Experience Sharing on Integrating Gender Perspective in the Armed Forces Beyond the Western Balkans
SEESAC shared experience in integrating a gender perspective in the security sector reform in the Western Balkans with representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia at the online seminar organized by the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) on 23 March 2021.
The MoD of Georgia, with the support of DCAF, is designing the Women’s Development Program which will include good practices and lessons learned from other regions. SEESAC was invited to present examples of good practices implemented in partnership with the Ministries of Defence in the Western Balkans.
Since 2012, SEESAC facilitates regional platforms on integrating gender in defense policy and practice in close cooperation with Ministries of Defence, thus enabling capacity building through regular experience and knowledge sharing.
The comprehensive regional SEESAC approach includes:
- Advancing institutional mechanisms on gender equality in MoDs and AF, including, decision-makers and military commanders through regular information and knowledge exchange;
- Developing standard operating procedures based on evidence-based policymaking for Human Resources departments;
- Raising gender awareness among the members of the Armed Forces and high-level military commanders;
- Supporting MoDs to develop knowledge products (regional study on the position of women and regional manual for combating gender-based discrimination); and
- Applying innovative solutions (integrating gender into military education).
The essential prerequisite for security sector institutions to deliver for both women and men is to design and implement gender-responsive policies, and to increase gender awareness among the staff. SEESAC is putting the focus on gender equality within the sector institutions, and also supporting the institutions to deliver services in a gender-responsive way in line with Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
SEESAC is working in partnership with a wide variety of stakeholders within and beyond the UN system and actively sharing experiences from the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe related to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. Such cooperation plays a pivotal role in expanding knowledge and ensuring meaningful, sustainable, and durable results.
The seminar is organized within the scope of Strengthening Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans, a project financed by the governments of Norway and the Slovak Republic.