Study visit by Albanian MoD and AFs to MoDs and AFs of Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Study visit was organized for representatives of the Albanian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Armed Forces (AFs) to the MoD and AFs of Montenegro and to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from 7 to 11 December 2015. The study visit focused on information sharing and knowledge exchange on gender equality in the military.

Delegations discussed measures to enhance gender responsiveness of human resources management, training and education on gender equality in the military, gender perspective in military operations, as well as institutional structures for gender equality, laws and policies. In particular, both the Montenegrin and Macedonian delegations specifically highlighted results achieved with the support of UNDP SEESAC’s  Gender Equality in the Military in the Western Balkans project, praising the regional cooperation facilitated through the project as a vehicle of progress.

The Albanian delegation visited the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro in Podgorica and the Training Centre of the Montenegrin Armed Forces in Danilovgrad on 8 December and met with the delegation of the Ministry of Defence of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and visited the Military Academy in Skopje on 10 December.

“Security threats of modern time can only be successfully responded to if women and men work together,” said Lt. Sanja Pejovic from the Montenegrin AF, while the Deputy Head of Training Centre of the AF of Montenegro Lt.Col. Miodrag Djukanovic emphasized that “there are no women’s or men’s jobs in the Montenegrin Armed Forces. There are only jobs that one can or cannot do.” In addition to this, LTC Straso Stojcevski from the MoD of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia stressed the importance of leadership for successful integration of gender perspective in the military.