remarks highlighted Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and its support for the Global Financing Facility, which is advancing the health and rights of women and girls in several fragile and conflict-affected states (Afghanistan, DRC, Afghanistan, CAR, Chad, Haiti, Mali, South Sudan, and Somalia). The remarks supported the SheDecides goal of maintaining global momentum in empowering women and girls through SRHR and Canada’s engagement with partners leading up to the Women Deliver Conference in Vancouver next year.

In addition, during the reporting period, the Department disbursed $215M to provide access to or increase use of SRH services in fragile and humanitarian settings.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track – 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 12% of projects targeted gender equality (GE03).
• 78% of projects integrated gender equality (36% GE01 and 42% GE02).
• 10% of projects did not advance gender equality (GE00).

Completed Activities:

• PSOPs officers prioritized WPS in their engagement with partners and worked to ensure all project proposal integrated WPS considerations.

Results and Progress: Prior to FY 2017/18, PSOPs tracked its projects with WPS activities using a unique set of WPS codes that did not align with the 抖淫视频 GE codes. During the development of the Action Plan, PSOPs made a commitment to track WPS spending using the GE codes. As a result, FY 2017/18 serves as the baseline for this new method.

12% of 153 PSOPs projects targeted gender equality as a specific objective (GE03) and 78% of projects integrated gender equality considerations (36% GE01 and 42% GE02). 15 projects (10%) did not advance gender equality (GE00). However, PSOPs demonstrated significant efforts to reduce the number of GE00 projects since launch of the current Action Plan in 2017. As a result, only three projects that commenced in FY 2017/18 did not integrate gender equality results (GE00).

18% of PSOPs projects specifically targeted WPS in FY 2017/18.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018 On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• Planning was on track to table first annual report in September 2018.

Completed Activities:

• On May 1, PSOPs launched the process for all federal partners to report on the implementation of the Action Plan initiatives undertaken during FY 2017/18. PSOPs has collaborated with lead and supporting partners to meet the deadline.

Results and Progress: Process to draft and table first annual report was on track and continued during the summer 2018.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• Method to track WPS spending consistently was developed and used for FY 2016/17 and FY 2017/18. See results in Annex A of the introductory narrative to section of the Progress report.

Completed Activities:

• PSOPs developed a method of tracking WPS spending within 抖淫视频 that would provide consistent results and would lend itself to year-over-year comparison. PSOPs began testing the method, as well as consulting internally within the department, with civil society, and internationally.

Results and Progress: In FY 2014/15, PSOPs began tracking and publishing 抖淫视频 WPS-related funding. However, the results were inconsistent because of officers’ subjective interpretation of WPS, which meant that same projects could be selected one year but not another year. During FY 2017/18, PSOPs developed a new uniform and efficient method of tracking WPS-related funding for the department that is based on a combination of gender equality codes [GE03 targeted and GE02 extensive integration], a list of select purpose codes created by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and a list of selected fragile and conflict-affected states. By focusing on projects identified as GE03 and GE02, the method focuses only on projects that aim to significantly advance gender equality. The sub-themes of the WPS agenda are captured by the select OECD purpose codes. Since GE codes and the OECD purpose codes have been used by 抖淫视频 for several years, it was possible to establish a baseline for FY 2016/17. The project data was reviewed manually for WPS applicability by the WPS policy unit. Although the overall method has been established, PSOPs will continue to improve it by improving the process of analyzing which projects qualify as WPS and providing additional guidance to officers. 

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• Around a third of targets and indicators were modified to improve reporting.

Completed Activities:

• As the lead coordinator and drafter of the annual progress report, PSOPs has worked with 抖淫视频 officers to help establish robust, coherent, and clearly measureable targets and indicators.

Results and Progress: Under the previous Action Plan 2010-2016, it was difficult to measure progress using only actions and indicators i.e. without setting targets and baselines.  As a result, for the second Action Plan, various implicated bureaus have established targets, baselines, activities, and indicators. Since FY 2017/18 was the first time that reporting was done using these new measurements of progress, the officers have noticed issues with them that were not apparent during the development. As a result, bureaus were encouraged to update their targets and indicators to ensure that they are robust, coherent, and clearly measureable and can help track progress over the lifespan of the Action Plan.

Overall, around a third of targets and indicators were modified in order to facilitate reporting and better capture progress. Except for the addition of targets for the Elsie Initiative and changes made to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Syria sections, where updates were required to reduce repetition and redundancies between targets, most of the changes consisted of language clarifications and revisions of indicators to better capture progress.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 10 out 10 of PSOPs tools, policies, and templates address gender equality and WPS.

Completed Activities:

• The program’s business process and existing tools and templates have been assessed to further enhance gender equality coding and WPS integration and will be implemented in FY 2018/19.

Results and Progress: 10 out 10 of PSOPs tools, policies and templates address gender equality and WPS. PSOPs business process and tools and templates are being updated to strengthen gender equality and WPS integration in all aspects of programming. For example, the approval memo template has been updated resulting in an improvement in the quality of gender equality and WPS data being captured that will help PSOPs management make informed decisions. All PSOPs strategy documents that are currently being drafted (e.g. PSOPs Strategy 2019-22 and PSOPs Performance Measurement Strategy) will be gender-responsive.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 90.7% of PSOPs project/program monitoring, assessment and scoping missions included meetings with relevant domestic and international organizations and government officials, including women’s groups, to ensure women’s and girls’ needs and interests are taken into account in PSOPs interventions.

Completed Activities: PSOPs officers supporting the Canadian Police Arrangement and PSOPs programming officers made a consistent effort to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure women’s and girls’ needs and interests are taken into account in PSOPs interventions. For example:

• In Ukraine, PSOPs Canadian Police Arrangement officers met with UN Women-Ukraine and in Iraq, they met with the Gender Advisor of the European Union Assistance Mission-Iraq.
• In Mali, PSOPs programming officers consulted with civil society organizations representing women in Mali and, on one occasion, with the Ministry of Women.

Results and Progress: PSOPs conducted 43 assessment and/or scoping missions in the reporting period. Of these, 39 (90.7%) included meetings with relevant domestic and international organizations and government officials, including women’s groups.

34 out of 38 or 89% of assessment and scoping missions conducted by PSOPs programming officers included meetings with women’s groups and, where possible, women’s ministries. For example, PSOPs hosted a one-day workshop was also held with all relevant stakeholders to discuss activities and opportunities in support of Mali’s National Action Plan on WPS. In Iraq, PSOPs assessment/scoping missions included consultations with national and local women’s organizations and their representatives, relevant government ministries, UN organizations, international organizations, and other donors, to discuss PSOPs’ strategy on stabilization, including reconciliation, conflict management and police training. All engagements informed the development and implementation of Canada’s stabilization strategy in Iraq. In Colombia, the PSOPs officer met specifically with women’s groups that advocate for women’s participation in peace implementation. This included consultations with women’s groups participating in PSOPs projects and a two-day women’s event that gathered rural women and women’s groups from surrounding areas to discuss peace implementation, access to services, SGBV, and other items. Consultations with multilateral organizations, government officials and other civil society actors, also addressed WPS and gender issues in order to assess challenges, progress, and status of gender considerations in peace implementation efforts and project activities.

5 out of 5 or 100% of PSOPs assessment/scoping missions conducted in support of the Canadian Police Arrangement included meetings with relevant domestic and international organizations and government officials, including women’s groups. For example, in Ukraine, PSOPs Canadian Police Arrangement officers met with UN Women-Ukraine; in Iraq, the officers met with the Gender Advisor of the European Union Assistance Mission-Iraq; and in New York, the officers met with UN Women and UN Police Division’s Gender Advisor.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 95% (21/22) of PSOPs programming officers and their supervisors have completed a gender or WPS course, such as Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) or the Gender, Conflict and Stability Course.
• 77% (10/13) of civilian deployees completed the GBA+ course and 31% (4/13) also completed in-classroom training on gender in fragile and conflict-affected states.
• 45 抖淫视频 employees and 16 from other government departments, including civilian deployees, attended training in Ottawa on gender in fragile and conflict-affected states.
• Gender advisor hired.

Completed Activities:

• Underlined the mandatory status of the GBA+ online course regularly with staff and deployees.
• Worked with the UK to deliver training on gender in fragile and conflict-affected situations to PSOPs staff, deployees, and partners within 抖淫视频 and other government departments.
• Training development commenced on providing an internal offering of training on gender in fragile and conflict-affected states on an ongoing basis.
• Organized an information session on gender coding for staff, which was followed up by changes in templates and business process.

Results and Progress: The most notable change is in attitudes because the policy environment has compelled staff to seek training, not necessarily as a result of training.

A total of 95% (21/22) PSOPs programming officers and their supervisors have completed a gender or WPS course; the rate across PSOPs as a whole is at least 77% (49/63). 81% of those who reported having completed the GBA+ online course (39/48) did so in FY 2017/18, bringing the total completion rate for PSOPs staff to at least 48%. The large number of staff completing GBA+ training in the last year, combined with the number of staff attending the training, or seeking to attend this training suggests that staff wish to learn more about how to better analyze and integrate gender considerations into their work and are seeking opportunities to do so.

Prior to FY 2017/18, the only gender training available internally to 抖淫视频 personnel focused on integrating gender into international development programming. Any specialized training on working on gender issues in fragile and conflict affected states required international travel. In 2017, a total of 45 抖淫视频 employees and 16 from other government departments, including civilian deployees, attended training locally on gender in fragile and conflict affected states. At least 77% (10/13) of civilian deployees completed the GBA+ course and 4/13 or 31% also completed in-classroom training on gender in fragile and conflict-affected states.

Increased knowledge or capacity is difficult to measure at this stage but it has supported changes to templates, more informed discussion among staff, and more questions about gender considerations. Feedback on all of this training has been very positive and pre and post-assessments for some of the training show increased knowledge of key topics related to gender in fragile and conflict-affected states.

PSOPs’ programming division also hired a gender advisor to review projects for gender integration and support project officers in working with partners on this issue. This advisor also worked with project officers to raise their awareness of when and how to engage partners on gender issues.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• Gender was more consistently integrated into all thematic training on working in fragile and conflict-affected states.

Completed Activities:

• Modified existing training on conflict analysis to train participants on gendered conflict analysis.
• Began the process of revisiting core training to reflect the Feminist International Assistance Policy and build capacity for its implementation in fragile and conflict-affected states.
• Worked with the full range of training providers to ensure greater integration of gender considerations on thematic training related to working in fragile and conflict affected states.

Results and Progress: Gender and WPS were covered as separate topics in thematic training on working in fragile and conflict affected states in the past, as of FY 2017/18 these efforts have resulted in more consistent integration of gender perspectives across training content. More thematic courses on fragile and conflict-affected states that integrate gender are now available.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• WPS unit increased to one deputy director, two full-time officers, and one part-time student.

Completed Activities:

• WPS unit hired additional staff.
• PSOPs allocated a budget to the development of the progress report and consultations.

Results and Progress: During FY 2015/16, two PSOPs officers worked full time on WPS policy and coordination and management of annual progress reports. During the reporting period, PSOPs demonstrated significant progress on this target by allocating new human resources to the management of the WPS file and the Action Plan and now has 3 full-time officers, including a deputy director, dedicated wholly to the WPS file and the Action Plan, as well as a part-time student. PSOPs also dedicated a budget for the Action Plan progress report and consultations. For example, in April 2017, PSOPs co-organized, with the Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada, a civil society conference on the Action Plan, which brought together government partners, Parliamentarians, political staff and civil society experts, to exchange information and forge a set of ideas for developing an ambitious and robust renewed Action Plan. A summary report of the conference was prepared by the Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada. PSOPs also organized the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Group on the Action Plan, which took place on March 29, 2018. The meeting was co-chaired by PSOPs and the Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track – 2.10.1 and 2.10.2/OBJ 2 & OBJ 2

• Low progress occurred on Canada’s Strategy and Action Plan to address Sexual Exploitation and Abuse being endorsed, as a draft is still being developed.
• Low response to the identified gaps in Canada’s accountability frameworks related to SEA as Canada is currently examining its options for addressing these gaps.
• 67% of closed cases related to SEA against Canadian peacekeepers or Canadian UN staff deployed by the Government of Canada resulted in either exoneration, in disciplinary measures being applied, or in the bringing forward of a criminal case.
• One Canadian proposal is being implemented by the UN and by other Member States.

Completed Activities:

• Canada’s Strategy and Action Plan to address SEA in UN peace operations is being developed and undergoing consultations. Canada advocated for a number of measures to be implemented by the UN to prevent and respond to SEA. Canada has signed a Voluntary Compact on the Elimination on SEA with the UN Secretary-General, and Canada’s Prime Minister has joined the Secretary-General’s Circle of Leadership on SEA.
• Measures to improve accountability mechanisms in Canada are being developed and explored by the Department and partner departments and agencies.

Results and Progress: There is a low level of progress on Canada’s Strategy and Action Plan to address SEA as it is still under development and undergoing consultations. Progress was significant in the first half of the fiscal year but almost halted in the second half due to competing Priorities. The implementation of parts of the draft Action Plan has nonetheless started and continued during that period, including on training and vetting of Canadian peacekeepers and advocacy at the UN. Canada joined two important initiatives of the Secretary-General (the Voluntary Compact and the Circle of Leadership) and provided financial contributions to the UN Trust Fund in Support of Victims of SEA and to the Office of the Special Coordinator on improving UN response to SEA.

One Canadian proposal which is being implemented by the UN and by other Member States: in August 2017, the UN Secretary-General appointed Ms. Jane Connors of Australia the first UN Advocate for the Rights of Victims of SEA, a role whose creation Canada recommended. Canada advocates for the full implementation of the UN’s zero-tolerance policy on SEA through various groups it chairs, including the New York-based Group of Friends of WPS, as well as at the General Assembly and other international forums.

Two out of three (67%) of closed SEA cases against Canadian peacekeepers or Canadian UN staff deployed by the Government of Canada resulted in either exoneration, in disciplinary measures being applied or a criminal case being brought forward. While there were no new SEA allegations during this current reporting period, one case of SEA involving a Canadian police peacekeeper emerged in FY 2016-17, and was substantiated by the UN.

The response to the identified gaps in Canada’s accountability frameworks related to SEA is low as Canada is still examining its options for addressing these gaps.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 5

• Canada continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing barriers to women’s participation in UN peace operations in uniformed police and military roles.

Completed Activities:

• Established a Contact Group of eleven member states to provide support, oversight, and expertise to the pilot Initiative.
• Executed a Design Workshop ( February 22-23, 2018), which included sectoral experts, United Nations officials, women peacekeepers, Contact Group member states, academics, and civil society to determine potential design approaches, build awareness, and garner support for the Initiative.
• Staffed a team to design and implement the Initiative.  
• Established partnerships with multilateral organizations related to initiative key pillars (training and technical assistance, and financial mechanism).

Results and Progress:

At the 2017 Vancouver UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, an innovative and multilateral pilot initiative to develop, roll out and test a combination of approaches to overcome barriers to women’s meaningful participation in UN peace operations. During the remaining five months of FY2017/18, PSOPs demonstrated significant progress by staffing a team to design and implement the Initiative; hosting a successful 2-day design workshop in February 2018; supporting Minister Freeland to host an advocacy side-event on the margins of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in March 2018; and creating a Contact Group of eleven member states to provide support, oversight, and expertise, including for advocacy, to the pilot Initiative with one meeting taking place in FY2017/18.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 5

Completed Activities:

• Invited and engaged with civil society organizations, experts and academics at the Elsie Design Workshop.
• Contracted a baseline study on the current situation as concerns women’s participation in uniformed military and police roles in UN peacekeeping operations, document good practice to increase such participation, and identify challenges and barriers to the recruitment, training, retention, deployment and promotion of uniformed women in peacekeeping operations.
• Engaged relevant United Nations actors, civil society experts, and academics in the development of research Priorities.

Results and Progress: In the remaining five months of FY2017/18 following the announcement of the Elsie Initiative, PSOPs demonstrated significant progress by hosting a successful 2-day design workshop in February 2018; commissioning the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) to undertake the baseline study; and developed strong working relationships with United Nations actors, civil society experts, and academics to assist in the development of research Priorities.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 32 out of 80, or 40%, of CFLI Program Managers and Coordinators at missions accredited to fragile and conflict-affected states completed gender training by the end of FY 2017-2018 (baseline year).

Completed Activities:

• All CFLI Program Managers and Coordinators implementing the program at Canadian missions abroad are now required to take the Status of Women Canada GBA+ online training, or other gender-related training as of 2018/19.
• A module on WPS and gender was included in a regional training course provided to CFLI Program Managers and Coordinators in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe region.

Results and Progress: At Canada’s missions, the CFLI Program Managers and the Coordinators are responsible for program management and implementation, which includes: providing guidance to applicants on the simplified gender-based analysis that is required as part of CFLI project proposals; assessing project proposals from a gender perspective; and, selecting projects to fund.  As such, increasing the knowledge of these individuals on gender equality is a critical step towards enhancing overall gender equality outcomes for the CFLI program.

In FY 2018-19, the GBA+ online course will be mandatory, ensuring that more CFLI Program Managers and Coordinators build their knowledge on gender and their skills in assessing project proposals from a gender perspective. In addition to the GBA+ online course, the CFLI Unit incorporated a WPS and gender module into the in-person regional training delivered to mission staff and local coordinators in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe regions. One officer noted that “the gender module at the CFLI training was essential to demystifying what GBA+ means and making it seem both more concrete and less daunting. Initially, it seemed a bit like ‘one more bureaucratic step’ but now I better understand the utility. It also showed me how gender-blind projects can be harmful to damaging women’s and girl’s empowerment and access or at best, neutral, which was not a conclusion that I was expecting to make. I’m really glad that this module was included. It will be very useful in project selection”. The CFLI Unit will continue to include this module in future regional training. During the reporting period, 40% of CFLI Program Managers and Coordinators accredited to missions in fragile and conflict-affected states had taken some gender training, including through participation in the regional training course. 

The CFLI demonstrated solid progress on meeting this target, laying a foundation for increased gender proficiency among mission staff and local coordinators. Next year, missions will report on how their knowledge on gender will be applied in project assessment, selection and end-of-year reporting.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report/Internal efficiency & capacity

Completed Activities:

• A simplified gender-based analysis is now required in project applications for CFLI funding starting in FY 2018-19.
• All applicants are now required to consult with women and/or girls at the design stage of project development starting in FY 2018-19.

Results and Progress: To enhance the gender equality outcomes of CFLI projects, the program has implemented a simplified gender-based analysis requirement that came into effect in FY 2018/19. Applicants are also required to consult with women and/or girls at the design stage of project development and consider the different ways in which women and girls, and men and boys, experience the problem that their project seeks to address. To facilitate the smooth implementation of these new requirements, the CFLI Unit created two key tools: (1) a step-by-step guide explaining how to complete gender-based analysis in the application for funding, to build the capacity of local organizations applying for CFLI funding; and, (2) an evaluation matrix that provides mission staff with a simplified set of criteria to help objectively evaluate the quality of the gender-based analysis in a project proposal.

