Advancing Understanding of Gender-based Discrimination in the Intelligence Sector

Following the positive feedback of the basic gender awareness seminar organized in 2020,  SEESAC delivered a two-day advanced gender equality seminar for representatives of the South East Europe Military Intelligence Chiefs’ Forum (SEEMIC) on 7th and 8th June 2021.

The seminar was organized by Regional Cooperation Council with the aim to advance understanding of SEEMIC representatives of gender-based discrimination, and improve the ability to recognize and address gender-based discrimination. This is crucial in ensuring  a gender-friendly environment conducive to the Security Sector Reform and the overall mandate of their institutions.

Ten representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania and Turkey took part. The seminar included topics related to gender stereotypes and prejudices, various types and forms of gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, abuse, and gender-based violence, as well as the relevant international legal framework and examples from practice in the region.

In preparing the programme for the advanced seminar, SEESAC used inputs gathered in evaluations from the basic seminar to tailor the programme accordingly to the needs of the SEEMIC participants.

By advancing gender equality and integrating a gender perspective across all areas, security sector institutions strive to better understand and address security threats from domestic, regional, and global perspectives.

The seminar thus contributed towards the implementation of UN SDG 5 - Gender Equality and UN SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and also to the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (UNSCR 1325).

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.