why be concerned with integrating gender what are the operational advantages the emphasis throughout is on active engagement and initiative rather than passive observation megan bastick and kristin valasek geneva dcaf uninstraw osceodihr involving womens organisations also increases the participation of women in security decisionmaking processes and ensures that their specific security needs are being heard parliaments equal opportunity commissions ombudspersons ministries of womens affairs public complaints commissions police review boards and the like have a variety of ways to ensure the integration of gender issues