Two indicators have been identified to track progress on the quality of gender-based analyses for CFLI projects:  (1) % and # of projects in fragile and conflict affected states that consulted with women and/or girls prior to submission of application for funding; and, (2) % and # of projects in fragile and conflict affected states that completed a limited or detailed gender-based analysis prior to submission of the application for funding. FY 2018/19 will be the baseline year for these indicators.

In FY 2018/19, the CFLI Unit and mission-based program managers and coordinators will provide support to project applicants to build their capacity to carry out detailed gender analyses. This is particularly important given CFLI’s emphasis on working with small, local organizations, some of which have limited resources and experience working with foreign donors. To this end, a number of Canadian missions plan to hold gender-based analysis information sessions and workshops for interested applicants.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 20 out of 32 or 62.5% of officers from the Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Intelligence Bureau completed gender and/or WPS training by the end of FY 2017/18:
  • 53% of officers in ACCBP and CTCBP had taken at least one gender course in FY 2017/18.
  • 71% of the policy officers in the International Crime and Terrorism division (including co-op student) completed the GBA+ online course.

Completed Activities:

• The GBA+ online course was made mandatory for all programming officers in September 2017.
• Officers were also encouraged to take other courses related to gender such as the Gender, Conflict and Stability course, the Integrating Gender Equality into Programming course and the Managing for Gender Equality Results course.

Results and Progress: 20 out of 32 or 62.5% of officers from the Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Intelligence Bureau completed gender and/or WPS related training at the end of FY 2017/18. 8 out of 15 of programming officers in ACCBP and CTCBP completed gender and/or WPS-related training during the reporting period. The programming officers were asked to complete the GBA+ online course and provide their certificate of completion. 10 officers provided their completion certificate. In addition, two officers completed the Gender, Conflict and Stability course provided by 抖淫视频 in November 2017. Training notices for the Integrating Gender Equality into Programming course and the Managing for Gender Equality Results courses have also been circulated to programming officers. At least two programming officers also completed that training. At least four programming officers have taken these courses as part of previous positions on the development side.

Many programming officers are now able to review documents and determine whether or not gender has been incorporated and whether a gender analysis is present.  Since September 2017, they have also had access to a gender specialist to help provide comments on project proposals and assign GE codes. As a result, the Bureau’s projects have increased integration of gender equality results and indicators (see target 4.4).

Out of 17 policy officers in the International Crime and Terrorism policy division of the the Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Intelligence Bureau (including a 4-month co-op student), 12 officers have completed the GBA+ online course and one of those policy officers has also completed a GBA+ course developed by Status of Women Canada that targets G7 context. Of the five policy officers who have not yet completed the GBA+ course, two officers have already taken and/or delivered gender training (gender and development, gender and conflict/WPS, gender and peace operations) and one is a new policy officer who has begun completing the course.  Some policy officers who have not yet completed the GBA+ course have prior training on gender issues or have led such training. Therefore, nearly all team members within the policy team are trained to consider gender in their policy work, in addition to having an assigned gender focal point for more informed discussions.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• Resource bank created.

Completed Activities:

• An internal resource repository was created for ACCBP and CTCBP.

Results and Progress: The resource repository material organized according to thematic folders that contain (a) seminal documents/research on priority areas and gender; (b) all the advice on projects provided to partners by the gender specialist; (c) briefs on gender and select thematic issues; and (d) presentations, videos, etc. on counter-terrorism and transnational crime and gender.

With these resources available, programming officers are now able to familiarize themselves with key gender issues as it relates to counter-terrorism and transnational crime. Officers are proactively raising the issues with partners at project development, and when necessary, dedicated meetings with the gender specialist are organized. Officers are including gender considerations in the speeches and talking points they put together for public events both in Canada, and in the countries where ACCBP and CTCBP operate.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 3

• Canada took an active role in four events (through planning or participation) in which gender was integrated into discussions about CVE/CT.
• Gender perspectives were integrated into CVE/CT and international crime policy, diplomacy and advocacy to a high degree.

Completed Activities:

• A gender focal point (i.e., GBA+ and WPS integration into policy) is now in place within the Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Intelligence Bureau. Policy officers ensure the inclusion of language and concepts on gender in resolutions negotiated at the UN, the Organization of American States, as well as in Canada’s statements at different international forums.
• Policy officers ensured that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime programming staff conducted a GBA+ prior to sending project proposals for funding on crime prevention.
• As Chair of the G7 Roma-Lyon Group on Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism, Canada organized a one-day expert meeting in March 2018 on integrating gender considerations in anti-crime and counter-terrorism efforts with participants from various agencies and departments from G7 countries.
• The Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Intelligence Bureau also uses Canada’s position as G7 Chair to incorporate discussions on gender in crime and CT during the Ministerial Meetings (i.e. attended by Heads of Delegation) and in all the G7 Roma-Lyon Group sub-group meetings.

Results and Progress: The Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Intelligence Bureau demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring that gender and WPS considerations are integrated into CVE/CT and international crime policy, advocacy and diplomatic efforts. During the reporting period, Canada took an active role in bringing a gender-informed perspective to the CVE/CT forums through its participation in four events. For example, In November 2017, Canada made a presentation on Gender Considerations in Counter-terrorism at the launch meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum Special Initiative on “Challenges of Reintegrating Families of Foreign Terrorist Fighters”.

Overall, the Bureau integrated gender considerations into CVE/CT and international crime policy, diplomacy and advocacy to a high degree. The Bureau now has an assigned gender focal point for policy and advocacy work who policy officers frequently consult when looking to incorporate gender considerations and language into diplomatic engagements. The Bureau has consistently tried to include gender language in UN resolutions, promote the presence of women in international forums and encouraged partners, such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, to apply GBA+ to their own programming and proposals. Canada emphasizes that gender is not just about women, but includes analysis and responses that consider masculinities. The Bureau integrates important notions related to women’s equality, participation, empowerment and leadership, but also highlights the role that masculinities play in the context of terrorism and violent extremism and the ways in which healthy masculinities can contribute to effective and sustainable solutions as well. Moreover, in Canada’s efforts to promote the integration of gender equality into anti-crime and CVE/CT advocacy and policy, we seek to identify and engage gender specialists who are male and experts to collaborate with us. All policy officers working on anti-crime and CVE/CT integrate gender and WPS into written products (including input on resolutions from the UN, NATO, OSCE, La Francophonie and other multilateral organizations), where appropriate, and raise relevant issues in diplomatic and advocacy efforts at international forums where possible.  The gender focal point supports the integration of gender considerations into all lines of CVE/CT and anti-crime efforts, as necessary.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/Internal efficiency & capacity

ACCBP approved 14 new projects in FY 2017/18. Of those:

• 4 projects (or 29%) had gender equality as the specific objective (i.e. GE03).
• 6 projects (or 43%) fully integrated gender equality (i.e. GE02).
• 2 projects (or 14%) had limited integration (i.e. GE01).
• 2 projects (or 14%) did not integrate gender equality (i.e. GE00).

CTCBP had 57 new projects approved in FY 2017/18. Of those:

• 1 project (or 2%) had gender equality as the specific objective (i.e. GE03).
• 8 projects (or 14%) fully integrated gender equality (i.e. GE02).
• 13 projects (or 23%) had limited integration (i.e. GE01).
• 35 projects (or 61%) did not integrate gender equality (i.e. GE00).

Completed Activities:

• Project proposal templates for ACCBP and CTCBP include a section dedicated to both human rights and gender equality. Each section has been reviewed by specialists with the department.

Results and Progress: The gender section of the project application form requires partners to: (1) provide a summary of their gender analysis; (2) identify any gender policies the organization may have and what type of resources they have; (3) outline how project design has changed based on the gender analysis; and, (4) identify gender equality results, indicators and sex-disaggregated data within the associated Performance Management Framework. Projects are reviewed by a gender specialist who provides advice to strengthen proposals and assigns GE-codes at the approval stage.

Projects have increased integration of gender equality results and gender-sensitive indicators. The following are examples:

• Increasing women’s participation in counter-terrorism units in Jordan by providing support to frontline police female responders in the Jordanian Armed Forces ($798,000; 2018-2019). The project will train an initial cadre of female gendarmes to provide them with the capability to safely and securely carry out tactical searches in buildings that are primarily or ostensibly occupied by unaccompanied females.
• Supporting the empowerment of women and the mitigation of violent extremism in Jordan through the Empowering Women and Families in Jordan for Digital Prevention of Violent Extremism project ($992,000; 2017-2019), which will enhance digital and information literacy amongst women – mothers, family members, and community leaders –in targeted communities in an effort to create narratives to CVE messaging.
• Supporting the Women against Violent Extremism project in Kenya, through Women in International Security ($99,000; 2017–2018), which is building the capacity of local community-based organizations to address gender in their prevention of extremism programming, including how to reach out to communities and build resilience and discuss the role of women in the prevention of extremism.
• Supporting the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament ($1.7M; 2018–2020) to increase training opportunities for women in the Caribbean and Central America region to effectively respond to and bolster their efforts to combat illicit small arms trafficking.
• Addressing cross-border crimes against women and girls in Central America ($4.3M; 2018-2021) by providing tools, training and support to law enforcement authorities to improve institutional responses to prevent and punish cross-border crimes committed against women, girls and other vulnerable people.
• Providing support with Organization of American State countries ($100,000; 2018–2020) to increase awareness and understanding of alternatives to incarceration for drug-related offenders mindful of gender dynamics as a way to prevent recurring criminal activity and better understand the gender dimensions of drug-related offenders when designing drug-related policies and legislation for women, men and transgender people.

Future reporting on these newly approved projects will include reporting on gender equality results and the proposed approach to integrate gender equality into project implementation.

The Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Intelligence Bureau has also designed a performance measurement framework that will be shared with partners in FY 2018/19. The framework will include a menu of standardized gender equality results and gender-sensitive indicators that partners can use for their projects.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Attention required/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 0% of projects have been appropriately coded to capture gender considerations (GE01 or greater), but WTRP has hired a gender focal point to improve coding practices and gender mainstreaming in projects.

Completed Activities:

• WTRP hired a gender focal point and gender-related tasks represent 30% of their work. The gender focal point has reviewed project documentation to ensure it includes gender considerations, analysis and coding.

Results and Progress: In 2017, WTRP’s mandate was updated, which allowed for longer-term planning and programming. During the same renewal process, the mandate of the Program was expanded to include legislative and institutional support for international legal regimes dealing with conventional weapons.

In line with the Feminist International Assistance Policy, WTRP is implementing a more feminist approach to its programming. By preventing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and providing institutional support to conventional weapons treaties, WTRP’s activities help to prevent the indiscriminate primary effects and the gender-specific secondary effects of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents, as well as those associated with conventional weapons.

WTRP is committed to incorporating gender considerations into its programming. Future activities will include the following:

• Encourage the greater participation of women in training and capacity building efforts and seek opportunities to train more women as instructors in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threat reduction, in order to build their presence as leaders in the field.
• Work with partner organizations such as the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to support women’s participation in disarmament and in the peaceful uses of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear science and technology.
• Encourage the examination of the effects of exposure to a pathogen, toxin or radiological contaminant, taking into account gender differences.
• Ensure that the facilities that are constructed and the equipment provided take in account women’s needs.

WTRP will work to integrate gender considerations into its expanded mandate in the field of conventional weapons. By lending support to international regimes, WTRP will help ensure that women are better represented at international meetings; since women and girls are adversely affected by the proliferation of small arms, WTRP programming will support research working on identifying these impacts.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/OBJ 3

• Canada made the consideration of WPS and gender a requirement of our national processes for all First Committee resolutions.
• Gender perspectives were considered by Canadian delegates in 20 out of 58 (34%) of resolutions.

Completed Activities:

• Worked to ensure that gender perspectives were systematically integrated into the resolutions of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee.

Results and Progress: Out of the 58 First Committee resolutions considered at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly, Canada succeeded in having new language upholding gender perspectives inserted into one resolution, and attempted to do so without a positive outcome for two other resolutions. In the latter two, the resolution’s sponsors opted to preserve the original text in order maintain consensus support rather than adopt Canada’s proposed additions. For the remaining resolutions, in 17 cases either gender was considered and there was a potential for action, but no action was taken due to competing negotiation Priorities, and in 38 cases a gender perspective was deemed inapplicable or could not be considered as a result of operational constraints.

These results suggest that the operational challenge of applying gender considerations and negotiating new text in multilateral negotiations were underestimated. Going forward, there is room for improved methodologies and coordination. This is particularly relevant for the initial informal negotiations, which provide delegates with an opportunity to identify possible entry points for new language and partners to support its inclusion. 2017 was a baseline year and Canada primarily applied gender analysis to conventional weapons resolutions (often referred to as Cluster 4), which have known gender considerations. Lessons learned from this effort will be applied to the other six clusters in FY 2018/19, including nuclear disarmament, where existing gender analysis is less-developed.

Completed activities:

• The Branch worked closely with Canadian civil society organizations to strengthen the integration of gender equality into its programming. This included a greater emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women and girls within its programming in maternal, newborn, and child health, which is implemented in over 20 fragile and conflict-affected states, among others. For example:
  • In Afghanistan, Presbyterian World Service & Development provided training focused on sexual and reproductive health, women’s rights and decision-making, the role of fathers in maternal and child health, and GBV (2016-2020).
  • In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Oxfam Quebec provided training to health care providers on family planning. It also distributed modern contraceptives to health care facilities targeted by the project (2016-2020).
  • In Burundi, the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund provided SRH services, such as family planning and contraceptives (2016-2020).
• The Branch provided support to initiatives advancing gender equality, such as Oxfam Canada’s effort to reduce violence against women and girls, including child, early and forced marriage, in six countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines (2016-2021); and the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s efforts to increase the political empowerment of women in selected countries, including in fragile and conflict-affected states, in support of poor and marginalized groups (2016-2018).
• The Branch also launched two calls for preliminary proposals that support 抖淫视频’s implementation plan.
  • In November 2017, it launched the first call for preliminary proposals as part of a five-year $100-million pilot initiative targeted at Canadian small and medium organizations. The initiative seeks to engage Canadian small and medium organizations  in international assistance efforts in areas consistent with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, which recognizes that promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls is the most effective approach to reduce extreme poverty and build a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world.
  • In March 2018, it launched the Partnerships for Her Voice, Her Choice call for preliminary proposals, which is part of the investment of $650M over three years announced by the Government of Canada in support of SRHR.

Results and Progress:  Efforts to strengthen the integration of gender equality into Partnerships for Development Innovation programming resulted in an increase in the number of projects – either approved or considered for support – that fully integrate or specifically target gender equality, in fragile and conflict-affected states, among others. This included, within the health portfolio, enhanced programming in SRHR.

Both calls for preliminary proposals are closed. Proposals that met the eligibility criteria are under review.

Completed Activities: 

• The Branch initiated new programming with KAIROS Canada to deliver the Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security Program ($4.5 million, 2017-2022).

Results and Progress: The Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security Program will empower women human rights defenders and organizations to participate effectively in peace and security processes in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines, South Sudan, and the West Bank. It will support the work of five grassroots women-focused organizations that help to heal female victims of war while empowering them to be peace builders. It will also strengthen the ability of beneficiaries to use national laws and international human rights frameworks to defend and protect women’s rights in post-conflict settings. Project implementation began in 2018. It is too early to report on project results.

Completed Activities: 

• Almost all staff completed Status of Women Canada’s GBA+ online course during GBA+ Awareness Week 2017.
• 20 staff in the Branch along with other staff in the department received training to assess preliminary proposals, including regarding gender equality elements of projects. 16 other staff in the Branch received the training material.

Results and Progress: Increased staff capacity on GBA+ and on gender equality integration has resulted in a more robust and consistent approach to assessing the gender equality elements in the preliminary proposals received through the small and medium organizations for Impact and Innovation initiative.  This has helped staff identify preliminary proposals that have the potential to fully integrate or specifically target gender equality. Increased capacity has also improved staff engagement with Canadian partners on the gender dimensions of their projects.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• Co-hosted 2 events to increase awareness and understanding of women’s roles in peace processes.
• Delivered 4 statements at the UN Security Council and UNGA that recognized women as agents of positive change in the context of peace processes, and called for accountability for sexual violence.
• Convened the Group of Friends of WPS no fewer than five times, facilitating discussions with experts on a variety of issues related to the agenda, including women’s meaningful participation in the peace processes.
• Met several times on an individual basis with women’s organizations such as the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, PeaceWomen, and NGO partners from Women’s Learning Partnership.

Completed Activities:

• Conducted joint advocacy through the Group of Friends of WPS to encourage the UN to ensure increased and meaningful participation of women in peace processes, including as mediators. For example, Canada chaired a meeting of the Group of Friends of WPS at which gender advisors from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, the UN Mission in South Sudan, and the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Cong briefed on prevention, protection and participation pillars of the WPS agenda.
• Co-hosted two events to increase awareness and understanding of women’s roles in peace processes: a side event addressing gender equality as a key to the sustainability of peace on the margins of the 2017 high-level Global Leadership Dialogue on Investing in Gender Equality, and a high-level dialogue on the how-to of gender-inclusive mediation, which showcased the latest animation tools and the framework of the Better Peace Initiative.
• Filled the role of focal point on gender, alongside Bangladesh, in the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

Results and Progress: Canada continues to be seen as a leader on the WPS agenda at the UN. This is in part due to its role in developing UNSCR 1325, but it is sustained through the chairing of the Group of Friends of WPS and the broader promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment in various forums within the UN system. The announcement of Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy and Feminist International Assistance Policy has further bolstered Canada’s credentials as a leader in this area.

Canada has consistently and visibly called for the meaningful participation of women in all areas of peace and security, notably conflict prevention and peace processes. In total, the Mission delivered four statements at the Security Council and UNGA (of a total of 32) that recognized women as agents of positive change in the context of peace processes, and called for accountability for sexual violence.

Canada also raised the meaningful participation of women regularly as part of its chairmanship of the Group of Friends of WPS, which counted 54 member states amongst its ranks. The Group of Friends of WPS was formed in 2000 to promote the implementation of UNSCR 1325, through: (i) information sharing; (ii) advocacy; and (iii) working toward concrete action to implement the WPS agenda. In FY 2017/18, the Mission convened the Group of Friends no fewer than five times, facilitating discussions with experts on a variety of issues related to the agenda, including women’s meaningful participation in the peace processes.

The full and meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention and peace processes must not only be articulated in policy, but must also be affirmed in practice. The Mission supported the community of practice in strengthening awareness of their work among policy-makers, through supporting two events to increase awareness and understanding of women’s roles in peace processes, mediation, conflict prevention or peacebuilding.  Members of the Mission also met several times on an individual basis to exchange information on challenges and opportunities with women’s organizations such as the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, PeaceWomen, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) partners from Women’s Learning Partnership.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 5

• Delivered no less than five statements at high-level forums calling for new and creative thinking to resolve persistent gaps and barriers to female participation and leadership in peacekeeping.
• Hosted two events with women’s civil society groups on ensuring that United Nations peacekeeping missions are more gender-responsive.
• Negotiated, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Australia and New Zealand, and successfully advocated for greater attention to the role of women’s groups in protection strategies, and underlined the overall importance of increasing the number of uniformed and civilian women in United Nations peacekeeping operations to enhance the effectiveness of protection of civilian mandates.
• Trained two thirds of peace and security officers within the Mission have completed training on gender.
• Developed a voluntary pledge that sets out specific commitments and key actions on gender equality for the Mission.

