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Gender in Security Sector Reform

In a constantly changing security environment, sustaining peace worldwide, protecting human security and human rights cannot be achieved without women’s and men’s equal participation. Since 2009, SEESAC has been supporting governments in South East Europe to integrate a gender perspective in security sector policies and practice, in line with the Women, Peace and Security and Sustainable Development Goals Agenda. SEESAC facilitates regional cooperation among relevant security institutions to strengthen gender equality mechanisms, combat gender-based discrimination, implement evidence-based policies, and strengthen gender-responsive leadership. Since 2012, in the Western Balkans, transformational gender equality processes in the defence systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia were supported by facilitating knowledge exchange through unique regional cooperation platforms focusing on the root causes of gender inequality in the military and improving the implementation of the WPS Agenda.

Latest Gender in Security Sector Reform news

Women organizations at the Forefront: Strengthening Women's Role in SALW Control and GBV Prevention in the Western Balkans

14 July 2025

Women organizations at the Forefront: Strengthening Women's Role in SALW Control and GBV Prevention in the Western Balkans

Recognizing the pivotal role of women's organizations in advocating for sustaining peace, disarmament, and combating  gender-based and domestic violence, SEESAC gathered  representatives of 18 women's organizations from the Western Balkans at a workshop on Gender and SALW, held in Tirana on 1-2 July 2025. The workshop provided an extensive introduction to small arms and light weapons (SALW) ...
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Strengthening Frontlines: Customs SOPs Underway in the Western Balkans

16 June 2025

Strengthening Frontlines: Customs SOPs Underway in the Western Balkans

As part of ongoing efforts to support control of small arms and light weapons, SEESAC has continued its work with customs administrations across the Western Balkans to support the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs). Based on the findings of the national assessments of capacities of Customs Administrations in the region to counter illicit firearms flows, conducted in 2024, ...
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Peer-Led Trainings to Prevent Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence context in Skopje

13 June 2025

Peer-Led Trainings to Prevent Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence context in Skopje

After successful sessions in Podgorica and Priština, Skopje became the next stop for a series of peer-led trainings aimed at strengthening the institutional response to domestic violence involving firearms. With support from SEESAC, two peer-led trainings gathered 20 participants and introduced them to the practical application of the Guidelines for Assessing and Addressing Risks Related to ...
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Risk Assessment and Gender-Responsive Firearm Licensing Trainings held in Pristina

26 May 2025

Risk Assessment and Gender-Responsive Firearm Licensing Trainings held in Pristina

To strengthen the institutional response to domestic violence involving firearms, from 20-22 May, SEESAC supported the implementation of two trainings for over 30 participants in Pristina on the implementation of  the  Guidelines for Assessing and Addressing Risks Related to Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence and Guidelines for Gender Responsive Firearms License Approval. The first ...
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Latest Publications

11.12.2024

In Focus Armed Violence Monitor on Firearm Incidents in the Context of Domestic Violence in SEE in 2023

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17.10.2024

Analysis of Media Reporting on Firearm Misuse in Male Gender-Based Violence Against Women in the Western Balkans

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10.10.2024

Guidelines for officials of the ministries of interior and police services for communication with the media in cases of firearm misuse in gender-based violence

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19.06.2024

Gender and SALW Resource Pack

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28.05.2024

Guidelines for Gender-Responsive Firearms License Approval

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22.05.2024

Guidelines for Assessing and Addressing Risks Related to the Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence

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