Gender Trainers Review Results and Learn from the Experience of the NCGM and the Swedish AF

Within the scope of SEESAC’s Gender Equality in the Military project, the study visit to the Nordic Center for Gender in Military Operations was organized for the Network of Gender Trainers from the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans from 22 to 24 June 2015.

The study visit enabled review of results of the Regional Network of Gender Trainers and capturing lessons learnt. In 2014 and 2015 gender trainers delivered briefings and seminars on gender equality for over 3,000 officers and soldiers in the four Armed Forces.

The visit also enabled Gender Trainers to learn from the best practices and challenges from the Swedish Armed Forces in delivering gender trainings to the military and form the their experience in integrating gender perspective in the military education and training.

The Regional Network of Gender Trainers is composed of thirty three (33) NATO certified gender trainers in the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans, who work towards raising gender awareness in their respective institutions through workshops and training with the support of the project. UNDP SEESAC provides support to the Network by organising regional meetings of gender trainers, courses, workshops, seminars and study visits to strengthen their capacities.

About THE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE MILITARY PROJECT

SEESAC's Gender Equality in the Military: Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans project supports creating a more conducive environment for the advancement of women in the military in the Western Balkans. With this as its goal, SEESAC is supporting the Ministries of Defence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia in their efforts to ensure better integration, retention and professional development for women in the armed forces as well as stronger participation of women in decision-making and gender sensitive change in their organizational culture.