Completed Activities:

• Highlighted the importance of gender-responsive peacekeeping in statements to the Special Committee on Peace Operations, UNGA Fifth Committee, as well as other UN, civil society, and academic forums.
• Hosted two events with women’s groups on peacekeeping. For example, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, France, and La Francophonie hosted a side event at the UN on WPS in peacekeeping operations, on the margins of the Commission on the Status of Women. The event, entitled The Women, Peace and Security Agenda is not Optional was moderated by Louise Allen of the NGO Working Group on WPS with presentations by Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Malian activist and women’s rights defender Mama Koité Doumbia, and Burundian/Canadian activist and poet Ketty Nivyabandi.
• Advanced women’s participation in peacekeeping in various statements, including by delivering a statement to the Security Council High Level Open Debate on Reform of UN Peacekeeping calling for gender perspectives to be integrated throughout UN endeavours. The Minister of National Defence delivered a statement to the Security Council on behalf of the Group of Friends on collective action to improve UN peacekeeping operations, wherein he emphasized the importance of women’s participation and gender perspectives in UN

Results and Progress: Canada is one of the strongest and most visible proponents at the UN of increasing gender responsiveness of UN peace operations and of encouraging women’s full and meaningful participation as a means to achieve greater operational effectiveness.

In FY 2017/18, Canada delivered no less than five statements at high-level forums calling for new and creative thinking to resolve persistent gaps and barriers to female participation and leadership in peacekeeping. On March 28, 2018, Minister of National Defence delivered a statement to the Security Council on behalf of the Group of Friends of WPS on collective action to improve UN peacekeeping operations, wherein he emphasized the importance of women’s participation and gender perspectives in UN peacekeeping. This represented the first time the Group of Friends of WPS spoke in a Security Council debate on peacekeeping, and the first time a Minister of Defence delivered a statement on behalf of the Group of Friends.

During the reporting period, the 1325 Military and Police Advisors Network and the WPS Chiefs of Defence Network did not hold any meetings. However, the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN hosted two events with women’s civil society groups on ensuring that UN peacekeeping missions are more gender-responsive. In particular, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Development hosted and moderated a side-event on the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, which focused on actions needed to get more uniformed women deployed as military and police peacekeepers, attracting more than 170 participants.

Despite efforts, at 31 March 2018, just 4.76% of uniformed peacekeepers - police and military - deployed on UN peacekeeping operations were women. This represents only a slight increase from the same month of the previous year, when the proportion of women deployed was 4.26%.^{Footnote 6} While Canada fared better in its own deployments, with 18.3% of Canada’s deployed uniformed personnel being women (9/49), it is difficult to gauge trends at the national level due to the relative numbers of personnel deployed.

The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations annually conducts a comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations. During its 2018 substantive session, the Permanent Mission of Canada negotiated in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Australia and New Zealand to champion the inclusion of gender-responsive language in  the documents of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and successfully advocated for greater attention to the role of women’s groups in protection strategies, and underlined the overall importance of increasing the number of uniformed and civilian women in UN peacekeeping operations to enhance the effectiveness of protection of civilian mandates.

In the annual session of the UNGA’s Fifth Committee, Canada remained a strong advocate for the indispensable role of women in UN peacekeeping operations, continually emphasizing that women’s participation at all levels is key to the operational effectiveness of missions. This included prioritizing and supporting posts in the UN peacekeeping budget implementing WPS activities. The Committee, however, did not reach consensus on a cross-cutting resolution which traditionally includes a policy section on WPS. However, in the Committee’s resolution on combatting SEA, Canada successfully worked with partners to secure support on a stronger, victim-centred approach on the part of the UN and Member States.

How Canada carries out its work at the UN should reflect and reinforce its commitment to gender equality. Two thirds of peace and security officers within Canada’s Permanent Mission to the UN have completed training on gender. Additionally, the Mission developed a voluntary pledge for itself that sets out specific commitments and key actions on gender equality. The gender pledge is expected to be formally adopted by the Mission in FY 2018/19, and represents the first of its kind in a Canadian embassy or mission. The Mission has also worked with other UN missions to encourage them to develop gender pledges of their own.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018:  On track/OBJ 2

• Joined the Voluntary Compact between the Secretary-General and Member States on protection from SEA.
• Canada’s prime minister joined Circle of Leadership on the prevention of and response to SEA in UN
• 7 statements delivered by Canada to the UNGA, Security Council, and other forums that condemned SEA.

Completed Activities:

• Worked to strengthen the UN’ zero-tolerance policy on SEA, in order to provoke a shift at the UN from a culture of denial and avoidance to a one of prevention and responsibility. For example, Canada delivered a statement at a UN High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of SEA, encouraging Member States to consider contributing to the Victims Assistance Trust Fund, and called for leadership at the uppermost levels, both at the UN and in Member States, on SEA. Canada delivered a statement to the Security Council’s High-Level Open Debate on Reform of UN Peacekeeping, calling on states to assist survivors of SEA.
• Discussed with Member States and the UN Secretariat ways to improve accountability for SEA committed by UN peacekeepers and staff. The Minister of National Defence, for instance, discussed the continuing issue of SEA with Permanent Representatives and Deputy Permanent Representatives from Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Bangladesh and the Permanent Observer for the African Union.

Results and Progress: The Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN exerted pressure on the UN system and Member States to improve prevention of and response to SEA through at least seven high-level statements. Statements encouraged the UN Secretariat to show greater leadership to improve its system-wide response to SEA, and pushed back on the efforts of some Member States to water down commitments, shift blame, and hamper the Secretary-General’s ability to take decisive action. Nevertheless, incidents of SEA continue to occur at a similar rate to past years. A total of 138 allegations of SEA were reported between January 1 and December 31, 2017, relating to personnel in peacekeeping and special political missions, as well as other UN system entities and non-UN forces authorized by a Security Council mandate.^{Footnote 7}

Canada, through its Mission to the UN, continued to be a steadfast partner of the UN in its efforts to prevent and eradicate SEA. Canada joined the Voluntary Compact between the Secretary-General and Member States on protection from SEA (“the Compact”). In September, the Prime Minister joined the Circle of Leadership on the prevention of and response to SEA in UN operations. These actions complement and extend the financial support provided by Canada to both the United Nations Trust Fund on SEA and the Office of the Special Coordinator on SEA through Canada’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program. Canada also chaired one meeting of the Group of Friends of WPS where SEA was discussed.

The Mission used all available platforms to underline the unacceptability of SEA, delivering seven statements to UNGA, Security Council, and other forums that condemned in the strongest possible terms this scourge. In its statement at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of SEA in September 2017, Canada additionally encouraged Member States to consider contributing to the Victims Assistance Trust Fund and called for leadership at the uppermost levels, both at the UN and in Member States. Similarly, in its statement to the Security Council’s High Level Open Debate on Reform of UN Peacekeeping, Canada called on states to assist survivors of SEA.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• The Mission succeeded in achieving gender parity in its nominations in FY 2017/18.
• Participated in at least one Friends of Gender Parity meeting during the reporting period.

Completed Activities:

• Nominated equal numbers of women Canadians to senior positions in the UN system (gender parity in nominations).
• Supported the UN Senior Women Talent Pipeline through provision of several nominations.

Results and Progress: Canada is a strong supporter of the Secretary General’s Gender Parity Strategy, which operationalizes the goal of gender parity, moving the UN from ambition to action. Overall, progress during the reporting period was positive. The proportion of women at senior positions i.e. D-1 level and above within UN Secretariat staff increased by 3% between 2016 and 2017, from 29% to 32%.^{Footnote 8}

The Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN succeeded in achieving gender parity in its nominations in FY 2017/18. Overall, more than two thirds of Canadians who supported for senior positions, pools or rosters in the UN system were women (71%), and nearly all dealt with peace and security issues. The Senior Women Talent Pipeline accounted for a significant number of these applicants, however, skewing the overall proportion relative to other years. If this cohort of applicants were excluded, 50% of Canadians supported by the Mission were women.

The Mission committed to regularly consulting with Member States, women’s groups, and groups promoting gender parity women and girls on the full range of policy areas, not simply those directly on the topics of gender equality and women’s rights. The Mission took the opportunity to emphasize the need for gender parity in its statement at the UN Women Executive Board in February 2018. The statement did not specifically relate to senior positions, but was in the context of the need to achieve gender parity more generally. Canada participated in at least one Friends of Gender Parity meeting during the reporting period; however, engagement in this forum was not systematically tracked during the reporting period.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• 12 informal meetings hosted by Canada to promote WPS implementation at NATO.
• Canada is the top donor to the NATO WPS Office.
• 1 meeting held by North Atlantic Council, which is the principal political decision-making body of NATO, on implementation of NATO’s Action Plan on WPS.

Completed Activities:

• Promoted gender equality and mainstreaming of gender perspectives into NATO policies, programs, partnerships, activities and operations.
• Raised awareness about WPS through the organization of high profile public activities such as panel discussion with Minister and high-level NATO and EU counterparts, as well as through popular social media campaigns.
• Provided funding support to the NATO WPS office to assist in developing the integration of gender perspectives at NATO.
• Organized and chaired Friends of UNSCR 1325 meetings at all levels to promote WPS initiatives and further integrate gender perspectives into NATO’s work.
• Mobilized NATO Allies and Partners in advancing the WPS agenda to ensure that it is reflected in NATO work in such areas as counter-terrorism, projecting stability along the periphery of NATO, and to increase the number of women in positions of authority by reducing barriers to women.

Results and Progress: In 2017, Canada was the top donor to the NATO WPS Office in order to promote gender equality and mainstreaming at NATO, as well as toward the implementation of the NATO’s WPS Action Plan. Through its efforts and contributions, Canada strengthened NATO’s commitments through its systematic integration of gender perspectives into NATO operational planning, training exercises and policies, as well as in dialogue and partnerships; by enhancing cooperation with civil society, so that it is in a position to provide overarching recommendations on the integration of a gender perspective into core NATO tasks and assist in outreach; by assuring that NATO and its Partners will undertake measures to prevent and respond to sexual violence in all operations through undergoing mandatory training to identify, prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in all operations. Canada’s advocacy was also integral to securing a commitment by Allies to enforce measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). 

During the reporting period, Canada hosted 12 informal meetings to promote WPS implementation at NATO. The North Atlantic Council, which is the principal political decision-making body of NATO, had one meeting on implementation of NATO’s Action Plan on WPS.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/OBJ 1

• All defence and security capacity building packages integrated gender perspectives.
• Canada actively promoted integrating gender perspectives into partnership tools.

Completed Activities:

• Proposed initiatives to the North Atlantic Council that promoted the integration of gender perspectives into and increasing women’s participation in defence capacity building projects.
• Actively promoted integrating gender perspectives into partnership tools.

Results and Progress: All defence and security capacity-building packages integrate gender perspectives, as these are included among the principles and key considerations of the defence and security capacity building policy. The packages for Moldova and Jordan contain gender perspectives among the areas of assistance provided to those countries. The defence and security capacity-building packages are demand-driven, therefore the areas of assistance correspond to the requests by the recipient nations. Also, defence and security capacity building is complementary to other partnership programs and tools. Hence, NATO’s defence and security capacity building packages typically provide assistance only in the areas that are requested by the recipient nation and where assistance has not already been provided through other tools.

Canada will send a Lieutenant-Colonel to be a gender advisor in the International Military Staff.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/OBJ 1

• Canada funded a study conducted in 2017on identifying barriers to representation of women in senior positions at NATO.

Completed Activities:

• Canada has been instrumental in advocating for and supporting a NATO Human Resources policy, processes and procedures.

Results and Progress: Canada consistently advocated increased appointment and representation of women in senior positions, as well as proposed qualified Canadian women candidates for senior positions at NATO and encouraged Allies to do the same.

Canada also funded a study on identifying barriers to representation of women in senior positions at NATO conducted in 2017.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/OBJ 1

• 5 out of 7 programs in the Mission used key messages and/or context tailored messages on WPS in multilateral institutions and processes governing boards and councils, and advocacy groups. The Mission continues to pursue this objective and has adjusted the target date from the end of FY 2017/18 to the end of FY 2018/19.

Completed Activities:

• Advocated for the inclusion of language concerning the human rights of women into country resolutions at the Human Rights Council.
• Participated as a core group member in establishing an international investigation into violations of human rights and international law in Yemen.
• Co-hosted with the Gender and Mine Action Programme a panel on Women’s Empowerment through Mine Action. Panelists included five women and two men who mine action experts and nationals of Canada, Lebanon, Somalia, Switzerland, the UK, and Zambia.
• Launched a Core Group on Gender Equality and Non-Proliferation, Arms Control, and Disarmament to bring together states and civil society to collaborate on gender-responsive multilateral policy development across disarmament instruments.
• Canada’s ambassador consistently advocated for the participation of Syrian women in the peace process, and amplified their key messages.
• At the 21st International Meeting of National Mine Action Programme Directors and United Nations Advisers, Canada’s ambassador chaired a plenary panel discussion on gender equality, mine action, and WPS, highlighting good practices and challenges in the sector. Panelists included three women and one man from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Gender and Mine Action Programme, and the Colombian mine action authority, as well as a Colombian survivor of an anti-personnel mine accident.
• Played a central role in the drafting and advocacy for the Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment, which was supported by almost 120 World Trade Organization members and observers at the World Trade Organization’s 11^th Ministerial Conference in December 2017.

Results and Progress:  In multilateral institutions, progress can often seem slow, and plans must be strategically implemented over a number of years. This FY 2017/18, Canada has advocated and advanced WPS issues in Geneva-based multilateral fora with increasing consistency. Indeed, 5 out of 7 programs (Disarmament, Peace and Security; Human Rights; Humanitarian Affairs; Legal; Cyber; Health, Labour, and Governance; and Trade) at the mission used key messages and/or context tailored messages on WPS in multilateral institutions and processes governing boards and councils, and advocacy groups. These efforts and other advocacy initiatives have already shown some success.

For example, thanks to Canada’s advocacy, a growing number of country resolutions at the Human Rights Council include WPS language. These include resolutions on Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. At the Human Rights Council, Canada also participated as a core group member in establishing an international investigation into violations of human rights and international law in Yemen. While WPS was not specifically mentioned, violations against women in this conflict environment will be investigated.

Canada also successfully advocated for the inclusion of text on gender equality and women’s empowerment in letters to States Parties from Presidents of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Biological Weapons Convention, and Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. This included Priorities such as sex and age-disaggregated data, reflecting on gender and diversity in statements, and participation and representation of women.

In the context of Canada’s Chairmanship of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Donor Support Group (from June 2017 to May 2018), Canada advocated for the integration of gender equality and gender-sensitive programming as a key priority of the ICRC’s forthcoming institutional strategy (2019-2022). Canada took part in a panel discussion on this topic in ICRC’s January Policy Forum. We shared recommendations for integrating the necessary gender considerations into the ICRC’s operations and human resources, drawing on Canada’s experience in developing the Feminist International Assistance Policy. We also highlighted the enabling factors of such an initiative, mainly commitment and support at the highest levels, a clear direction and plan for implementation, establishing a policy framework that includes clear commitments, accountability/tracking mechanisms and the allocation of adequate financial and human resources. ICRC now has integrated gender-sensitive programming as a key priority of its institutional strategy (2019-2022).

Canada has also been engaging on the draft program of action of the Global Compact for Refugees. Between January and March 2018, three formal state consultations have taken place, during which Canada has consistently advocated for the inclusion of gender-sensitive language and the recognition of specific needs and capabilities of women and girls. These elements have been integrated into the latest draft document.

Canada also continued to push strongly for the integration of gender equality and equity issues into the World Health Organization’s new draft five year strategy at the October and January Executive Boards. Gender equality sensitive indicators are now included in the World Health Organization’s new draft five year strategy’s draft impact framework. In addition, stronger language on the importance of gender mainstreaming is included in the strategy text and sexual reproductive health and reproductive rights (SRHR) are integrated across the strategy’s three main objectives, including within its response to emergencies.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track- 9.2.1, 9.2.2/OBJ 1 & 1

• The Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security in Geneva was established and Canada is the chair. The Group is “cross-sectoral”, and it is currently engaged on Human Rights; Humanitarian Affairs; Non-Proliferation, Arms Control, and Disarmament; and Accountability and International Humanitarian Law.
• 14 members in the Group of Friends.
• 3 civil society organizations collaborated with Canada to launch the Group of Friends. The Group’s Terms of Reference create space for civil society observers.

Completed Activities:

• Conducted an ambassador-level launch of the Group of Friends of WPS in February 2018.
• Canada and the Netherlands co-hosted Connect-the-Dots event in November 2017 that focused on WPS in the context of human rights.
• Cross-sectoral WPS-themed expert level event held in January 2018.
• Integrated WPS as an agenda item in the tri-annual (March, June, and September) “Women’s Rights and Gender Network” in March 2018.
• Launched a Core Group on Gender Equality and Non-Proliferation, Arms Control, and Disarmament to bring together states and civil society to collaborate on gender-responsive multilateral policy development across disarmament instruments.

Results and Progress: In February 2018, Canada launched the Group of Friends of WPS, which it now chairs. It is composed of 14 member states, including Canada. During the reporting period, the Group of Friends had not yet opened to include civil society as observers. However, three civil society organizations (CSOs) were active contributors to briefing the Group of Friends during its initial stages. The draft Terms of Reference also referred to the importance of CSO participation and envisioned an observer role for such organizations within the Group of Friends.

Following consultations, it was decided that Canada and other members of the Group of Friends would work to mainstream WPS in existing mechanisms where applicable in order to avoid duplication and maximize impact.  This work is underway in the human rights and humanitarian affairs sectors. Thus far there are two sector-specific gender advocacy groups in which Canada is involved that integrate WPS: Core Group on Gender Equality and Non-Proliferation, Arms Control, and Disarmament, which Canada chairs, and the Women’s Rights and Gender Network.

The Group of Friends of WPS will take forward the normative and legal framework of WPS into practical implementation through Geneva-based organizations to the field level. This will be on the level of institutional change. The Group will be also advancing and supporting decisions that will make a concrete difference for women and girls in conflict-affected and fragile situations. To achieve this, the Group of Friends aims to:

• Empower women and girls in conflict-affected and fragile situations.
• Concretely improve the circumstances for women and girls in conflict-affected and fragile situations through action by Geneva-based institutions and mechanisms.
• Engage men and boys in empowering women and girls and improving their circumstances in conflict-affected and fragile situations.
• Collaborate in and across sectors to advance this work.

It is a cross-sectoral group, currently engaged for the following “sectors”:

• Human Rights;
• Humanitarian Affairs;
• Non-Proliferation, Arms Control, and Disarmament;
• Accountability and International Humanitarian Law; and
• Representation and Participation of women (cross-cutting).

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track – 9.3.1, 9.3.2/OBJ 1 & 1

• The Mission supported the participation of 6 women and 2 women’s groups in peace talks or Geneva-based multilateral meetings.
• 3 relevant Mission programs supported women’s engagement.

