Women, Peace and Security Civilian CSDP Missions

25 September 2026

Joint Paper on Women, Peace and Security in civilian CSDP

European External Action Service (EEAS) European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management (CoE) Reports, articles, briefs Public 2026

This joint paper by Civilian Operations Headquarters (CivOpsHQ) and the CoE provides an overview of the current state of play of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, with a focus on emerging themes, such as gender-based violence, cybersecurity, climate, peace and security, that are relevant to civilian CSDP.

The paper highlights the need for systematic gender mainstreaming not only to fulfil EU’s fundamental commitments, but also as an element for enhancing sustainability and effectiveness of civilian CSDP interventions. In 2027, several core documents of EU policy for WPS and civilian CSDP will need updating, and gender equality and the WPS agenda face growing challenges around the world. This paper presents concrete ways in which integrating the WPS agenda enhances the work of civilian CSDP missions to address six thematic challenges.

  1. Gender-based violence (GBV): Preventing and addressing GBV, which has dramatically increased in recent years with the growth of violent conflict, is a core pillar of WPS. Missions can address this through trainings, awareness raising, and supporting legal reforms to account for all forms of GBV.
  2. Hybrid threats and cybersecurity: Online and offline violence are part of the same spectrum and frequently target women in public life. New laws and institutions can be developed to address cutting edge threats.
  3. Climate, peace, and security: Climate change is increasing scarcity and displacement, with gender-differentiated socioeconomic effects for women and men. Improving gender equality is a key step to increasing community resilience and adaptability.
  4. Cultural heritage protection: A gender perspective can be brought to cultural heritage activities in civilian CSDP, ensuring inclusion of women's contribution to cultural heritage. Data can also be collected on gender and cultural heritage trafficking, as very little research has thus far been completed.
  5. Youth, peace, and security agenda (YPS): YPS and WPS are complementary, but civilian CSDP mission Operation Plans rarely reference the former, with the exception of EUMM Georgia and EUM Armenia. Young women and men face unique challenges during conflict. An intersectional approach can be taken to gather gender and age disaggregated data and address young women's and men's needs appropriately.
  6. Violent extremism and organised crime: The drivers and impacts of extremism and crime vary by gender, as do the roles of women and men within them. Gender sensitivity can be mainstreamed into both mission activities on preventing violent extremism, and into trainings with host country institutions.

Reference: Flach, M. and Patosalmi, M. (2026). Joint Paper on Women, Peace and Security in civilian CSDP. European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management and EU Civilian Operations Headquarters.

Resource

PDF | 19 pages
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