In this article, Dr Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits focuses on the ways in which the EU engages with their own gender equality policies in external Security Sector Reform (SSR) missions.
She does so by analyzing visual materials of the European Union Advisory Mission-Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine) and European Union Capacity Building Mission in Sahel Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) missions.
Jayasundara-Smits argues that these representations reflect a lacklustre approach and suggest a lack of commitment to practices of gender equality and positive role modelling in SSR’s day-to-day activities.
Focus on the 'how', then on the 'what'
She suggests the EU-SSR missions overhaul their public communication strategies to focus first on 'how' to communicate gender equality norms and only then on 'what' to communicate.
She concludes by showing one concrete opportunity and space where this can be achieved.
Read the full article - 'EU and gender-security sector reform in Ukraine and Mali: a picture is worth dozens of policies!' European Security, Volume 30, No. 1.
- Assistant professor
