The importance of integrating gender and human rights in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) has been recognised by the EU and its Member States in several policy documents, most recently in the EU Global Strategy and the Council of the EU’s ‘CFSP Report – Our priorities in 2016’. Its most visible translation in practice is the deployment of human rights and gender advisers or focal points in CSDP missions. Their work is critical to ensuring a gender-sensitive approach to and long-lasting impact of the missions’ activities.

However, despite the key role played by gender advisers, gender mainstreaming cannot be a one-person task. It requires constant exchanges with colleagues and external partners, including civil society. This can be challenging in certain contexts, especially given the limited resources available and the many requests to which gender advisers need to respond.

In this EPLO Brown Bag Lunch discussion, Róisín Drury Tully from EUCAP Sahel Mali and Anna Lazzari from EUCAP Sahel Niger will share their practical experiences and discuss ways of improving the impact of EU missions’ activities from a gender and human rights perspective.

Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch and EPLO will provide tea and coffee.

Please note that places are limited and registration is mandatory. Please contact Lorenzo Conti by Wednesday 21 June if you would like to participate.