The BRS Gender Action Plan (BRS-GAP) was developed to ensure that the principles of gender equality are firmly embedded in activities undertaken by the BRS Secretariat in line with applicable United Nations and UNEP gender policies. To achieve this vision, the Gender Action Plan highlights a number of areas for action, including to:
- Develop a baseline on gender-related issues and measuring progress in achieving Gender Action Plan objectives and implementing activities;
- Ensure that the Secretariat’s programmes and projects are planned and implemented from a gender equality perspective;
- Promote the consideration of gender issues in hazardous chemicals and wastes management at the national and regional levels; and
- Support staff in achieving a sustainable work-life balance.
The Gender Action Plan was developed in 2013 and updated once in 2016 and in March 2019. The 2016 updates identified specific actions to be implemented in the short to medium term (2016-17) which will enable the Secretariat to assess whether its activities impact men and women differently and if so, to take steps to rectify the situation. The newest update in March 2019 was made with indicators for monitoring and submitted to the 2019 COPs.
The Plan is comprised of two parts: the first, considers what actions can be taken to mainstream gender issues within the Secretariat. These include training and skill development on gender-related issues and promoting gender equality in human resources management and through the Standard Operating Procedures of the Secretariat. The second part of the plan considers what can be done to mainstream gender issues into the programme of work of the conventions. Pivotal to achieving this will be inclusion of gender issues in the Secretariat’s capacity building projects and programmes and cooperation with other internal and external partners on gender-related issues.