The Regional Network of Gender Trainers in the Military Reviews its Initial Results

After being formed in March 2014, the Regional Network of Gender Trainers from the Ministries of Defence (MoDs) and Armed Forces (AFs) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, continues to expand its capacities and work to increase gender awareness in the military.

On 22 May 2014, UNDP/SEESAC organized the First Meeting of the Network during which trainers discussed the activities they implemented thus far in order to raise gender awareness in their respective institutions, and shared gained knowledge and experiences amongst themselves.

As a reminder: In March 2014, sixteen (16) representatives of the MoDs and members of AFs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, successfully completed the NATO certified Regional Gender Training of Trainers Course, thus establishing a Regional Network of Gender Trainers who possess the necessary expertise to further develop and implement courses in the field of gender equality for the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces.

In order to further strengthen the capacities of the Network, in partnership with the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), on 20 and 21 May 2014, SEESAC also organized a Gender Equality Advocacy Workshop for the Network’s members.

The two-day workshop, using interactive methods, shed further light on the issue of gender particularly within the context of security sector reform and informed the participants about the various phases of the advocacy circle. The workshop was designed to build upon trainers’ previously gained knowledge with special emphasis on bolstering their advocacy skills.

Both the meeting and the workshop are activities of SEESAC’s Gender Equality in the Military Project.

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 aims to create 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 Defense 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 cultures.