Policy guidance on prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration programming: Managing exits of individuals from non-state armed groups in contexts affected by terrorism

While women and girls may occupy diverse roles in conflict – including, in some cases, perceived or actual affiliation with UN-listed terrorist groups – current legal, policy, and operational frameworks frequently fail to account for the complex and constrained conditions under which women and girls live their lives in contexts affected by terrorism, counter-terrorism, or conflict, and how such affiliations occur.

Overly broad counter-terrorism laws and policies, coupled with gender stereotypes that conflate women’s victimhood with culpability or, conversely, deny women’s agency altogether, have resulted in discriminatory practices that undermine due process, human rights protections, and gender equality commitments. This policy guidance establishes a human rights-based, gender-responsive framework for UN Women’s approach to prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration (PRR) programming and managing the exit of individuals from armed groups, including non-state armed groups designated by the UN.

The guidance presents UN Women’s five key entry points and highlights country specific successes, challenges, and lessons learned across diverse contexts (Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Nigeria, Indonesia, Colombia, Tunisia, and Pakistan). It aims to support UN Women management and technical practitioners at regional and country levels in the planning, design, and implementation of integrated programmatic assistance to national stakeholders.

Other UN entities, civil society partners, or Member States may also value its findings and observations in seeking to improve the human rights safeguards and gender responsivity of relevant programmatic approaches.