Better Integration of Women in AF of Montenegro by Improving their Working Conditions

Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Montenegro opened the renovated engineering unit building in the Danilovgrad Military Base on 9 July 2015. The renovation was supported through Women in the Military project, based on the MoD’s request in 2014. The aim of the renovation was to improve working conditions for women in the unit of 55 male and 6 female officers – including a female soldier deminer and a female engineering officer.
 

“The reconstructed facilities now provide possibility for work and professional development of women in the Armed Forces”, deminer in the Montenegro's Army engineering unit in Danilovgrad base, Ms. Snežana Korać said. “Also, now that the buildings are reconstructed, I have an incentive to give my best and to work harder.”

Changing rooms, toilets and showers for women were introduced with the support of UNDP SEESAC, allowing women to maximise their full potential in the workplace - conduct their military duties in the field such as reconstructing and building of basic local infrastructure, as well as to perform their everyday physical training.

The number of women in the Armed Forces in Montenegro is on the increase. Adjustment of working conditions is essential for increased recruitment of women, ensuring retention, and their professional development. The major part of the reconstruction of the engineering unit building was covered by the MoD Montenegro own resources.

SEESAC's Gender Equality in the Military: Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans project supports creating 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 Defence 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 culture.