Completed Activities:

• Facilitated a closed door meeting between Iraqi, Palestinian, and Yemeni women advocates and academics and Geneva-based representatives of several donor states.
• Sponsored the participation of five women youth advocates from anti-personnel mine-affected states (Colombia, Lebanon, Senegal, Sri Lanka, and Uganda) to attend a Women’s Youth Leaders Forum run by Mines Action Canada on the margins of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention Meeting of States Parties. During the forum, the young women leaders built their advocacy capacity, took part in the meeting plenary and side events, assisted the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, networked, and wrote and delivered a joint youth statement during the plenary.
• Supported a representative from a women’s group from Burundi to come to Geneva to participate on a panel on accountability that Canada co-hosted with Liechtenstein.
• Regularly met with women activists and human rights defenders from fragile and conflict-affected states in the lead up to the Universal Periodic Review sessions. Canada incorporated suggestions put forward by these groups into its Universal Periodic Review recommendations for Burundi and Mali.

Results and Progress: When women or women’s groups from fragile and conflict-affected states come to Geneva to participate in peace talks, or to take part in multilateral meetings, Canada will offer support in terms of meeting space, capacity building, facilitation of relevant bilateral meetings, and opportunities to share their experiences and Priorities with the broader Geneva community of practice on peace and security issues. During the reporting period, Canada supported six women and two women’s groups. This was done by three of the Missions programs: Human Rights; Legal; and Disarmament, Peace, and Security. Canada received positive response by Iraqi, Palestinian, and Yemeni women advocates and academics who participated in the donor briefing. The Mission also received a positive response from the individual supported who was given an opportunity to raise issues of accountability for violations in a multilateral context and to network.

The Mission identified two main challenges with supporting women’s participation in multilateral meetings in Geneva. First, the multilateral calendar is busy and it is often not known until fairly short notice that women or women’s groups from conflict-affected and fragile states will be in Geneva. This creates challenges for meeting scheduling. Related to this, women from fragile and conflict-affected states are often in Geneva for participation in major international meetings in which their potential interlocutors for more detailed conversations are already heavily engaged, making scheduling of meetings even more challenging. It is hoped that through the Group of Friends of WPS, and the Mission’s own increasing internal coordination, the Mission will be made aware of these opportunities earlier on, thus better enabling such support. Opportunities for remote briefings (through video teleconference or similar) facilitated by missions in country, international NGOs, or the UN, could also be explored.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Attention required/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 12 out of 25 Mission officers have or received appropriate training on gender.

Completed Activities:

• Officers completed one of the following training courses: Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) online course; in classroom Gender and Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament workshop; and trade and gender-based analysis workshop.

Results and Progress: 25 officer positions were identified as relevant under this indicator for the reporting period. These are currently filled by 13 men and 12 women. Of this group, eight men and four women reported having received relevant training.

In March 2018, Canada hosted a workshop on Gender and Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament, which was delivered by the Gender and Mine Action Programme, Small Arms Survey, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The course included an introduction to WPS and focused on producing results at the field level through multilateral forums. The workshop was widely appreciated and attended by more than 20 participants. There has been interest in additional training sessions. The course built understanding and positive momentum toward the launch of the Core Group on Gender Equality and Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament, which was formed in March 2018 and which took the decision to draft narratives for addressing various weapons types.

Canada also hosted at the World Trade Organization the first workshop on trade and gender-based analysis. Feedback from participants in the trade and gender-based analysis training was overwhelmingly positive and the event garnered broad coverage on social media, including Twitter and Facebook (Head of Mission’s top tweet generating 12.5K impressions and 90 engagements).  Future sessions are planned.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• Canada has regularly used standardized and context-specific key messages on gender equality and on WPS during its interventions in key meetings.

Completed Activities:

• Canada has regularly used standardized key messages on gender equality and on WPS during its interventions in key meetings such as the Ministerial Meeting of IOF, the Permanent Council of La Francophonie, the Political Commission of La Francophonie, and the Programming and Cooperation Commission.
• Canada played an active role in the working group in charge of drafting a Francophonie gender equality strategy, in the working group in charge of drafting the IOF’s programming strategy 2019-2022, and in the ad hoc committee in charge of drafting the Heads of State and Government declaration that will be approved at the upcoming Francophonie Summit, which will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, on October11-12, 2018.

Results and Progress: Canada has regularly used standardized key messages on gender equality and on WPS during its interventions in key meetings.  In part due to Canada’s active role in the two IOF working groups and the ad hoc committee, WPS-related language has been included in the draft versions of the following documents: La Francophonie’s gender equality strategy, the IOF’s 2019-2022 programming strategy, and the Heads of State and Government Declaration. The gender equality strategy contains an objective that aims to “prevent and combat all forms of violence against women and girls in times of peace and conflict”. Two of the IOF’s seventeen planned programs for 2019-2022 will pertain to peace and security and integrate gender equality as a crosscutting theme.

Through its participation in the working groups and the ad hoc committee, Canada aims to continue to ensure that WPS language and gender equality considerations are effectively integrated in the activities of the various La Francophonie institutions, as well as in the IOF’s 2019-2022 programming. The gender equality strategy and the Heads of State and Government Declaration will be adopted by the Heads of State and Government of La Francophonie during the Francophonie Summit. For its part, the IOF’s 2019-2022 programming will be adopted during the ministerial conference of La Francophonie, October 8-9, 2018.

New standardized key messages on WPS will be developed ahead of the Summit of La Francophonie in October 2018.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Attention required/Internal efficiency & capacity

• No IOF officers were trained in FY 2017/18 due to competing Priorities.

Completed Activities:

• No IOF officers were trained in FY 2017/18 due to competing Priorities.

Results and Progress: Officers working on IOF have not been trained on gender during the reporting period due to competing Priorities, including preparation for the following events: the Francophonie Games, July 2017, in Côte d’Ivoire; the Women's Conference of La Francophonie, November 2017, in Bucharest; the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie, November 2017, in Paris; and the Francophonie Summit, October 2018, in Yerevan. However, going forward, relevant training in gender analysis will be identified, which officers will be encouraged to take.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• Canada was key in securing increased funding for the OSCE Gender Unit, as well as for two additional seconded positions.
• Canada’s ambassador to the OSCE was awarded the “white ribbon” that recognizes efforts in promoting gender equality.
• 2 out of 8 Canada-funded projects at the OSCE indicated gender equality as among their main objectives.

Completed Activities:

• A small group of ambassadors, including the Canadian Permanent Representative, met with the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine on several occasions to discuss, inter alia, the importance of gender mainstreaming in the work of the mission. The Gender Advisor for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine reported that since those meetings, there has been a real effort to focus on gender mainstreaming in a more systematic and cohesive way.
• In the OSCE 2018 Unified Budget, Canada tried but failed to reclassify the OSCE Senior Gender Advisor position from P5 to D1 level in order to ensure that they can attend all relevant senior management meetings. Nevertheless, Canada was key to securing increased funding for the unit, as well as two additional seconded positions.
• Canada’s ambassador to the OSCE met with the OSCE Gender Unit and its Senior Advisor on a regular basis to discuss progress on gender mainstreaming at the Secretariat.
• In Permanent Council statements and in discussions with the Secretary-General and the Chairmanship-in-Office, the Canadian delegation restated that the integration of a gender perspective into the work of the OSCE was a key priority for Canada and called for leadership in making gender-mainstreaming a performance indicator for the OSCE staff.

Results and Progress: The progress on mainstreaming gender into all OSCE operations and activities has been slow. However, the arrival of a new OSCE Secretary-General who made gender mainstreaming at the OSCE a priority has started to bear fruit. At the OSCE, Canada has made gender mainstreaming one of its key Priorities by taking a leadership role in promoting and defending gender equality.  For these efforts, on November 30 2018, Canada’s ambassador to the OSCE was awarded the “white ribbon” that recognizes efforts in promoting gender equality. While Canada is well-known to be outspoken in defending and promoting gender mainstreaming at the OSCE, our efforts are often stalled by the position of some States that use the consensus-based rule to block any progress on the implementation of the OSCE’s gender commitments, including the adoption of a gender-focused budget and reform.

Despite the failure to upgrade the OSCE’s Senior Gender Advisor position, the Senior Advisor is now increasingly involved in senior management policy and decision-making meetings, which was recognized to be the result of the advocacy efforts to the new OSCE Secretary-General by several participating States, including Canada. In terms of budget and posts, through sustained leadership at the OSCE Advisory Committee on Management and Finance, Canada was able to secure more funding (from €426,800 in 2017 to €447,600 in 2018) and create two new seconded positions.

In the most recent Secretary General’s progress report on Gender Equality in the Organization (usually published in the fall), 8 out of 17 (47%) field operations had a mission-specific Gender Action Plan or Strategy valid during 2016. Through sustained advocacy efforts, Canada hopes to be increasing this number closer to 60% for 2017. The two biggest field missions, the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and the Mission in Kosovo, each have a full-time Gender Advisor, and only two smaller missions, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, have national program officers dedicated to gender issues. Canada will work to increase this ratio of less than 25% to closer to 33% in the coming year by supporting and promoting the need for dedicated gender officers in all field missions.

During the reporting period, out of eight Canadian funded projects at the OSCE, only two had gender equality indicated as one of their main objectives:  Increased Human Security through Respect for Human Rights, Diversity and Inclusive Governance (2017-2019); and Dialogue for Reform and Social Cohesion (2016-2018). However, Canada’s largest funding was allocated to the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, to which Canada sends between 20 to30 monitors every year. Canada has one of the highest ratio and number of women monitors of all contributing countries.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/OBJ 1

• Canada made a number of statements advancing the systematic integration of gender perspectives into the OSCE capacity-building initiatives and outreach activities during the reporting period. However, these statements are not yet systematically tracked by the Canadian mission.
• Canada organized a successful visit of the Canadian Armed Forces Champion for Gender Perspectives, whose presentation to the Forum on Security Cooperation was well received.

Completed Activities:

• On September 13, 2017, Canada organized a successful visit of the Canadian Armed Forces Champion for Gender Perspectives whose presentation to the Forum on Security Cooperation made a great impact on the audience by offering practical and concrete examples of the need for and benefits of integrating gender analysis in operational planning that is essential for success. She also introduced the Canadian Armed Forces plan to recruit more women.
• Canada was involved in all WPS discussions, either informal brainstorming sessions or formal meetings hosted by the Chair of the Group of Friends (Spain) every three months or by the Secretariat.
• Canada has yet start to advocating for greater gender-based analysis in the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, but we are working with their Gender Advisor to identify ways to start gathering gender-related data in a meaningful and useful way, a gap that was identified when the advisor arrived in her position.

Results and Progress: The Mission has not yet systematically tracked its statements that refer to gender mainstreaming in the political-military efforts of the OSCE, which is something we will work to improve. However, Canada made a number of statements on this issue at the OSCE during the reporting period. For example, in the Forum for Security Cooperation, which is the main forum for military advisors at the OSCE, Canada raised the issue of women and gender in at least three statements. At the weekly Permanent Council, at least 21 Canadian statements referred to gender issues ranging from welcome statements to the new Secretary General and Chairmanship-in-Office, LGBTI issues in the OSCE region, Ukraine or OSCE Unified Budget. In the 2017 Annual Human Dimension Meeting, one statement was dedicated to gender equality, while the role of women was specifically raised in the statement on democratic institutions. Canada made at least five other statements in the Security Committee, the Mediterranean partners contact group, the Supplemental Human Dimension Meeting and in other special meetings. Since Canada is a leader on gender and since the OSCE focuses on security cooperation, the OSCE is a fertile ground for advocacy on gender issues, despite the dislike of some participating States to the use of the word “gender”. Consequently, Canada made countless other non-written interventions at the OSCE.

During the Ministerial Council Meeting in December 2017, Canada was highly involved in all ministerial decisions, especially those related to gender. Canada showed leadership in the negotiations of two women-focused draft decisions (Increasing the Participation of Women in the Security Sector and Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women), which despite all efforts have failed to be adopted in great part because of their gender-equality focused nature. Canada also defended gender-related language in all possible draft decisions, succeeding to keep references in four of the five substantial decisions adopted in December 2017 (Strengthening Efforts to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings, Combating Child Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children, Promoting Economic Participation, and Small Arms and Light Weapons and Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition).

On gender-related data in OSCE field missions, there was very little information available (low), but the demand for it is increasing. The Mission intends to continue to press for more relevant gender-disaggregated data on human resources, activities and projects.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/OBJ 1

• Canada conducted initial outreach to potential female candidates for senior positions at the OSCE.

Completed Activities:

• Conducted initial outreach to potential female candidates for senior positions at the OSCE and its field missions and will continue these efforts to get the best applicants.

Results and Progress: Increasing the representation of women overall and particularly in senior positions at the OSCE is a long term commitment that requires sustained efforts for the coming years.  Canada is just starting its outreach efforts to potential women candidates for the OSCE positions thus it is too early to provide reporting on the first indicator. Overall, during the reporting period, the ratio of women in senior positions (i.e. mid-senior to senior level - P5 and above) in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions were 12 women for 35 men (34 % women) and in field missions women held 22% of the senior management positions. By promoting more female candidates in key positions, Canada hopes to be able to successfully increase these numbers.

When it comes to inviting female experts to participate OSCE-related events, the Mission invited the Canadian Forces Champion for Gender Perspectives, -MGen Harris-, as well as the Director of Gender Integration from the Department of National Defence, to present to the Forum on Security Cooperation on practical and concrete examples of the needs and benefits of integrating gender analysis in operational planning. Unfortunately, the lack of resources is an issue when it comes to holding events and inviting relevant female experts. However, the Mission has been exploring other possibilities that would enable it to support and host events that would advance the participation of women at the OSCE, including by funding projects that aim directly at such increase.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 7%^{Footnote 9} of development programming under the Middle East Strategy was gender-integrated as at March 2018, as compared to the baseline of 73% in April 2017.

Completed Activities:

• Significantly increased in new gender-integrated programming over the course of this year, leading to an overall higher proportion of gender-integrated development programming.
• The bilateral development program has also continued to advance gender equality through policy dialogue and development advocacy in the four countries.

Results and Progress: 83.7% of development programming under the Middle East Strategy was gender-integrated as at March 2018, compared to the baseline of 73% in April 2017.

In Syria, a gender-equality specific (GE03) project approved in FY 2017/18 will support livelihood-related activities for women-headed households and build community-based women’s leadership networks. Another project (an integrated GE02) approved in FY 2017/18  will enable Canada to support the Syria Livelihoods Interventions Fund (LIF), a multi-donor fund that features gender equality as a robust crosscutting theme and aims to support Syrian women in agricultural production and in undertaking local business activities that are culturally suitable and sustainable.

In Lebanon, the Support to Women Cooperatives and Associations in the Agro-Food Sector project with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a gender-equality specific (GE03) project approved in FY 2017/18, will improve the livelihoods of rural Lebanese and Syrian refugee women and contribute to their empowerment through training in business management, communication skills and legal issues related to women’s rights.  It will also support women-led cooperatives and associations to establish sustainable income-generating enterprises.

In Jordan, through a project approved in FY 2017/18, Canada will invest $75M to support the implementation of Jordan’s National Education Strategic Plan. This project received a GE02 rating, because Canada-funded technical assistance from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to the Ministry of Education to ensure Gender-based Analysis PLUS (GBA+) was used by Jordan’s Ministry of Education in developing its Education Strategic Plan.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track – 12.2.1, 12.2.2/Internal efficiency & capacity

1. Changes to the proportion of gender-integrated programming are being tracked. Under the 抖淫视频 portion of the Middle East Strategy, 92% of programming was gender integrated at the end of FY 2017/18. This covers Humanitarian, Development and Security and Stabilization.
2. Recommendations were made to improve the quality and effectiveness of gender equality efforts for the proposed renewal of the Middle East Strategy after FY 2018/19.

Completed Activities:

• Gender coding of various department’s programs under the Strategy (Development, Humanitarian, and Security/Stabilization) has been reviewed, and inconsistent coding has been corrected.
• Coding for development programming did not change, as this has been consistently done with a gender specialist prior to approval of each project.
• Options to improve the quality and effectiveness of gender equality efforts in future programming, particularly post FY 2018/19, for each country under the Strategy have been identified through the gender stocktaking exercise.

Results and Progress: The gender stocktaking exercise has been completed, but as an evergreen document, it is subject to future revisions.  This document reviews the context and status of women and gender equality considerations, including for men and boys in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.  It summarizes the sectors of the department’s gender equality efforts in the Middle East for development and humanitarian assistance, and stabilization efforts, as at 2017. It also includes the baseline value of GE-integrated programming as a percentage of the total programming, by each of these divisions.  Further, it identifies programming options for increasing or improving quality and effectiveness of GE efforts in each country.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report – 12.3.1, 12.3.2, 12.3.3/OBJ 1 & 1 & 1

Completed Activities:

• The Middle East Women, Voice and Leadership (WVL) initiative targeting Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria was approved in FY 2017/18.

Results and Progress: Once operational, the Women’s Voice and Leadership Initiative will contribute to the realization of the above three targets.

Another newly approved project for Iraq in FY 2017/18, will improve the management, programming and sustainability of local women’s rights organizations. It will also increase the effectiveness of sub-national, national and regional women’s rights platforms, networks, and alliances to affect policy, legal and social change.

A second project approved in 2017/18 for Iraq aims to increase policy makers’ awareness of gender gaps in existing sexual and reproductive health services policies and programs. It will increase awareness of the need to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and other harmful practices through advocacy campaigns inside and outside government.  In addition, through improved collection and management of health data, the project will enhance the government’s ability to develop and implement evidence-based policies and programs that prioritize access to sexual and reproductive health services.

For Syria, a project which aims to improve women’s livelihoods, and to strengthen the resilience of individuals and communities was approved in 2017/18. It will provide Syrian women with economic opportunities and help build the capacity of women’s organizations in economic decision making. It will also provide training to male-dominated community institutions on inclusive gender, age and disability economic participation, and help build the capacity of NGOs to implement gender-equality projects.

It is too early to report on the results of any of these initiatives or projects.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 14 out of 15 or 93% of PSOPs projects in Iraq integrated gender perspectives (GE01 and GE02).
• 1 out of 15 or 7% of PSOPs projects in Iraq explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03).

Completed Activities: PSOPs worked to integrate gender considerations into, and supported women’s participation, in a number of projects. For example:

• Contributing $3M toward a project with the International Organization for Migration that is focusing on training local Iraqi police forces and civil society on community police practices.
• Supporting a $1.9M project with the National Democratic Institute that aims to increase Iraqi women’s engagement in decision making processes relating to national reconciliation in liberated areas of Iraq.

Results and Progress: As Iraq transitions from a state of military operations and humanitarian crisis to resilience, recovery and stabilization, PSOPs programming continues to address sources of instability and drivers of conflict that could enable the resurgence of Daesh or other violent extremist groups. In that context, PSOPs-funded efforts to engage women, men, boys and girls from liberated areas from Daesh in order to increase prospects for sustainable peace, and the overall effectiveness of stabilization efforts in Iraq. During the reporting period, out of 15 PSOPs projects in Iraq, 14 (93%) integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02 levels), and one (7%) explicitly targeted equality (GE03).

