Ministry of Defence of Montenegro Leads Implementation of National Action Plan for UNSCR 1325 – Women, Peace and Security

The Ministry of Defence of Montenegro presented the findings of the 2nd regional Study on the Position of Women in the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans and the regional Handbook on Preventing and Responding to Gender‑Based Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Abuse to the representatives of the governmental bodies responsible for the National Action Plan for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325). The event, organized with SEESAC support on the request of the Ministry, took place in Podgorica on 5 April 2022.

The Ministry shared data and information on the position of women in the Armed Forces of Montenegro, collected through the regional Study and the Handbook, and presented its activities conducted in the last decade which contributed to the implementation of the UNSCR 1325. The participants congratulated the Ministry on the achievements and expressed interest in its activities related to integrating gender into security sector reform. 

Besides the Government representatives, members of the Committee for Gender Equality of the Parliament of Montenegro and representatives of the Office of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro took part in the event.

This activity was implemented within the Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans project and is financed by the Governments of Norway and the Slovak Republic. With the support of SEESAC, the project provides the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces from the Western Balkans a platform where, over the period of three years, they can exchange ideas and develop policies to ensure long-term and sustainable inclusion of the gender perspective in defence policies and practices.