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Contacts
Tajikistan National Mine Action CenterAyni 121
Dushanbe, Tajikistan,
www.mineaction.tj
Tel/Fax: (992 37) 227-0947,
221-66-87
Gender in mine action
Gender mainstreaming promotes equity for the achievement of equal access to MRE knowledge on the improvement of safety behavior against antipersonnel mine (APM) and illegal using of SALW hazards among men and women, boys and girls in community level. The target participants aren’t only active audiences and participants, but initiated to be informants. From 2008 to 2011 the respective donors represented by DFID/UK and DFIAT fund the MRE Programme to conduct 17 regional training on gender process in MRE with the total number of 478 (215 women & 263 men as direct bens) communities’ members from the mine/UXOs affected areas. In the target years a range of visibility materials have developed and disseminated among target groups. Examples include translated UN Guidelines on Gender in Mine Action, various posters, slides and booklets on gender specific in mine action policy.
These contributions were administered by TMAC in accordance with the MRE Action Plan involving mine affected communities, women councils & MRE volunteers. The purpose was to develop gender equity in MRE for further development and sustainable safety behaviour against mine/UXO/CB risks. Participants who are represented by community members, officials of local authorities have gained gender awareness and suggested the acquisition of regular training on this subject. Gender mainstreaming efforts have been undertaken in the field of Mine Risk Education for a very short period in target districts. The purpose of the training was to develop gender awareness among governmental structures and relevant local organizations with the national Mine Risk Education movement. Many women of the contaminated areas work as MRE volunteers, educating members of their communities with MRE skills and safety practices.
TMAC coordinates and promotes gender awareness among governmental ministries and relevant local organizations through its MRE activities. The implementation of a sustainable MRE programme in the community that is also integrated with other aspects of mine action, is showing positive results in the promotion of gender equality among MRE volunteers and target groups. Women’s participation in mine action is progressively increasing in Tajikistan thanks to TMAC’s expressed intention to include gender in all aspects of its mine-action program.
Effective collaboration with the involvement of the mine affected communities indicates to what degree Mine Risk Education is accepted as an important subject for the inhabitants. The MRE Programme has gained the confidence of the communities and has positive coordination in the field of community liaison. The dissemination of different types of MRE Educational Material for many years is valued as an important method by head of districts and communities authorities, communities members, women councils, shepherds, emergency committees, youth, education departments, mass media, students, commanders and officers of the frontier posts and checkpoints.