For instance, a $1.9M project (2016-2019) with the National Democratic Institute aims to increase Iraqi women’s engagement in decision-making processes relating to national reconciliation in liberated areas of Iraq. It seeks to build the capacity of female activists to identify and transform conflict dynamics, solicit women’s Priorities on how best to achieve reconciliation, and build cross-community alliances to convince key decision makers of the importance of the role of women in reconciliation processes. To date, 42 women leaders were trained and, of them, four were engaged as political candidates, and 13 as organizers for the 2018 parliamentary elections.

PSOPs is contributing $3M (2017-2019) toward a project with the International Organization for Migration focusing on training local Iraqi police forces and civil society on community police practices. It includes conducting research and workshops on issues affecting women’s access to security in liberated areas. The research findings (most importantly, how localized issues affect women depending on their area of origin) were integrated into police training, and local, women-led steering committees were established to facilitate greater access to security and justice. To date, three research workshops have been conducted in Anbar, Diyala and Ninewah, which brought together women’s organizations, female community leaders, female police officers and representatives from the Government of Iraq.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 12 out of 18 or 67% of PSOPs projects in Syria integrated gender perspectives (GE01 and GE02).
• 3 out of 18 or 7% of PSOPs projects in Syria explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03).

Completed Activities: PSOPs worked to integrate gender considerations into, and supported women’s participation, in a number of projects. For example:

• Worked to clear explosive devises in Syria by providing $4M to support the safe return of civilians to the governorate of Raqqa.
• Contributing $4.2M toward a project with the Syrian Civil Defence (the White Helmets) to provide protection, vital information and emergency services to vulnerable civilians in Syria.

Results and Progress: Since explosive devices have been placed in homes, schools, and public areas of Syria by Daesh, PSOPs is providing $4M (2017-2019) to support the safe return of civilians to the governorate of Raqqa by working with local communities to identify at-risk sites and to coordinate the return of displaced people to their homes. This includes educating and deploying explosive clearance teams, including an emergency response team and women-led groups, deploying community liaison teams to identify at-risk sites, and geographic mapping of contaminated and cleared areas. To date, explosive device clearance operations have managed to directly benefit 1807 people (14% of the project’s target) of which, 283 are women and 699 are girls.

PSOPs is also contributing $4.2M (2017-2018) toward a project with the Syrian Civil Defence (the White Helmets) to provide protection, vital information and emergency services to vulnerable civilians in Syria, including, in particular, women and children through the provision, training and equipment for battalions of female volunteers. Through PSOPs funding, a total of 43 female Syrian Civil Defence points were established and a total of 390 female Syrian Civil Defence rescuers were trained and equipped, which are providing first responder services to their communities in Opposition held areas.

During the reporting period, out of 18 PSOPs projects in Syria, 12 (67%) integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02 levels) and three (7%) explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03).

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• 30 outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts undertaken where WPS principles were advanced with stakeholders.

Completed Activities:

• Engaged with Iraqi parliamentarians about expanding the representation of women and minorities on the new Independent High Election Commission Board.
• Organized bilateral meetings with Iraqi and Kurdish political parties to expand women’s political participation, including in decision-making within political parties and to increase the number of women in key positions in the Kurdistan Regional Government.
• Undertook a joint demarche with the UK and had meetings with multiple political parties and Ministers of Trade and Health to oppose provisions in draft law that would have allowed child marriage at the age of 9. This advocacy helped prevent the bill’s adoption.
• Organized meetings with influential Iraqi governors and political leaders to highlight the importance of WPS and advocate for women’s inclusion in stabilization decisions and reconciliation processes.

Results and Progress:  As the conflict in Iraq moves into a low-intensity phase and the country adjusts to a new government, Canada’s consistent promotion of WPS positions and Priorities succeeded in raising awareness of the issue with Iraqi leaders and officials. Overall, during the reporting period, Canada has undertaken 30 WPS outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts with Iraqi leaders and officials. Iraqi and Kurdish government officials, parliamentarians, and political parties have increased their awareness of Canada’s WPS principles and Priorities as a result of Canada’s consistent advocacy on the importance of mainstreaming gender perspectives in this critical transitional period and now more frequently acknowledge the importance of this topic in public. In addition, Canada played an important role in opposing a draft personal status law that would have allowed child marriage at the age of nine. The draft law was successfully withdrawn.  Several women parliamentarians and civil society leaders expressed their gratitude to Canada for these efforts, even though Iraq’s increased awareness of Canada’s WPS principles and Priorities has not necessarily led to greater Iraqi implementation. Despite the number of meetings organized to engage Iraqi officials on both the necessity and the benefits of expanding women’s active and meaningful participation in electoral preparation, political parties and institution building, cultural norms and power structures continue to be gendered in ways that largely exclude women’s participation either as contributors or decision-makers in the formation of institutions.

Unfortunately WPS is still not accorded sufficient priority in Iraq, and faces many challenges, given both patriarchal attitudes and ongoing security threats. Continued work will be required to maintain momentum.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 5

• 5 interventions and 1 event on WPS hosted by Canada as the Gender Focal Point for the Global Coalition against Daesh’ Working Group on Stabilization.

Completed Activities:

• Continued engagement with the members of the Global Coalition against Daesh’ Working Group on Stabilization.

Results and Progress: As the Gender Focal Point for the Global Coalition against Daesh’s Working Group on Stabilization, Canada (through PSOPs) initiated five interventions and one event focused on WPS in the context of stabilization in Iraq and Syria. Topics included gender in relation to security, community policing, reconciliation, and accountability for Daesh crimes.  External guests included an Iraqi civil society leader, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, United States Institute of Peace, the International Organization for Migration.  Canada also organized one event, a gender and security workshop, led by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, on the margins of the April 2017 Working Group on Stabilization meeting in Jordan. The workshop generated significant interest, and was attended by Coalition member countries, implementing organizations, and regional security representatives.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• 100 outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts where WPS principles were advanced with stakeholders.

Completed Activities:

• Raised and engaged on WPS Priorities and gender considerations at every opportunity, in international forums, coordination groups and with civil society and NGO stakeholders, including by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in her meeting with the Syrian opposition on the margins of the UNGA (UNGA) in September 2017 and by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs who met with the Syrian Opposition Coalition in Istanbul in January 2018.
• The March 2018 visit by the White Helmets to Canada highlighted the concrete results that Canadian support has delivered regarding efforts to increase women’s participation in, and empower women to be part of, the community response to the devastation of the conflict, integrating them into leadership positions in civil defence, and giving them opportunities to participate in helping their communities.

Results and Progress: During FY 2017/18, Canada has undertaken 100 outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts where WPS principles were advanced with stakeholders. 10% of the 750 tweets from @CanadaSyria touched on women’s empowerment and participation in the Syrian political process (approx. 100,000 impressions). Canada’s engagement also helped create a platform for female members of the Syrian civil defense known as the White Helmets, to raise their demands in the White Helmet’s General Assembly for:  1) women’s representation in leadership positions, including on the executive board; 2) childcare; and 3) safe transportation. Canadian diplomats working in Istanbul raised the issue of women’s representation in Syrian politics and the peace process on at least a monthly basis with Syrian opposition leaders, civil society and other stakeholders, and in international fora and coordination groups. Syrian stakeholders are now more aware of Canada’s position on the importance of women’s increased and meaningful participation in the peace process. The Syrian opposition and international stakeholders working on Syria now routinely ensure women’s representation on every delegation and in every meeting.  Moreover, when restructuring and revising its leadership at the end of 2017, the Syrian Negotiation Commission of the Syrian opposition responded to active diplomacy from Canada and Sweden by increasing the number of women in its ranks from two to six (representing 17% of the overall membership). Canada’s vigorous lobbying helped ensure that extremely qualified women delegates were selected, and that they had the support of the various groups and interests represented within the Syrian Negotiation Commission. Canada, along with Sweden, was recognized by Syrian stakeholders and other donors for its leadership in advancing the importance of women’s increased and meaningful participation in the peace process during the reporting period.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track/OBJ 1

• 7 outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts where WPS principles were advanced with stakeholders.

Completed Activities:

• Formed and co-chaired a Syria Children in Armed Conflict advocacy group based in Amman, which has held four meetings, and hosted two separate advocacy events: one on child protection issues in Syria and Iraq for senior Coalition representatives and one for the launch of a UN University report on pathways to radicalization of youth.
• Canada’s ambassador attended the official launch of Jordan’s 1325 NAP.
• Canada’s ambassador made an intervention that highlighted gender issues at informal multi-donor discussions on the draft national strategy on preventing and countering violent extremism that was hosted by Prince Ghazi, the head of Prevention and Countering Violent Extremist efforts.
• Canada’s ambassador attended high profile events focused on empowering women in the security sector (opening of a language lab and associated barracks exclusively for female personnel in the Jordan Armed Forces).
• One of two thematic Priorities for Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) in Jordan was empowering women. All three CFLI projects in Jordan were entirely focused on women’s empowerment or rights, including podcasts tackling the cultural notion of shame as it relates to women; raising awareness on women’s inheritance rights (which are not respected); support to young victims of sexual abuse (primarily Jordanian); and training in political empowerment for Syrian refugee women.

Results and Progress: Canada has long supported women’s empowerment across the full spectrum of issues in Jordan, using diplomatic and programming tools, including international assistance and CFLI programming.

Canada’s engagement on WPS in Jordan has positively influenced new security sector programming, and receptiveness in some government institutions to increasing representation of women in the security sector has improved.  Canada has proposed more targeted programming interventions on this issue.  While such projects are in an early stage, initial responses have been positive. The projects to enhance the role of women in the security sector were approved late in FY 2017/18 for implementation in FY 2018/19. Continued diplomatic engagement on this issue will be necessary, particularly as Jordanian leadership rotates frequently. High-level engagement and advocacy by Canada’s ambassador with Government of Jordan representatives has been planned for FY 2018/19 to continue to highlight this commitment.

Overall, the female participation rate in the security sector is low.  However, Jordan’s adoption of its NAP on UNSCR 1325 in December 2017 is a landmark. It provides Canada with a platform to engage the government on specific initiatives where appropriate funding envelopes are available.  With the adoption of the NAP, there is an increased desire among implementing partners and some Jordanian government representatives to engage on WPS. For example, gendarmerie leadership is supporting a recently launched trial project to train female officers for service in SWAT-like units.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• 14 outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts where WPS principles were advanced with stakeholders.

Completed Activities:

• Reached out to selected partners to educate them on the importance of WPS and to seek project proposals that could advance the role of women in peace and security in Lebanon.
• Supported the development of Lebanon’s first NAP on WPS through coaching and consultation sessions between 抖淫视频 and the National Commission for Lebanese Women.
• Undertook outreach to four local and international organizations - Abaad, the National Commission for Lebanese Women, UN Women and Fighters for Peace - regarding WPS to seek proposals for potential collaboration. Fighters for Peace’s proposal on UNSCR 1325 was accepted. Canadian support to Lebanon on UNSCR 1325 was also discussed with the National Commission for Lebanese Women.
• Launched a social media white ribbon campaign to raise awareness of the need to eliminate violence against women and girls in December 2017.
• Reached out to different ministries (Prime Ministers’ office, Lebanese Armed Forces ) to discuss potential activities for 2018-2019, such as awareness training for the Lebanese Armed Forces and a potential round table with female parliamentarians. 
• Promoted women’s rights and empowering women through the CFLI. For FY 2017/18, Canada implemented five projects directly impacting women, including one on women ex-combatants.

Results and Progress: Canada has undertaken 14 outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts where WPS principles were advanced with Lebanese stakeholders. For example, Canada engaged with the Prime Minister’s office, the Lebanese Armed Forces, UN Women, and the National Commission for Lebanese Women on WPS-related issues. As these are ongoing efforts, at this stage it is too soon to report on any progress.

In December 2017, Canada undertook a social media campaign for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. This included a white ribbon social media campaign for awareness regarding the need for elimination of violence against women and girls. Canada invited Lebanese leaders, Lebanese-Canadian friends, and local partners to take part by wearing a white ribbon pin and posting their photo with the pin on Twitter and Facebook.  Participants included 16 Lebanese politicians, including President Aoun, Prime Minister Hariri, and several Ministers, representatives of the armed forces, and business leaders.  The social media campaign, through different posts, reached almost 22,000 people and publications were liked by 620 people.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018:  On track/OBJ 1

• 4 local women’s rights organizations and movements working to empower women and girls and advance gender equality have been supported through the CFLI.

Completed Activities:

• Supported four local women’s rights organizations and movements working to empower women and girls and advance gender equality through the CFLI.

Results and Progress:  During the reporting period, Canada supported four local women’s rights organizations and/or movements working to empower women and girls and advance gender equality.

For example, with support from the CFLI, the National Women Empowerment and Rehabilitation Organization improved the livelihoods of women living with HIV by helping them create a community charcoal business. In addition, the Environmental Rehabilitation Program improved the livelihoods of 75 women living in rural areas of Maridi, by supporting honey production and enterprise development. Skills for South Sudan worked with the community in Kapoeta, Eastern Equatoria to raise awareness on sexual and gender based violence and improve the economic status of women. This included helping women produce and trade liquid soap, and supporting the establishment of Village Savings and Loan Associations.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018:  On track/OBJ 1

• 14 outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts where WPS principles were advanced with stakeholders.

Completed Activities:

• Successfully advocated for the WPS agenda both publicly and privately with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), regional and international heads of mission, and other stakeholders (including parties to the conflict).
• Launched campaigns in social and traditional media and targeted events to emphasize the need for IGAD’s enhanced engagement with women leaders in South Sudan.

Results and Progress: Canada has supported 14 outreach/advocacy/engagement efforts with stakeholders where WPS principles were advanced. For example, the Canadian embassy hosted an event with South Sudanese women’s organizations that focused on enhancing women’s solidarity in advance of their participation in peace negotiations. Canada also mainstreamed WPS in advocacy discussions, including stressing to South Sudanese senior government officials and political leaders the importance of enhancing gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and promoting the meaningful participation of women in the peace process. This has included the President, the First Vice-President, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, senior security sector officials, and others. Canada’s Ambassador to South Sudan met with the Honorable Jemma Nunu Komba, Acting Secretary General of the South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the governing party, to learn from her as a leading woman in the political-security sector, and to discuss how to further promote women’s meaningful participation in the peace process.

During a four-day visit to South Sudan, the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to WPS and emphasized the importance of fully engaging women and girls and advancing their rights in peace and development processes. On June 19, 2017,  the Minister of International Development, accompanied by the South Sudanese ministers of Health and Cabinet Affairs, met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and called on the government to bring about a genuine ceasefire and an inclusive peace process. The Minister further suggested that the Government of South Sudan demonstrate its commitment to peace and inclusive development through increased funding to the social sectors and urged the government to live up to its policy and legislative commitments in the area of WPS by including women in all peace and reconciliation efforts.

Canada continues to work with civil society organizations and IGAD to emphasize the importance of the WPS agenda, including having multiple women’s groups and voices present in the regionally-led peace process. IGAD and its member-states responded positively to this advocacy and invited an increased number of key women leaders as full participants in the High-Level Revitalization Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in December 2017 and subsequent sessions of the High-Level Revitalization Forum.  The HLRF is an ongoing forum initiated in June 2017 by the leaders of IGAD to revive the stalled 2015 peace agreement in South Sudan. IGAD also required all parties to the conflict to include at least one woman among the three designated negotiators invited to the High-Level Revitalization Forum.

This increased representation of women led to improved gender outcomes in the phases of the peace process thus far. On December 21, 2017, the fourteen parties to the  High-Level Revitalization Forum signed a cessation of hostilities agreement that mentions the need to consider the gendered impacts of hostilities: “Article 2.5: Each Party and any entity with responsibility for any aspect of the Agreement shall take the necessary steps to ensure that women and girls are not excluded or disadvantaged in the implementation of any aspect of this Agreement, and that their special needs and vulnerabilities are fully addressed.” 

Following extensive consultations with grassroots women’s organizations, Canada and UN Women provided funding for a Gender Equality Advisor to work with IGAD. The Advisor helped ensure the integration of gender considerations into the peace process, addressed concerns from the government and other parties, and provided advice on best practices for women’s engagement in the peace process.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018^{Footnote 11}:  On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 3 out of 4 or 75% of PSOPs projects in South Sudan integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02).
• 1 out of 4 or 25% of PSOPs projects in South Sudan explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03).

Completed Activities:

• Worked to integrate gender considerations and supported women’s participation in a number of projects. For example: PSOPs is providing $600,000 to support women’s engagement in the revitalization and full implementation of South Sudan’s peace process.

Results and Progress:  Overall, PSOPs is contributing $4.16 M to promoting peace in South Sudan. During the reporting period, out of four PSOPs projects in South Sudan, three (75%) integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02 levels) and one (25%) explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03). For example, PSOPs is providing $600,000 to support women’s engagement in the revitalization and full implementation of South Sudan’s peace process through grants and technical support to South Sudanese women’s organizations and networks, and the placement of a gender adviser to support the office of the IGAD Special Envoy.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018:  Target surpassed/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 56% of reporting and analytical products produced during the reporting period addressed gender-based concerns.

Completed Activities:

• In interactions on the socio-political situation in Burundi, Canadian representatives raised gender issues with stakeholders such as the Government of Burundi, Burundian civil society and diaspora activists, NGOs and UN agencies working in Burundi.
• Canada focused on gender issues in its Universal Peer Review recommendations to Burundi and raised such issues at the UN Human Rights Council.

Results and Progress: The nature of the political crisis in Burundi all too often involves youth, both as perpetrators and as targets of human rights violations, while affecting women as victims of politically-motivated sexual violence and as a vulnerable group suffering from the lack of basic services and the deepening economic recession. Owing to this dynamic, gender considerations organically become integrated into reports and interactions with stakeholders in the crisis. This is reflected in the high proportion of exchanges and analytical products where gender-based issues were addressed: 56% of reporting and analytical products produced during the reporting period addressed gender-based concerns.  Within this context, there is an opportunity to continue increasing the depth of gender-based analysis.

Gender-based analysis will continue to be of high importance in the next reporting period for Burundi, where the crisis shows no sign of abating. The start of the crisis was marked by the adoption of a highly contested new constitution through a referendum campaign considered by many in the international community, including Canada, to have been marked by intimidation, harassment, and violence. It was clear that the referendum did not meet the minimum international standards to be considered either free or fair.

The social and political situations will likely continue to evolve in such a way to warrant sophisticated gender-based analysis to guide Canada’s foreign policy and actions vis-à-vis the crisis in Burundi. Therefore, efforts will continue in the next reporting period to sustain the inclusion of gender-based analysis in products and interactions.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018:  On track/OBJ 2

• Women’s rights organizations perceive that national dialogue on these issues has intensified, and measures are being taken at various levels.
• Canada has undertaken 21 awareness activities put forward with partners to discuss the root causes of SGBV.

