Gender Mainstreaming in Policymaking: A Case Study of Pakistan’s National Internal Security Policies

Abstract

This research takes a critical view of gender representation and equality in Pakistan’s efforts to deal with the challenges of internal security through national internal policy framework (s). When external insecurity and other important factors generated internal threats, Pakistan responded with reactive measures such as creating National Internal Security Policies in 2014 and 2018. This study approaches the internal policies from a gender perspective and suggests factors that need to be considered to visualize the role of women in effective counter-violent extremism related strategies. With the help of scholarly literature and an in-depth conceptual framework consisting of Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS), UNSCR 1325 and UNSCR 2242, the research calls for gender mainstreaming in policy making in Pakistan to increase the efficacy of counterterrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism initiatives. Based on the feminist policy analysis framework, this exploratory study conducted a content analysis of the NISP to gauge gender representation and impacts. Through a series of questions under the mentioned framework, the study finds that these two security policies (i.e., NISP I & II) lack women representation in the making, structure, formation and implementation of the policies. The research then proposes that the UN policy agendas on WPS and P/CVE can be adopted and adapted into the National Internal Security Policies in the Pakistani context, to increase the efficiency of existing programs and, by extension, generate gender-inclusive policy responses.