Women are playing an increasingly important role in military and state security worldwide. They are soldiers and aspire to positions in the military as well as in security organisations. Since its foundation in 2000, the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) has been working to ensure that democratically legitimised, responsible and effective security forces provide human and national security. As part of its "Gender and Security" portfolio, the DCAF is committed to gender equality in the security sector.

The DCAF is guided by the UN Security Council's "Women, Peace and Security Agenda", which aims to reform the global security sector. Among other things the DCAF's "Gender and Security" portfolio promotes the participation of women in security organisations in Ukraine and Georgia. The DCAF also offers training regarding conflict-related sexual violence and develops tools such as the "Gender and Security Toolkit", which supports national security forces worldwide in implementing gender equality. The DCAF works with international institutions like NATO and UN Women to further advance this mission.