Gender Equality Mechanisms in MoDs and AFs at the 7th Regional Meeting

VRDNIK, Serbia - Gender Equality Mechanisms (GEMs) in the Ministries of Defense (MoDs) and Armed Forces (AFs) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia took part in the Seventh Regional Meeting on 19 and 20 May 2015.  

“Gender equality is a strategic goal for the MoD and the Serbian Armed Forces (SAF)”, State Secretary of the Serbian Ministry of Defense, Mr. Zoran Djordjević emphasized during his opening address. The MoD has been actively working on  attracting and integrating women in the SAF and women are increasingly interested in military profession, he added.

“In 2014, 30% of women applied to the Military Academy and 59% to the Military Medical Academy”, Mr. Djordjević said highlighting that partnership with SEESAC in the regional project Gender Equality in the Military  significantly contributed to better integration of gender perspective in the SAF and also contributed to successful regional cooperation.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ms. Steliana Nedera stressed that gender equality is integral part of UNDP work and that it is a crucial goal for achieving the new Sustainable Development agenda, expected to be adopted by the General Assembly in September 2015.

“This year marks important global milestones on gender equality: the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the fifteenth anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security”, Ms. Nedera said stressing the important results achieved under the regional project, especially the Regional Network of Gender Trainers who are working on raising awareness on gender equality in the MoDs and AFs in the Western Balkans.  

Defence Attaché in the Embassy of Norway in Belgrade Commander Tore Andersson commended the MoDs for their excellent work within the regional project. Commander Andersson pointed out that Norway is systematically working on improving the position of women in the AF in Norway as well as on increasing the number of women in the Multinational Operations. “Currently, there are 10% of women in uniform in AFs in Norway, and 8% in the Multinational Operations”, he said and added that in 2014, Norway introduced conscription in the army for women and men which will boost the number of women in the Armed Forces.

Fourteen participants shared information on activities implemented and results achieved in advancing gender equality in their respective institutions since the last regional meeting held last year in November in Skopje.  MoDs held presentations on their Human Resources Policies and experiences in integrating women in the Armed Forces.  The discussion focused on the practical challenges and solutions related to the integration of women in the armed forces, specifically looking into the Human Resources policies and practices related to recruitment, criteria for selection and promotion, retention, working conditions, and professional development.  The participants were very keen to share lessons identified and examples of good practices.

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.