An Cosantóir

www.military GENAD COURSE An Cosantóir January / February 2025 www.military.ie/magazine WHY I WENT ON THE COURSE? In 2023, I deployed to UNIFIL, Lebanon with the 122 Inf Bn, as the S4, Logistics Officer. Shortly after deploying, I completed the NATO Gender Focal Point Course (online) and I then supported the Battalion Gender Advisor in his role. In October 2024, when war broke out in the region, I became hyper aware of the importance of the gender perspective in operations. The families that remained were mainly those without the means to flee north towards Beirut. Women and children, in particular, were suddenly very vulnerable due to the sudden breakdown of the society in which they lived. This increased vulnerability was further highlighted by the UN who reported Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) associated with gender and sexual orientation on both sides of the conflict between Israel and Gaza. WHY IS THE GENDER PERSPECTIVE NECESSARY IN MILITARY OPERATIONS? NATO defines the Gender Perspective as the ability to detect if and when men, women, boys and girls are being affected differently by a situation due to their gender. Incorporating the gender perspective into all aspects of military operations, including planning and training, acts as a force multiplier and increases situational awareness because it incorporates a more diverse view of a situation and the associated issues. This enables military commanders to have a more whole operational picture, which is essential in the decision making process. The UN reported that sexual violence continues to be used as a tactic of war, torture and terrorism amid deepening political and security crises, across the world. They recognise that armed conflicts are exacerbated by both state and non-state actors who target vulnerable groups like displaced, refugee and migrant women and girls, with rape, gang rape and abductions. It should be noted that gender is not just women and girls. In the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the risk of being trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation remains extant for the women and children who make up the vast majority of the 5 million internally displaced persons and 6 million refugees in third countries. However, in 2023, the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine documented that men and boys reported 62% of cases of conflict related sexual violence against civilians and prisoners of war. The United Nations has also acknowledged that the ARTICLE BY LT CDR ÓRLAITH GALLAGHER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LT CDR ÓRLAITH GALLAGHER Certificate Ceremony 24 |

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