Between 2019 and 2021, the National Police services of Colombia, Honduras, and Ukraine undertook Gender Self-Assessments (GSAs) to better understand how gender-related issues impact the ways in which police forces function externally and internally. These GSAs were guided by the DCAF Self-Assessment Guide for the Police, Armed Forces, and Justice Sector, which contributed to the development of Gender Action Plans.  

This paper describes the background, methodology, and key principles for conducting a GSA, through a comparative approach between DCAF`S experience in Colombia, Honduras, and Ukraine. Across the three studied institutions, a considerable amount of data has been collected using diverse data collection methods, namely quantitative data through document review and surveys, and qualitative data gathered from focus groups discussions and interviews. Finally, this publication describes lessons learned from GSAs conducted in these three contexts in particular those having influenced both the process and eventual outcomes, and includes recommendations of pathways to improve gender-responsiveness.

"Gender-responsive law enforcement, and other security sector institutions are essential to effectively respond to the differentiated security needs of diverse individuals and groups including ending cycles of impunity for violence against women and girls."

What is a Gender Self-Assessment?
A Gender Self-Assessment is a tool for addressing the gender responsiveness of security sector institutions, and is implemented as an internally-led and internally-owned process.  The self-assessment guide, developed by DCAF and publicly available, leads the user through an eight-stage process to conduct an assessment of a security sector institution, create an action plan to move the organisation forward, and monitor and evaluate implementation.