Completed Activities:

• The joint project to combat impunity, support victims of gender based violence and empower women in eastern DRC [Tupinge Ubakaji, United Nations Development Programme, $18.5M, 2013–2019] funded by the Government of Canada, targeted a communication approach for behavioural change with a goal of changing attitudes about sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) among the Congolese population.
• Regionally, the project Combatting Violence Against Girls and Young Women in the Great Lakes Region [PLUVIF, Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation, $8.9M, 2010–2017], which ended in 2017, aimed to increase protection and respect for the physical and moral integrity of girls and young women in the Great Lakes region of Africa, including the DRC. The project provided significant support to the Coalition of Collectives of Associations Working for the Advancement of Women in the Great Lakes Region (COCAFEM/GL), a network of 11 collectives of women’s organizations from Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda that work to promote women’s rights, gender equality, peace, and women’s political and economic power.
• Canada has begun to develop a new project to combat sexual and gender based violence [Combatting GBV: Justice, empowerment and dignity for women and girls in the DRC, United Nations Development Programme, $18.0M, 2018–2023]. Women’s organizations were consulted to include their perspectives in the proposal, and Canada committed to providing funding to these organizations to promote prevention and behavioural change in communities.
• Canada committed to evaluating the performance of interventions to combat sexual and gender based violence in the DRC over the last decade in order to identify best practices and the most effective approaches to inform future interventions. This assessment, to which Canada is contributing $350,000 (2017–2018), will be carried out jointly with other partners, including the DRC government.

Results and Progress:  Women’s rights organizations perceive that national dialogue on this topic has intensified and that some measures have been taken at different levels. COCAFEM/GL acts as a voice for women in the Great Lakes region by promoting, among other things, the participation of women in political governance, by implementing regional advocacy actions to meet State commitments towards women’s rights and by promoting the implementation of the Kampala Declaration, signed by the region’s governments in 2011. Through the support of the PLUVIF project, this network has become a respected authority in combatting SGBV among national, regional and international authorities.

Canada has carried out 21 awareness activities to discuss the root causes of SGBV. Through project Tupinge Ubakaji, project stakeholders worked to increase the partners’ capacities to facilitate the community reintegration of victims, as well as to strengthen six multi-purpose community centres, two professional learning centres and two women’s shelters. SGBV awareness and engagement activities were carried out with local universities and school and community leaders. The Canadian Embassy in the DRC supported a number of awareness activities with various stakeholders from the DRC on the topic of SGBV. For example:

• In December 2017, the ambassador participated in a meeting at Lycée Tobongisa as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence.
• The Canadian Embassy in the DRC supported the launch, on February 9, 2018, of the play “Bongo té, Tika!”, which means “Don’t do that, stop!” in Lingala. The partners involved, including Oxfam Québec and the Théâtre des petites lanternes, launched this project to raise awareness and change behaviours regarding violence against women and girls [Oxfam-Québec’s Volunteer Cooperation Program, Access Innovation: Increase Capacity for Economic and Social Growth Through Innovation, $4.21M, 2015–2019]. The play draws from the testimonials of more than 600 women and 200 men who have experienced general violence or sexual violence. The play has been performed more than 80 times since its introduction.
• On March 13, 2018, the Canadian Embassy organized the Canadian Partners Forum under the theme of “Yes to Gender Equality for Sustainable Development in the DRC – Canada Commits” in Kinshasa on the margins of International Women’s Day celebrations. This forum provided a way to share knowledge, lessons learned and best practices to effectively incorporate gender equality into the different programs funded by Canada in the DRC.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018:  Mostly on track/OBJ 2

• The difficult political situation in the DRC hindered policy implementation, and Canada had to limit its efforts in this area to activities that increase the capacities of local authorities and responsible departments to implement the components of the strategy, as well as the launch of an evaluation of efforts to combat SGBV in the DRC.

Completed Activities:

• The joint ten year evaluation of efforts to combat sexual and gender based violence in the DRC was launched, with the participation of key stakeholders including the DRC government and the Canadian Embassy, with a view to evaluating the potential impacts of the different interventions in this area and identifying best practices and effective approaches to inform future interventions.
• The Tupinge Ubakaji project included activities to increase the capacities of local authorities and responsible departments to implement components of the DRC’s National Strategy to Combat Gender-based Violence (2009). This emphasis was also applied to the development of the new project Combatting gender-based violence: Justice, empowerment and dignity for women and girls in the DRC.

Results and Progress:  Canada continues to seek opportunities to support the implementation of the DRC’s National Strategy to Combat Gender based Violence, through either project interventions or policy dialogue. Unfortunately, the difficult political situation in the DRC has hindered policy implementation, and Canada had to limit its efforts in this area to activities aimed at increasing the capacities of local authorities and responsible departments to implement the components of the strategy, as well as the launch of an evaluation of efforts to combat SGBV in the DRC.

The government’s engagement remains fairly limited for now. That said, the steering committee of the joint ten year evaluation of efforts to combat sexual and gender based violence in the DRC held its first meeting in February 2018. This committee is co-chaired by the Canadian Ambassador to the DRC, the personal representative of the Chief of State responsible for combatting SGBV, as well as UN Women, and with the participation of the Minister of Gender and Family. This evaluation, which Canada funded at $350,000, will give an overview of the potential impacts of the different interventions in this sector, not only in terms of improving the lives of victims and survivors of violence, but also in terms of the relevance of efforts to combat this problem, particularly with respect to prevention. The active participation of government representatives in this evaluation shows their desire to be more involved in order to reduce gender-based violence in the DRC and, in particular, to assume their role in coordinating efforts.

Status of the DRC’s National Strategy to Combat Sexual and Gender based Violence: as part of project Tupinge Ubakaji, five provincial Communication for Behaviour Change (CBC) strategies and one national CBC strategy were adopted and implemented by program partners (legal clinics and free consultation offices). In addition, 13 coordination mechanisms were strengthened at the provincial and territorial level, and a national database on sexual and gender-based violence was created and rooted at the national, provincial and territorial levels. These strategies and these advancements act as support and a catalyst for the 2009 National Strategy. In addition, awareness and engagement activities on sexual and gender-based violence were carried out with local universities and school and community leaders, taking into account the specific characteristics of beneficiaries and the community.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018:  On track/OBJ 2

• 5 projects supported by Canada where gender equality is fully integrated and where women are at the centre of the initiatives both as the beneficiaries and as the proponents (1 GE03 and 4 GE02).

Completed Activities:

• The project Combatting gender-based violence: Justice, empowerment and dignity for women and girls in the DRC was developed and will be implemented over five years (2018–2023) with a main objective to contribute to reducing gender based violence.
• Two new projects on sexual and reproductive health and associated rights were approved in the reporting period, and two projects on child protection were launched. These projects aim to incorporate specific measures to combat sexual and gender-based violence in their intervention zones and will directly contribute to meeting this target.

Results and Progress:  The situation of women, and the injustices and violence they face are at the very heart of the projects supported by Canada in the DRC. A number of Canada’s projects in the DRC have already incorporated a feminist lens, given the very nature of the project objectives (reproductive, sexual and maternal health). In 2017–2018, Canada supported five projects where the issue of gender equality was fully incorporated and where women were the focus of the initiatives. It is too early to report on the results of those projects. The projects are as follows:

• Combatting GBV: Justice, empowerment and dignity for women and girls in the DRC will contribute to reducing gender-based violence through the adoption of socio cultural attitudes and norms respecting gender equality, empowerment and resilience of survivors using a holistic approach and enhanced coordination at the national level in a perspective of national ownership.
• Reproductive health and rights of preadolescents and adolescents in Kinshasa [Save the Children, $10.0M, 2017–2020] was launched in November 2017 and aims to meet the needs of preadolescents and adolescents with respect to comprehensive sexuality education and social behaviour change, including access to sexual and reproductive health services adapted to their reality and responsive to gender.
• Growing up well PLUS [Centre for International Cooperation in Health and Development (CCISD), $19.9M, 2017–2023] aims to meet the needs of preadolescents and adolescents with respect to comprehensive sexuality education and social behaviour change. The project’s activities also seek to create a positive social environment where adolescents can exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights and safeguard them against gender based violence.
• Strengthening the community system of protection of children and young people in Kinshasa [Doctors of the World, $7.1M, 2017–2021] was launched in 2017–2018. The project aims to improve the well-being of children and young people by preventing violence against children and improving the services offered to at risk families and children on the street. The project focuses in particular on gender-specific differences and equitability.
• Protecting Children and Youth in Mining Communities [International Planned Parenthood Federation, $6.6M, 2017–2021] was also launched in 2017–2018. It aims, among other things, to empower survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and enhance life skills, provide comprehensive sexual education and provide for the socio economic reintegration of children and youth.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track – 17.1.1, 17.1.2/OBJ 3 & 1

• Three new practices and tools have been adopted by civil society organizations respecting women’s rights.
• 28 peace committees have been formed at the community level to contribute to peaceful conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts.

Completed Activities:

• Support provided to civil society organizations to increase their capacities to provide legal aid and judicial assistance to protect and respect the rights of persons affected by the crisis in Mali, including women and minors.
• Several mechanisms at the community level were put in place to resolve and prevent conflicts, as well as include women and girls in reconciliation efforts, including 28 peace committees. These peace committees now have closer relationships with the Commission for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation at the national level.

Results and Progress: Three new practices and tools have been adopted by civil society organizations respecting women’s rights, and 28 peace committees have been formed at the community level to contribute to peaceful conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts.

With the support of the Justice, prevention and reconciliation (JUPREC) project in Mali in 2017–2018, the individuals responsible for legal aid and judicial assistance within civil society organizations adopted new critical practices for a better offer of services and access to justice. A companion and methodology guide on ethics and professional conduct, confidentiality and consent was finalized and distributed to the individuals in charge of legal aid. In 2017–2018, legal aid services were offered to 1,464 individuals. Over 70% of the services requested by individuals concern either legal aid or judicial assistance, which confirms victims’ desire to have access to the justice system. In addition, 80 women had their files assigned to lawyers, and 23 of those files were resolved during the year, which represents considerable progress because only six cases had been resolved in 2016. This progress demonstrates an increase in legal aid services provided to women and girl victims of gender-based violence and discriminatory practices. In addition, women and girls are more likely to defend their rights and are increasingly seeking support from lawyers to have their rights met.

Moreover, the JUPREC project formed 28 active peace committees at the community level in six regions of Mali. These cooperative spaces contribute to national reconciliation, conflict prevention and conflict resolution efforts, as well as framing violence issues, in particular, gender-based violence. Therefore, community facilitators at the project level who are working with the peace committees were able to educate 62 victims and guide them towards the offices of the Commission for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation in order to support complaints submissions. These committees give a voice to women and foster their visibility and decision-making power at the community level, as well as include women as leaders in the committees’ work of conflict prevention and management.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• A total of 10 public advocacy events with Malian stakeholders were held to advance the principles of women, peace and security. These include two projects promoting women’s rights supported by Canada through the CFLI: first, the I AM ONE campaign aiming to raise the public’s awareness of violence against women and girls as well as women’s rights in Malian society, and second, as part of an event celebrating International Women’s Day.
• As co-chair of the donors group on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Mali, Canada played a key role in developing a new work plan that will help coordinate gender equality efforts across various sectors.

Completed Activities:

• Canadian representatives in Mali intensified their advocacy efforts on the Priorities of the women, peace and security agenda with Malian authorities as well as with international and local partners in Mali.

Results and Progress: In 2017–2018, 10 public advocacy events with Malian stakeholders were held to advance the principles of women, peace and security. Canada increased its advocacy activities to advance the Priorities of the women, peace and security agenda among Malian authorities, as well as with international and local partners in Mali. For example, the Canadian Ambassador to Mali held a reception for a network of activists campaigning against gender-based violence on International Women’s Day. Canada supports this campaign through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives ($46,000). Representatives of the Canadian Embassy in Bamako also conducted awareness campaigns during events organized by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and with other stabilization partners related to the Priorities of the women, peace and security agenda. For example, in February 2018, the ambassador launched a project to train women leaders in order to promote their participation in the peace process during a major public event. The embassy amplified these messages across traditional media and social media. In addition, in 2017–2018, Canada became the co-chair of the donors group on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Mali. Canada played a key role in developing a new plan that will help coordinate efforts and focus on subsectors such as the women, peace and security agenda, as well as gender-based violence. This coordination group is becoming more involved with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family and in implementing Mali’s National Gender Policy. Canada continues to maintain a high level dialogue with the Malian government on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

There were two projects under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) for FY 2017–2018 focusing on women’s rights. 1. Denouncing violence against girls and women – I AM ONE: The project supports the I AM ONE campaign which aims to educate the general public on violence against women and girls, and women’s rights in Malian society. Close to 700 people attended and participated in the various events and concerts. The participants, as well as the general public, were educated on how this violence negatively affects society, as well as the need for an awakening of conscience to protect and value women in Malian society. 2. For the International Women’s Day celebrations, the Ambassador held an event with local authorities, diplomats and international partners, as well as members of the I AM ONE Collective, which advocates against violence targeting women and girls. This event provided an opportunity to underscore Canada’s leadership in promoting women’s rights and to discuss Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.

Progress achieved to of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report/OBJ 3

Completed Activities:

• No new initiatives with gender equality as the main result were funded during the reporting period (2017–2018).

Results and Progress: In accordance with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada’s development program in Mali promotes gender equality, women’s and girls’ empowerment, and their rights. In 2017–2018, Canada’s bilateral aid to Mali included 19 projects designed to bring changes to the behaviours and practices that contribute to gender equality. This includes women’s economic empowerment, access to justice, access to essential services such as education and health, and inclusion of women in national public policies.

For instance, the development initiatives funded by Canada continue to help women gain increased access to agricultural microcredit, as well as support for their income generating activities. In 2017–2018, Canada continued to support the national health system and projects that offer reproductive health services, including family planning, to women and girls. Moreover, Canada supported initiatives that target a more transparent public financial management system and that encourage all citizens to participate in governance structures and democratic processes.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 8 out of 11 or 73% of PSOPs projects in Mali integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02).
• 3 out of 11 or 27% of PSOPs projects in Mali explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03).

Completed Activities: PSOPs worked to integrate gender considerations and supported women’s participation in a number of projects. For example:

• Provided $1.2M (2017-2019) to Mercy Corps to support 240 women and female youth leaders to drive peaceful change in the conflict-affected regions of Mali.
• Supported the Search for Common Ground project that works to empower youth, women and other key community stakeholders to become active peace ambassadors.
• Provided support to Lawyers Without Borders Canada to support the Commission for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation of Mali in building the technical capacity of Commission personnel with a particular focus on investigations of human rights abuses.

Results and Progress: PSOPs projects and activities in Mali supported women’s engagement in peace and security activities, aiming at capacity-building. During the reporting period, out of 11 PSOPs projects in Mali, eight (73%) integrate gender considerations (GE01 and GE02), and three (27%) explicitly target gender equality (GE03). For example, PSOPs contributed $675K (2017-2019) to Search for Common Ground to empower youth, women and other key community stakeholders to become active Peace Ambassadors, and to build avenues for constructive engagement between authorities, institutions and citizens for durable peace in the country. PSOPs also provided $1.2M (2017-2019) to Mercy Corps to support 240 women and female youth leaders to drive peaceful change in the conflict-affected regions of Mali, engage 3,600 local women in peace campaigns, and to secure the support of local and national leaders for local community development initiatives that enhance the development and rights of women and girls. PSOPs also provided $2M (2017-2019) to Lawyers Without Borders Canada to support the Commission for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation of Mali to build the technical capacity of Commission personnel with a particular focus on investigations of human rights abuses, mainly against women and girls.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report/OBJ 3

Completed Activities:

• Canada worked to strengthen gender-sensitive criminal investigations in Guatemala through its bilateral development and Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) programming:
  • The Support to the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala project ($4M; 2015-2017) strengthened the Government of Guatemala's capacity to investigate and prosecute organized crime and conduct criminal investigations. The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala also acts as a complementary prosecutor in criminal prosecutions, and proposes improvements to the legislative and policy framework to better fight organized crime.
  • The Analysis on the Application of the Law against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence against Women project evaluated the implementation of the Law against Femicide (Decree 22-208) in Guatemala and identified opportunities for improvement for justice operators and law makers.
• 5 new projects were approved in the last months of the fiscal year that focus on women’s rights and gender sensitive justice with criminal investigation components.

Results and Progress: During FY 2017/18, Canada supported the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, which aims to strengthen the Guatemalan justice sector by increasing its capacity to investigate and prosecute organized crime in Guatemala, including gender-based crimes. In FY 2017/18, with Canada’s support, the International Commission advanced criminal investigations through evidence gathering into sex trafficking of women and girls by criminal structures with links to the State. Gender equality training was provided to 100% of the International Commission’s staff (175 people 31 % women) and to the 48 staff members of the Special Prosecutors Unit against Impunity of the Guatemalan Public Ministry. The International Commission, in collaboration with two national universities and the Guatemalan judiciary, also completed an investigative study on the judicial treatment of cases of femicide, VAW, and sexual violence against women. The results of this investigation will feed into public policy recommendations to improve women’s access to justice. The conclusions have already made justice officials aware that different forms of violence against women constitute the largest number of crimes reported in Guatemala and that the justice system has limited institutional capacity to respond to these allegations.

Canada also supported analysis by a Guatemalan organization on the application of the Law against Femicide and other forms of VAW, which identified opportunities for improvement of this law. The process included two workshops and consultations with 31 justice operators. The study was presented to 216 justice operators in the capital city and in Quetzaltenango and is used as an advocacy tool to increase the access to justice for women victims of sexual violence.

During the reporting period, Canada also approved several other projects that have been funded through bilateral development and Anti-crime Capacity Building Program funds that will work to strengthen gender sensitive criminal investigations:

• The Women’s Rights and Gender Sensitive Justice project ($6.15M, 2018-2022) includes a component on investigation and litigation of SGBV crimes committed against women, as well as training of relevant justice actors.
• The Strengthening of Capacities of Justice Operators project is working on human trafficking cases against women and girls and other individuals in situations of vulnerability ($4.3M, 2018-2021) and will strengthen the capacity of justice operators working for state institutions specialized in trans-border crimes against women and girls with the goal of reducing impunity for these crimes in the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras).  This project will also provide training on gender equality to actors involved in criminal investigations.  
• The Support to the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala 2017-2019 project ($4.1M) continues Canada’s support to strengthen Guatemala's capacity to investigate and prosecute organized crime structures, conduct criminal investigations, and act as a complementary prosecutor in criminal prosecutions including gender-based crimes.
• The Strengthening the Rights of Indigenous and other Discriminated Women in Guatemala project ($2.5M, 2018-2023) includes a component on strategic litigation for cases of human rights violations against Guatemalan women through a grant to the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Guatemala.
• The Strengthening Criminal Investigations and Evidence Sharing in Central America project ($4M, 2017-2021) aims to build and/or improve the capacity of justice and law enforcement institutions and agencies (police forces, public prosecutors’ offices, judiciary and forensic science services) in the Northern Triangle (i.e. El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) with gender equality as an important focus. 

It is too early to report on results of these projects or on the indicator # of tools, processes and trainings developed to increase a gender-sensitive approach to investigations.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report/OBJ 2

Completed Activities:

• three new projects were recently approved that will work directly with women and girls to provide gender-sensitive legal, psychological, and other justice-related social services.

