UNDP SEESAC participates in the Regional Conference on Implementation of the UN SC Resolution 1325

On 28 February 2013 Ms. Bojana Balon, WPON Coordinator, participated in the Regional Conference on Implementation of the UN Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace and Security: Globally – Regionally – Locally”, held in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska and organized by the Gender Equality Agency of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The aim of the Conference was to provide a platform for the exchange of regional experiences and best practices in the field of implementation of the UN Resolution 1325 and national action plans at all levels – global, regional and local, as well as to define the role of governments, NGOs and international organizations in this process.

Ms. Balon spoke about UNDP SEESAC’s work on improving gender equality in the security sector in the Western Balkans . More specifically, about the  projects: Support for Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans which supports the ongoing efforts by the Ministries of Defense in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia  to integrate gender equality into their policies, procedures and practices through regional cooperation; and  Support for Gender Mainstreaming in Policing Practice: The Women Police Officers Network in South East Europe (WPON) established under the umbrella of the South East Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) by representatives of 9 police services in SEE: Albania, BiH-Federation, BiH-Republika Srpska, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The project supports the creation of national police women associations, enables information exchange and networking among women police officers, provides training as well as support to specific efforts to address the recruitment, promotion, retention and career building of women police officers in the region.