15 and 16 March 2023
Identity factors contribute to the shaping of self-identity, attitudes, and behavior. They include nationality, age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, mental or physical ability, culture, talents, language, physical appearance etc. These factors, individually or in combination (intersection) with others, impact how people interpret and respond to their lived experiences. Understanding the impact of these factors on behavior offers a powerful analytical tool that can lead to more effective, sustainable, and responsive policies and programs in any sphere of activity.
The UNOCT Gender and Identity Factors Platform (GIFP), supported and co-led by Global Affairs Canada, aims to raise awareness about the value of integrating the analysis of the impact of gender and other identity factors in response to violent extremism and terrorism, as well as provide practical tools and resources to support and develop more effective and sustainable Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) and counterterrorism policies and capacity building programs.
These two GCTF virtual consultations sought to complement, and contribute to, UNOCT’s work by seeking GCTF Members’ and partners’ views on ongoing or previously carried out capacity building activities on gender and counterterrorism. In this way, the consultations draw on lessons learned and best practices to inform the development of a UNOCT gender training for national counterterrorism centers.
The GIFP is a multi-faceted digital platform, which is aimed at furthering the development of good practices, generating new knowledge, and fostering communities of practice in Countering Violent Extremism and counterterrorism with gender, intersectionality, and human rights at the forefront of activities. This user-led platform will bring together United Nations Member States, UN entities, civil society organizations, practitioners, and researchers. GIFP will be integrated within the UNOCT Connect & Learn e-learning platform which became operational in 2022.
Building on the close cooperation and mutually reinforcing partnership between the GCTF and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact), these consultations led by Canada and UNOCT, helped foster greater awareness and aimed to provide practical non-binding guidance on integrating an intersectional identity-based analysis, including the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, into domestic and international P/CVE and counterterrorism efforts.