Results and Progress: During the reporting period, Canada approved three new projects that will provide justice support services to women and girls. It is too early to report on project results or the indicator # of women and girls accessing gender-sensitive legal, psychological and other justice-related social services.

Canada will support the Technological Platforms to Strengthen Public Responsibility and Citizen Participation project ($3.7M, 2017-2021) that will improve access and the quality of, standardized services provided to crime victims - focusing particularly on women, children, minorities and vulnerable people who have been victims of violence. The project seeks to unify the efforts of government institutions and civil society that provide services in Guatemala through a web portal for victims. Canada will support Women’s Rights and Gender Sensitive Justice ($6.15M, 2018-2022) and Strengthening the Rights of Indigenous and other Discriminated Women in Guatemala ($2.5M, 2018-2023). These projects include components for providing women victims of violence (and other human rights violations) with access to gender-sensitive legal, psychological and other justice-related social services.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report/OBJ 2

Completed Activities:

• Approved two new projects that will work directly with women and girl victims of SGBV and the national and grassroots women’s organizations that support them.
• Supported the Canadian Human Rights Museum 3D virtual exhibit project that helped Guatemalan Indigenous women survivors of sexual violence during the internal armed conflict share stories of their experiences and the healing they have achieved by working together in weaving projects.
• Supported the Follow-up from Life History Initiative: Testimonies of Sexual Violence project that helped women victims/survivors of sexual violence record their testimonies to preserve their accounts for future generations.

Results and Progress: Canada recently approved two projects that will be working directly with women victims of SGBV and national and grassroots women’s organizations that support them: Women’s Rights and Gender Sensitive Justice ($6.15M, 2018-2022) and Strengthening the Rights of Indigenous and other Discriminated Women in Guatemala ($2.5M, 2018-2023). These projects include components on training and accompaniment of women, and the local women’s organizations that support them, to exercise their rights. It is too early to report on results or on the indicator: # of women and girls exercising their rights, along with types of actions taken (e.g. legal, advocacy) to exercise these rights).

In collaboration with the Canadian Human Rights Museum, Canada organized a 3D virtual exhibit using 360° virtual reality technology. The exhibit features stories of Guatemalan Indigenous women weavers, victims of sexual violence during the armed conflict, and the way in which getting together to weave textiles helped them heal their wounds. It was seen by 4,500 people, 70% of whom were students.

In October 2017, Canada supported the Follow-up from Life History Initiative: Testimonies of Sexual Violence project where the Guatemala Forensic Anthropology Foundation invited women victims/survivors of sexual violence, and other human rights violations, to a special event where they received DVD copies of the video testimonies they recorded a year earlier with the support of Canada. This completed a promise to the women to share copies of their testimonies and to complete the process of preserving their stories in an international database. In 2016, Canada financed the recording of 25 life histories of Maya Quiche Indigenous women who endured sexual violence, among other human rights abuses, during the 36-year long internal armed conflict. These interviews encompass life before, during, and after the conflict as a way to publicly recognize their testimony as part of Guatemala’s history, preserve these accounts for future generations, and foster the educational possibilities to teach history directly from the survivors.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report- 19.1.1., 19.1.2/OBJ 1 & 3

Completed Activities:

• Approval of the Women’s Voice and Leadership project – Haiti in support of local women’s organizations.
• Continued implementation of the Haiti–Canada Municipal Cooperation Project – Phase 2.

Results and Progress: The Women’s Voice and Leadership Project in Haiti [$8.3M, 2019–2023] was announced in Haiti by the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie in February 2018. This initiative aims to help local women’s organizations implement their activities and increase their capacities in the areas of advocacy for and defence of women’s rights, organizational management, service delivery and coordination. It is too early to report on the results or the indicator: # of women’s and women’s advocacy organizations with strengthened capacities.

With respect to the perception of the level of engagement of women and women’s organizations in political life, progress was made. With the support of the consortium composed of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Union of Quebec Municipalities and the City of Montréal [$19.3M; 2014–2018], Canada is strengthening local democracy and governance by advocating for human rights and the democratic culture, and by training politicians (elected women) and civil society. Canada is strengthening elected federations and communes to improve the delivery of public services and local development. In 2017–2018, Canada helped five communes make notable advances with respect to citizen participation through the implementation and strengthening of citizen committees. Major achievements this year include the systematic participation of the departmental coordinator of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in citizen committees in the four communes of the Palmes region, and significant participation of women in these committees (from 30 to nearly 50% women). Canada also supported the organization of consultations with women’s groups to include their needs and interests in projects arising from local development plans, and the revision of the project management guide to include gender equality policy tools. In the city of Port-au-Prince, a statement on gender equality and a sexual harassment policy were adopted. A women’s leadership seminar was also held for women managers at the Port-au-Prince city hall (36 women), town halls in the Palmes region (8 women) and elected federations (6 women). With respect to elected national federations, Canada supported the recognition by Haiti’s Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities of the new National Federation of Women Mayors of Haiti (FENAFEMH), which made it possible for the federation to be normalized. Major work was then carried out to mobilize the new executive committees of federations, including FENAFEMH, surrounding principles and tools of good governance and accountability. Canada also supported them in their objective to expand their influence outside the capital; this was carried out by means of various activities and training events, but also with new communication products such as the newsletter.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report/OBJ 3

Completed Activities:

• Continue to implement the Support for Haitian Enterpreneurship project:
  • set-up a support mechanism for women enterpreneurs by introducing two financial products, the Dekole credit and the Jarèt credit, targeting start-up businesses and new businesses in expansion, over 75% of which are women-owned.
  • start partnership with the chamber of commerce of women entrepreneurs of Haiti with a view to supporting and strengthening the capacities of project partners.
• Launch a call for proposals in support of agro-food value chains and climate change adaptation in Haiti, targeting women in particular

Results and Progress: Women entrepreneurs in Haiti are doubly marginalized when they want to start up a business. On the one hand, it is because Haitian financial institutions do not generally offer financing to micro, small and medium-sized start-up businesses and, on the other hand, it is because Haiti does not have financial products specifically targeting the needs of women entrepreneurs. Through the awareness activities of the Support for Haitian Entrepreneurship project [$19.8M; 2014–2018], project partners expressed a strong interest in developing this offer of financial and non-financial services to address the needs of women entrepreneurs. The project therefore innovated by putting in place a support mechanism for women entrepreneurs and by introducing two financial products targeting start up business and new businesses in expansion, over 75% of which are women owned. It is too early at this time to report on the results of this project or the indicator: proportion of women that participate in sustainable economic activities. Women were explicitly favoured by this initiative to encourage more of them to develop their businesses and to help enhance existing women owned businesses that have not yet had access to funding. All women who received financial support or assistance (for instance, with starting up a business or developing a business plan) for micro, small and medium sized businesses noted that they now have greater capacities to manage their businesses and consider themselves true entrepreneurs. Moreover, the project signed two memoranda of understanding with the chamber of commerce of women entrepreneurs of Haiti, which will enable the project to build partnerships to meet women’s financial needs and assist women entrepreneurs who are members of this chamber. During 2017–2018, training courses were developed with these women on starting up a business and creating a business plan in order to facilitate women’s access to financial services. Supports for partners are consistent with the project’s gender equality strategy, which focuses on the following:

• Strengthening knowledge capital throughout the delivery of non-financial services;
• Building social capital through support for networking activities and events that encourage the engagement of women entrepreneurs;
• Improving access to financial services by taking into account the constraints and specific needs of women entrepreneurs.

The initiatives of the call for proposals in support of agro-food value chains aim to restore and increase production capacities in certain arboreal, market garden and grain production sectors using techniques and technologies that are more environmentally friendly and better adapted to climate change. The planned actions also aim to better structure the sectors, strengthen the capacities of the various stakeholders and create jobs, not only in agricultural production, but also in the processing and marketing of these products.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Mostly on track- 19.3.1, 19.3.2, 19.3.3/OBJ 2 & 2 & 3

• Canada funded the reconstruction of the national midwife training institute in Haiti. A new curriculum for midwife training based on international standards was developed, and 41 instructors were trained.
• Canada, through the Inter-American Development Bank, contributed to the “Back-to-School – Access to Primary Education” program of Haiti’s Ministry of Education.

Completed Activities:

• Continue to implement projects:
  • Health Services for Women and Girls in Haiti; United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Back-to-School – Access to Primary Education; Inter-American Development Bank
• Approve new project to strengthen midwifery services in Haiti, United Nations Population Fund.

Results and Progress:  With respect to increasing the capacities of health care institutions to provide care for women and girl victims of sexual and gender based violence, Canada funded the reconstruction of the United Nations Office for Project Services [$5M; 2013–2017]. A new training curriculum for midwives based on international standards was developed, and 41 instructors were trained. A maternity clinic was also built in the region, offering services such as emergency obstetric and neonatal care, family planning, screening and prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, as well as services for victims of sexual violence. Through this, Canada aims to offer some 230,000 women and girls who were victims of the earthquake, including 25,000 pregnant women, greater access to neonatal and obstetric preventive and emergency services. In 2017–2018, Canada did not support projects aimed at developing the knowledge of women, girls and communities related to reproductive and sexual health and associated rights.

During her visit to Haiti in February 2018, the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie announced the new project to strengthen midwifery services in Haiti, a four year $15M project, implemented by the United Nations Population Fund [2018–2022]. This support will increase the government’s capacities to train, recruit, deploy and retain midwives in the areas of Haiti that are the most disadvantaged in this respect. The project will support training establishments in Haiti that offer midwife and nurse midwife study programs. The project will also increase the capacity of Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health and Population to manage and regulate midwifery education and practice, and increase the capacity of Haiti’s National Midwifery Association to promote this occupation. This project will be implemented in cooperation with the University of Quebec at Trois Rivières and the Canadian Midwifery Association.

Canada, through the Inter-American Development Bank, contributed to the Back-to-School – Access to Primary Education program of Haiti’s Ministry of Education [$20M; 2011–2017]. Through this project, in 2017–2018, 13 schools were constructed according to hurricane and earthquake resistant standards. 

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report/OBJ 3

Completed Activities:

• Extend the Initial Training and Development for the Haitian National Police Force’s Managerial Staff project, Association - CRC Sogema, UQTR, University of Sherbrooke and College Maisonneuve at Sherbrooke, strengthening components related to gender equality.
• Continue to implement the Assisting Vulnerable Children and Women in Haiti’s Border Areas project.

Results and Progress: In Haiti, women face widespread discrimination by police and judicial authorities when seeking legal redress. Women often do not file complaints of violence as their complaints are often not taken seriously or are trivialized, doubted or questioned. Canada is committed to improving the justice and protection services in Haiti, as well as increasing women’s and girls’ level of use of these services.

In July 2017, Canada has extended its Initial Training and Professional Development for the Haitian National Police's Managerial Staff project ($22.5M; 2010-2019). This extension seeks to promote changes in gender equality practices and behaviors within the Haitian National Police and to increase the use of best practices related to SGBV. The extension also emphasizes the institutionalization of gender equality within the Haitian National Police with a focus on equal treatment of women. Promoting the integration of more women into Territorial Police units is one of the three priority pillars of the Haitian National Police 2017-2021 Strategic Plan supported through this project.

In Haiti, the project Accessibility to Judicial Services ($18.5M; 2017-2022) aims to mobilize civil society as a key player in strengthening justice in Haiti so that it plays its role as a democratic counterweight, guardian of the rule of law and pillar of democratic, inclusive and accountable governance. To this end, the project intervenes at three levels: 1) Support the Office of Citizen Protection to fulfill more effectively its role of promotion and protection of human rights, especially of women and minors; 2) Strengthen the capacity of human rights civil society organizations and lawyers representing victims of human rights violations, in particular women and minors ; and 3) Increase citizen participation by raising awareness among the general public, including women and youth, about human rights, impunity and corruption.

The Assisting Vulnerable Children and Women in Haiti’s Border Areas project, implemented by the International Organization for Migration [$5.825M; 2015–2018] continues to contribute to protecting vulnerable Haitian migrants, particularly women and children. Each year, thousands of Haitians illegally cross the Dominican Republic border in the hope of improving their socio economic situation. Without legal status and documents, particularly women and children, they are often victims of violence, abuse or exploitation. To date: 2,073 people in border areas have benefited from assistance and now have identity documents (e.g., birth certificates); 79 family reunifications have taken place; 702 beneficiaries have started income generating activities; 203 children went back to school in September; 314 (government and non-government) have been trained on basic human rights, child protection, gender based violence prevention and family planning.

Moreover, the project Access to Legal Services, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, was approved [$18.1M; 2018–2022].

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Target surpassed/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 7 out of 8 or 88% of PSOPs projects in Haiti integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02).
• 1 out of 8 or 12% of PSOPs projects in Haiti explicitly targeted equality (GE03).

Completed Activities: PSOPs worked to integrate gender considerations and supported women’s participation in a number of projects. For example, PSOPs:

• Provided support to UN Women to reduce electoral violence against women.
• Provided support to United Nations Development Programme to strengthen the Haitian policing, judicial and corrections institutions to ensure human rights, safety, security and access to justice for all Haitians.

Results and Progress: All PSOPs projects in Haiti support women to participate in improving peace and stability. Specifically, PSOPs funding is supporting the engagement and participation of women/girls at all levels of decision making; prevention of violence against women/girls and promote women’s rights; provision of gender sensitive training; and giving women and girls’ access to and control over resources. During the reporting period, out of eight projects in Haiti, seven (88%) integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02 levels), and one (12%) explicitly targets gender equality (GE03 level).

For example, PSOPs provided $1.9M (2017-2019) to UN Women to reduce electoral violence against women, to increase the representation of women in Parliament, and to promote women’s political empowerment in Haiti. This initiative will help establish new legislative frameworks, provide technical support to key electoral institutions, and engage communities to reduce social obstacles to women’s full participation in the political process. To date UN Women has focused on:  launching the project and public presentation of the ad hoc committee whose members have been working on setting up the platform with the public;  the structure and the function of the civil platform for women’s peaceful participation in the electoral processes;  undertaking and presenting the results of studies on gender-based violence during electoral periods, positive masculinity and adapting the African Women Situation Room in Haiti^{Footnote 13}; and  designing the training modules for members of police, media, judiciary and executive.

PSOPs also provided $4M (2017-2019) to the United Nations Development Programme to strengthen the Haitian policing, judicial and corrections institutions to ensure human rights, safety, security and access to justice for all Haitians.  The project supported the implementation of the national gender equality action plan; increased the capacity in policing through training to investigate and document SGVB cases; trained personnel in the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on skills for addressing cases of SGBV; incorporated gender sensitization in capacity development for police and judicial personnel; supported women’s organizations to identify and address discriminatory laws against women;  conducted awareness campaigns, training and empowerment of NGO community leaders to reduce SGBV; and increased access to justice with a focus on women and vulnerable, marginalized communities.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• 8 gender-sensitive initiatives supported increased meaningful participation of women and girls in peacebuilding, recovery and conflict resolution, as well as reintegrated women combatants, which was an increase from 2 initiatives in FY 2016/17.

Completed Activities:

• Supported the peace process via the United Nations Multi-partner Trust Fund, which strengthens women’s associations in 51 post-conflict municipalities.
• Provided mine risk education to people living in mine affected zones and supported the work of demining teams.
• Supported the economic development of Colombia’s rural, conflict-affected regions also focused on women’s leadership and empowerment.

Results and Progress: During the reporting period, Canada’s bilateral development program in Colombia supported eight gender sensitive initiatives that increased meaningful participation of women and girls in peacebuilding, recovery and conflict resolution, as well as the reintegration of women combatants, which was an increase from two initiatives in the previous year.

Canada’s support to the peace process in Colombia was announced in 2016 by the Minister of International Development and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the implementation in mid-2017.  For this reason, progress is still in its early stages, though early results have been reported via Canada’s support to the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund.  For example, Canada’s support to the peace process via the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund ($20M; 2016-2019) has resulted in 14 projects being selected to strengthen women’s associations in 51 post-conflict municipalities.

Canada, working through well-known organizations that have a presence in post-conflict regions of Colombia, has actively worked to strengthen the capacity of women engaged in peacebuilding, recovery and conflict resolution activities, via small, medium and larger scale initiatives.

For example, a key component of the peace agreement with the former FARC guerrilla group, as well as a governmental commitment to fulfill Colombia’s obligations under the Ottawa Convention, entails addressing the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance. The role of women in addressing this threat is critical, including by identifying risks and the presence of mines, removing mines, and assisting in the socio-economic reintegration of mine victims. Through support to the HALO Trust ($12.5M; 2016-2021), Canada provided mine risk education to 1,716 persons (46% women and girls) living in mine affected zones; and supported the work of demining teams (with 36% female staff) to clear 29,000 square metre and destroy 42 explosive devices, thus benefiting more than 1,580 persons in five of the most mine-contaminated departments of Colombia.

Another project supported the creation of a women’s collective in the department of Tolima, which is home to a re-incorporation zone for former FARC combatants to grow and sell organic blackberries. One of the objectives of the project was to work to rebuild the social fabric in the department that was the birthplace of the guerilla movement. The project, led for and by women, was also open to family members of ex-combatants, as well as demobilized combatants (two demobilized ex-FARC combatants participated).

Canada also supported an organization working for the rights of LGTBQI peoples in a conflict-affected area. This initiative aimed to foster the active participation of marginalized groups (with a focus on women and the LGTBQI community) in peacebuilding, including through stock-taking of the violence committed against these groups during the war and acts of historical memory. 

Canada is committed to supporting women’s empowerment and their human rights in Colombia, as this is crucial for success of future peacebuilding initiatives. Through Canada’s support to rural cooperatives via the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada, 3,455 persons (60% women) from 55 rural organizations were trained on women’s rights; 22 gender leaders (85% female) participated in the National Dialogue on Rural Women; and 95 women were trained to overcome traumatic experiences of violence.

SGBV continues to be a wide-spread problem in Colombia beyond conflict-related SGBV. To help address this issue, Canada supported a small project led by an activist working to de-stigmatize and end SGBV. Canada also supported an NGO working on press freedom, through which 12 women survivors of conflict-related SGBV were trained on how to tell their stories and become the protagonists in how their stories are told. The initiative also trained 12 journalists on how to responsibly report on SGBV.

The use of mercury for processing artisanal gold has generated multiple conflicts in communities. Canada’s support ($18.9M; 2015-2020) via the Agriteam Foundation enabled the identification and involvement of women's groups from different municipalities in Antioquia, Meta and Putumayo, areas affected by armed conflict and social protest due to mining operations, to strengthen leadership roles for the sustainable operation of water monitoring networks. In 2017, the project trained 60 public officers (53% female) and 51 community members (57% female), enabling them to monitor water quality.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 3

• 4 projects promoted women’s and girls’ access to victims’ justice, protection and compensation services in conflict-affected areas, which was an increase from 3 projects in FY 2016/17.

Completed Activities:

• Canada is the second top donor to the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund, which seeks to support Colombia’s implementation of the 2016 peace agreement, including transitional justice provisions.
• Canada’s funding has also targeted children who have been affected by the armed conflict by strengthening the capacity of institutions in charge of ensuring child rights.

