Western Balkans MoDs and AFs representatives in a Study Visit to the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands

Within the scope of SEESAC’s Gender Equality in the Military project, a two-day study visit to the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands was organized for sixteen representatives of the Ministries of Defence and members of the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans on 24 and 25 March 2015. The visit was hosted by the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands and the Civil-Military Cooperation Center of Excellence (CCOE).
 

The study visit enabled representatives of MoDs and Armed Forces from the Western Balkans to familiarize themselves with the Human Resources policies and practices related to recruitment and retention of women in the Armed Forces of the Netherlands. The visit also included overview of gender equality mechanisms in the Netherlands MoD and Armed Forces; integration of gender in to military education and training; gender perspective in military operations, and cooperation with the Civil Society Organizations in the implementation of UNSCR 1325.
 

The participants of the study visit were particularly interested in learning about the working conditions and work-life balance polices, the selection criteria, legislation and polices on gender equality, access and participation of women in combat units as well as the inclusion of gender equality in military exercises.
 

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 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 cultures.