Gender and human rights
NIRAS integrates gender equality, human rights and inclusion into programmes that strengthen democratic institutions and ensure reforms respond to the needs of different groups in society. Our experience ranges from gender-responsive public finance to support for rule-of-law, peace and democracy initiatives.
Targeting Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova, the Helpdesk aims to increase the knowledge base and use of gender analysis in decision-making and reforms by the Eastern Neighbourhood governments and EU delegations to deliver effective and equal results to all citizens. In Belarus, the team supports the EUD but does not work with the government. The Help Desk facilitates knowledge management and capacity development through trainings, study visits, conferences, research and by gathering and systematising knowledge products. In a war-time situation, the team is providing gender-sensitive UN 1325 Resolution-related services to those involved in decision-making around the war, like working with government to produce and disseminate information campaigns on trafficking and risk of sexual violence, increasing civil servants’ capacity to conduct rapid-needs assessment for IDPs [internally displaced persons] and advising on how to reorient ministerial priorities to address these new challenges. They also respond to direct urgent needs expressed by the State Commissioner for Gender Equality or from other ministries.
Deployment Facility for Peace & Democracy (DFPD)
The Deployment Facility for Peace and Democracy is an efficient Danish secondment mechanism managed by NIRAS under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, used to deploy civilian experts to hotspots where stabilisation, peacekeeping and democracy-building efforts are needed around the globe. One of several missions to which the DFPD seconds civilian experts is the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine. The mission was established in the wake of the 2013-2014 Revolution of Dignity, with the aim to restore public trust towards government and security forces through a reform of the civilian security sector. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, the mission’s mandate has changed, which implies that the EUAM now provides support to law enforcement agencies to facilitate the flow of refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring states and the entry of humanitarian aid into Ukraine. EUAM also supports the rule of law institutions in investigation and prosecution of international crimes.
