2.3 Decide strategic gender priorities A Strategic Priority is a high-level, long-term focus area that sets out where the NHRI will concentrate its efforts to achieve its vision and purpose for gender equality. This is the core of your gender strategy. At this stage, you will need to decide which issues are the most important and realistic to focus on during the life of the strategy. These priorities should be based on the evidence gathered during your situation analysis, gender audit, NHRI reporting and engagement with external stakeholders. Most gender strategies work best with 3 - 5 strategic priorities. Too few may leave important issues unaddressed. Too many can make the strategy difficult to implement, resource and communicate. A common approach is to include: • O  ne internal priority focused on strengthening the NHRI’s own systems, culture and practice, and • Two to four external priorities focused on the NHRI’s human rights mandate and impact. This helps ensure the NHRI strengthens its own practice while also delivering meaningful external change. Working with your Focus Group Focus Group Session 2 is aimed at exploring and agreeing your strategic priorities. Exercise 2 – Identify your strategic gender priorities (p67) Examples The APF Strategic Plan (2022-2027) has gender equality as one of three human rights priorities which cuts across each of its 4 strategic outcomes. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (2021–2025) includes ‘protection from discrimination based on gender identity and gender based issues’ as a strategic priority. The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines developed its Gender and Development Strategic Framework alongside its NHRI strategic plan. It adopted its Gender and Development Mission, Vision, and Goals and its GAD Agenda covering 2024 to 2030. The GAD Agenda sets out the Commissions directions in mainstreaming gender in its external and internal work. Gender Strategy Toolkit 2026 38