Results and Progress:  During the reporting period, Canada’s bilateral development program in Colombia supported four projects (United Nations Multi-partner Trust Fund, 2016-2019, $20M; Mercy Corps/War Child, 2014-2019, $17.2M; Plan International Canada, 2016-2021, $18.9M; Save The Children/Norwegian Refugee Council, 2013-2019, 19.5M), which promoted women’s and girls’ access to victims’ services in conflict-affected areas, which was an increase from three projects in the previous year.

Canada is the second top donor ($20M; 2016-2019) to the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund that seeks to support Colombia’s implementation of the 2016 peace agreement, including the transitional justice provisions.  The Fund was tasked with helping ensure ample and representative participation of national and international candidates in the Colombian Integrated System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition, which resulted in 2,136 candidatures (863 or 40% were women). 55% of the newly elected members of the System (composed of the Special Peace Jurisdiction tribunals, Truth Commission and the Search Unit of the Disappeared) are women.  Work has already begun on both collective and individual reparations. Indicative examples of early results include: 78 victims of the Bojayá massacre were exhumed, identified and buried; and collective reparations, including sexual and reproductive rights measures, mental health, community infrastructure and psychosocial accompaniment, have been provided to 27 communities (500 persons); among others. The peace agreement also seeks to prevent child recruitment. Thus far, the Fund has reached 27,000 children and youth, 15,000 families, 1,568 community leaders and 200 teachers (not disaggregated by sex). Actions have also been taken to prevent violence, and to protect and provide attention to women and girls victims of violence in the Colombian departments of Nariño, Putumayo, Chocó and Norte de Santander.

Canada’s bilateral development funding has also targeted children who have been affected by the armed conflict by strengthening the capacity of institutions in charge of ensuring child rights.  This includes a particular emphasis on protection against SGBV. In 2017, Canada, working through the consortium Mercy Corps and War Child ($17.2M; 2014-2019), helped develop three work plans with the Colombian Family Welfare Institute to increase the knowledge of the Institute’s staff at a national and departmental level on how to protect children and youth from risk, including SGBV. In addition, 4,586 children (53% female) participated in after-school activities (child rights, gender, self-protection and peer protection), surpassing the proposed target by 160%. Through the Andean Regional Initiative, an additional 247 children from five schools in Putumayo received psychological support related to post-traumatic stress.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 3

• 6,174 women were empowered economically through financial education supported by bilateral development funding.
• 11,207 girls received access to quality education in conflict affected rural areas.

Completed Activities:

• Supported women’s and girls’ empowerment through economic and educational projects by providing access to credit for women farmers, providing financial management training and technical assistance, and training on entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
• Contributed to the access to quality rural education as a resilience mechanism and to provide alternatives for youth in conflict-affected regions.

Results and Progress: The economic and educational empowerment of Colombian women and girls is helping promote the social cohesion of communities and generate resilience in post-conflict scenarios. During the reporting period, Canada’s bilateral development program in Colombia has economically empowered 6,174 women through financial education and provided access to quality education in conflict-affected rural areas to 11,207 girls ($19.9M, 2014-2020). In addition, through the CFLI, 6,014 women were economically empowered through two initiatives (one project focused on the rights of women in the flower industry (589 women) and another where 15 women were direct beneficiaries in setting up a collective to grow and sell blackberries.

Access to credit by farmers (particularly women farmers) is essential for the development of the rural sector.  Canada’s investments in the rural sector that target equal access to resources for men and women are producing some excellent results, and are seen as a model to replicate throughout the country. For example, working through Développement International Désjardins, the Co-Operative Development Foundation of Canada, and Socodevi ($19.9M; 2014-2020), Canada has provided financial education to 6,174 women rural producers, (55% of a total of 11,218), enabling them to access and manage loans to improve their productive activities. Through Plan International Canada, 1,189 beneficiaries (1,021 or 86% women) participated in the formation of Savings and Loans associations in three conflict-affected cities as part of their reparation processes. Canada also provided Colombian women with life skills to ensure their access to sustainable livelihoods. For example, through the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada in conflict-affected regions, 1,867 persons (61% women) were trained on gender equality and economic empowerment; and 317 young entrepreneurs (62% female) from 48 youth groups received training to strengthen the organizational, agro-industrial and environmental aspects of their business activities.

Canada also supported two small-scale initiatives to support income-generating activities for women. The first was via the creation of a women’s collective in the department of Tolima, which is home to a reincorporation zone for FARC combatants, to grow and sell organic blackberries. One of the objectives of the project was to rebuild the social fabric in the department that was the birthplace of the guerilla movement. The project, for women and led by women, was also open to demobilized ex-combatants and their family members. The second initiative focused on supporting women in the flower industry (an industry that is dominated by women) as they work to ensure their labour rights are respected, and raise awareness of abuse against women in this industry, as well as on violence against women and patriarchal norms that continue to negatively affect women.

Canada has contributed to the access to quality rural education as a resilience mechanism and to provide alternatives to youth in conflict-affected regions. During FY 2017/18, through Save the Children/Norwegian Refugee Council ($19.5M; 2013-2019) and Mercy Corps/War Child ($17.2M; 2014-2019), 20,086 new students (11,207 or 56% girls) had access to quality education in rural areas affected by conflict, for a cumulative total of 46,998 children, surpassing the original baseline by 2,228%.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 9 out of 14 projects or 64% of PSOPs projects in Colombia integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02).
• 3 out of 14 or 21% of PSOPs projects in Colombia explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03).

Completed Activities: PSOPs worked to integrate gender considerations and supported women’s participation in a number of projects. For example, PSOPs:

• Contributes $2M (2016-2019) to Lawyers Without Borders to support the Victims’ Chapter of the agreement.
• Contributes $536,000 (2016-2019) for Conciliation Resources to help build the capacity of indigenous women to effectively contribute to Colombia’s peace implementation process.
• Contributes $2M (2016-2019) to the Office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that the rights of women and girls are fully realized in the post-accord period in Colombia.

Results and Progress: During the reporting period, out of 14 PSOPs projects in Colombia, nine (64%) integrated gender (GE01 and GE02 levels) and three (21%) explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03). PSOPs’ interventions in Colombia focus on promoting the inclusion of women in the implementation of the peace process, empowering them to become agents of change in the post-conflict environment, and address the different needs of women, men, girls and boys. For example, as transitional justice arrangements are a key component of the peace agreement in Colombia, PSOPs is contributing $2M (2016-2019) to Lawyers Without Borders to support the Victims’ Chapter of the agreement and to support civil society and Colombia’s government with the implementation and monitoring of transitional justice mechanisms. The project is helping to build the confidence of Colombian society, particularly of women and girls, in the transitional justice system and contributing to the reaffirmation of the rule of law.

PSOPs is also contributing $536,000 (2016-2019) for Conciliation Resources to help build the capacity of indigenous women to effectively contribute to Colombia’s peace implementation process. The project is working towards creating awareness and influencing decisions that take into account the needs of indigenous communities, including those of indigenous women and girls.

Through a $2M contribution over 2016-2019 to the Office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, PSOPs is helping to ensure that the rights of women and girls are fully realized in the post-peace accords period in Colombia by addressing the differential impacts of conflict violence on men and boys and women and girls, and on indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations. This includes specific recognition of barriers faced by these groups in accessing mechanisms of justice. This project includes activities that respond to increases in threats and violence against human rights defenders that have been on the rise in the post-conflict period, by training women human rights defenders to employ self-protection measures and share this knowledge with other women.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• On 8 occasions policy dialogue was undertaken on implementation of Afghanistan’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in relevant forums.
• Canada initiated the creation of the International Police Coordination Board Gender Working Group to coordinate donor support for gender within the Ministry of the Interior.
• Canada continued to be the co-chair for the Ministry of Interior Support Team and worked closely with the Ministry of Interior and donors to focus efforts on police reforms, with a special focus on female police recruitment, training, and retention.

Completed Activities:

• Supported the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Defence through its contribution of $137.5M for the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan and the Afghan National Army Trust Fund, and played a leadership role to coordinate donor support and enhance cooperation between civilians and the military on the part of the international community.
• Continued to be the co-chair for the Ministry of Interior Support Team and worked closely with the Ministry of Interior and donors to focus efforts on police reforms, with a special focus on female police recruitment, training, and retention.
• Took up the role of the co-chair for the International Police Coordination Board in August 2017 for a one year term.

Results and Progress:  Canada contributed to policy dialogue on the implementation of Afghanistan’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security on eight occasions at: the Tashkent Conference on peace in Afghanistan (March 2018); the ceremony on Canada’s Contribution to NATO (February 2018);  the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process regional conference focused on stabilization of Afghanistan (November 29–December 1, 2017); a reception on Women in Policing hosted by NATO and Canada (December 2017); the International Police Coordination Board Co-Chair handover Event (August 2017); the Kabul Senior Officials Meeting (October  2017), the Kabul Process: Peace and Security Cooperation meeting (June 2017); and the Second Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation meeting (February 2018).

The percentage of women serving in the Ministry of Interior (police) force increased from 2% to 3% since 2016.  In 2017, there are 3,126 police women serving of a total force of 106,047 police officers.   This is a significant improvement and shows progress towards the goal of 5% of the police being women. The national army female recruitment also showed improvement. In 2017, 1,177 women were serving in the Ministry of Defence out of a total force of 173,000 active duty soldiers. The percentage of women in the army has moved from 0.53% in 2016 to 0.6% and is on track to meet the goal of 0.75% of women serving in the military.

Female attrition in the Afghan National Army Trust Fund remains an ongoing concern, and efforts to mitigate this include the increased construction of secure women’s facilities, incentives to females for recruitment and retention and continued advising on implementing of the newly developed sexual harassment and assault policy.

Through Canada’s funding to the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan, the primary focus is developing the capacity for independently managed payroll operations but has also included workshops on discrimination towards women police officers and on improving access to appropriate facilities, safety and transportation for women police officers.  The Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan has implemented a ten year vision to change discriminatory attitudes of police personnel and advance gender sensitive police services through support for women’s entry into police services and the capacity building of female police officers.

Canada focused on the vital role of the police in providing significantly improved access to justice for women and emphasized that the best way to achieve this is to ensure that the police truly reflect the entire public that they serve, including women.

Canada initiated the creation of the International Police Coordination Board Gender Working Group, co-chaired by the NATO Senior Civilian Representative and the Ministry of Interior. The Board is the main coordination body for donor technical assistance to the Afghanistan Ministry of Interior. Amongst its Priorities is the implementation of the Ministry of the Interior’s Civilianization Plan, especially recruitment of women and improvement of conditions of service for women in the Afghan National Police and to improve women’s access to justice and ensure that the Ministry of the Interior fully reflects the diversity and needs of the entire public that it serves. Canada’s support has included co-hosting a reception with NATO in support of women in policing and hosting the subsequent meeting that established four priority areas of focus for greater female participation in the Afghan National Police.  These four priority areas included; the extension of training of Afghan female police in Turkey with a long-term plan to train female police officers in Afghanistan, increasing the literacy rate for women in the police, increasing women in the Afghan Border Police and decreasing barriers to recruitment for women into the Afghan National Police.

Canada has used its position as co-chair of both the International Police Coordination Board and the Ministry of Interior Support Team to advocate for functional Family Response Units to be sufficiently staffed by female police women and properly resourced throughout the country. The Family Response Units are essential for tackling allegations of domestic violence in families.

In April 2018, Canada made a financial contribution for Women’s Police Town Phase I to provide secure housing in Kabul for policewomen and their families. Canada is providing 100% of the funding $34.1 M for Phase 1 through the Afghanistan National Army Trust Fund.  The project is expected to be completed by 2020, includes the construction of ten 30-unit apartment buildings designed to house 300 female Afghan National Policewomen and their families.

Through the Afghanistan National Army Trust Fund, Canada is helping support Advisor Positions at the Office of the National Security Advisor. The Office is developing as the premiere intelligence and security body in the country and is also involved in the peace process.  Canada was instrumental in advocating for a minimum of 15% of positions going to qualified women to help ensure that women’s voices were protected. 

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: On track/OBJ 1

• 17 Afghan partners that are advancing gender equality are supported through Women’s and Girls’ Rights and Empowerment sector programming.

Completed Activities:

• Women’s and Girls’ Rights Empowerment sector programming in Afghanistan started in FY 2017/18. One of these projects is the Strengthening Afghanistan's Future through Empowerment project ($6M, 2017-2021) with War Child Canada that addresses the issue of gender-based violence and women’s rights violations, focuses on providing legal aid services to the survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) through representing their cases in the courts as appropriate (criminal, family, civil) and/or resolving these through community based Alternate Dispute Resolution mediation processes.
• Through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), Canada supported several projects that focused on women’s empowerment and rights during the reporting period.

Results and Progress: During the reporting period, through the Women’s and Girls’ Rights and Empowerment sector programming, Canada’s bilateral development program in Afghanistan supported 17 Afghan partners that are championing for women’s rights such as Empowerment Centre for Women, the Afghan Women Council,  Afghanistan Women Educational Centre and Afghan Women’s Skills Development Centre.

For example, the Strengthening Afghanistan's Future Through Empowerment project ($6M, 2017-2021) worked with the Afghan Women Council, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to implement this project at the district, provincial and central levels in Kabul, Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces. 590 government and community leaders were trained and 100% of those trained demonstrated improved knowledge of EVAW and response to GBV cases.  This project is working with around 20 civil society organizations and will increase the capacity to implement community protection based programming in support of women and girls. In FY 2017/18, the project established 24 community-based protection mechanisms (1,200 members) that are actively preventing and responding to violations of women’s rights and protection in their communities and referred 34 cases to the legal aid team, 185 to psychosocial counseling services, 12 cases to health facilities and resolved 39 cases through alternative dispute resolution. 1,775 women, including GBV survivors, accessed legal aid, 229 GBV cases were represented in formal court system and 275 cases were settled through Alternate Dispute Resolution mediation processes.  1,750 (1,271 women; 479 men) GBV survivors and other community members accessed psychosocial support.

Moreover, through the CFLI, Canada supported three projects that work with three local partners, Election & Transparency Watch Organization of Afghanistan, Rural Organization for Social Empowerment and ArtLords, which focused on women’s empowerment and rights.

• Emerging Afghan Women Leaders’ Empowerment: The project trained 753 women and 20 female youth in seven provinces where women’s political participation has been historically low by encouraging them to take active part in the elections as candidates, electoral staff, and voters. Canada’s support increased the overall knowledge of female participants on their legal and fundamental rights. Following the participation in the provincial conferences, participants indicated a willingness and desire to participate in the 2018 Parliamentary and District Council Elections as temporary electoral staff, election observers, voters and candidates.
• Women's Right to Own and Inherit Property: Women’s inheritance rights are still considered a taboo subject in rural areas of Afghanistan with tribal laws being used to restrict the role of women in spite of their legal rights. This project implemented in three provinces, helped to increase the knowledge of community and tribal leaders about women’s inheritance rights under both sharia and civil law in addition to empowering women to know their legal rights and how to fight for them. Of the 90 female workshop participants, about 30 had pending court cases; they were given advice on how to navigate the legal system, find defense lawyers and have access to justice. Collaboration between advocates, activists, and religious leaders resulted in greater protection of women’s inheritance rights, including under Islamic law.
• Promoting Peace, Security & Equal Rights through Urban Art: 140 Afghan citizens, from street kids to police officers, students and even the elderly, worked alongside the muralists during the painting of the 15 murals in four provinces. The mural painting project was covered by 6 local T.V channels and radio stations in the four provinces.   The murals and their message aimed at including women in peace and the police and security forces are estimated to be viewed by thousands of Afghans every day.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Target surpassed/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 85% of Canada’s bilateral development funding in Myanmar significantly integrated gender equality or specifically targeted gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment.

Completed Activities:

• Identified new projects with significant integration of gender equality results or targeted specifically at women’s empowerment and support to women’s organizations.
• Provided funding to the Improved Democratic Transition in Myanmar project ($10M, 2017-2020) that is implemented by the International Development Research Centre and has a strong focus on women’s and girls’ empowerment.

Results and Progress: During the reporting period, Canada has strengthened the integration of gender equality results and women’s empowerment in bilateral development programming from 73% to 85% of funding to increase gender equality and the meaningful participation of women in public life in Myanmar. This increase is attributed to the new Improved Democratic Transition in Myanmar Project implemented by International Development Research Center.  Already this project has launched a series of five research projects focusing on gender equality and decentralization in Myanmar to address greater women’s political participation, to improve gender-sensitive budgeting and equitable public service delivery.

Moreover, fully aligned with the Feminist International Assistance Policy, the Improving Market Opportunities for Women Agricultural Producers Project  ($16.3 M, 2015-2019), which is implemented by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates with local partners,  continues to prioritize gender equality throughout the entire project. The objective of this initiative - improving women small farmers’ incomes, status and access to products and services to help address Myanmar’s gender disparities and to play a role in achieving inclusive agricultural growth - is innovative in the current country context of Myanmar. Overall project results to date indicate that the initiative has been successful in laying the foundation of a potential business-ready environment for women smallholder farmers and partners in Shan and Kayin states. Results show a significant increase in the number of women smallholder farmers, local partners and saving groups members who have received training on new sustainable production techniques, leadership skills, gender equality, marketing and financial management. The project has made significant progress, exceeding the targets related to women small producers' access to inclusive financial services through saving groups and to the reported use of improved production practices, including sustainable agriculture practices.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Too early to Report/OBJ 2

Completed Activities:

• The bilateral development program in Myanmar identified projects and partners to support SRHR, including ending SGBV.

Results and Progress: It is too early to report - while potential new programming options have been identified, the review process is not yet complete.

Progress achieved as of March 31, 2018: Target surpassed/Internal efficiency & capacity

• 2 out of 3 projects or 66% of PSOPs projects in Myanmar integrated gender considerations (GE01 and GE02).
• 1 out of 3 projects or 33% of PSOPs projects in Myanmar explicitly targeted gender equality (GE03).

Completed Activities:

• PSOPs worked to integrate gender considerations and supported women’s participation in a number of projects. For example: PSOPs provided $337,000 to the Nordic International Support Foundation for the Gender, Peace and Security Funding window of the Peace Support Fund to help strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding in Myanmar.

Results and Progress: PSOPs is supporting the peace process in Myanmar and has also responded quickly to the Rohingya crisis funding three projects to help resolve the conflicts. PSOPs programming is supporting increased sustainable peace and security by focussing on: supporting the peace process with a particular focus on the inclusion of women and marginalized groups, conflict mediation and prevention through inter-communal dialogue at the local level; participation of women’s civil society organizations in peace processes; and human rights violation documentation and accountability for perpetrators of violence. During the reporting period, two PSOPs projects (66%) integrated gender perspectives and one (33%) explicitly targeted gender equality.

For example, PSOPs provided $337,000 to the Nordic International Support Foundation for the Gender, Peace and Security Funding window of the Peace Support Fund to help strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding in Myanmar. This is helping to improve civil society’s ability to implement gender-responsive initiatives and increase the participation of women in building social cohesion; and helping to reduce the impact of violence and conflict upon the lives of women and girls.