SEESAC shares its experience in mainstreaming gender in SALW control with regional and sub-regional organizations

UNODA organized virtually during May - June 2021 two webinars aiming to train staff from regional and sub-regional organizations on the approaches of gender mainstreaming in small arms control initiatives and policies. The webinars were organized for desk officers and experts from the secretariats of sub-regional and regional organizations.

SEESAC’s Gender and Research Project Officer, Dragan Božanić presented in these webinars SEESAC’s approach and support to the authorities in Southeast Europe, in integrating the gender perspective in SALW control, through the following pillars:

Increasing capacities of institutions to mainstream gender in SALW control

Improving data availability and use in policy making

Increasing knowledge and expertise on gender aspects of SALW

Increasing participation of women in SALW control policymaking

Increasing awareness on gender aspects of SALW misuse and specific events and initiatives about how those are achieved.

SEESAC's experience in operationalizing gender-responsive small arms control in implementation of the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap was also shared with participants.

The Roadmap was developed by SALW commissions in the region with support from SEESAC and under auspices and in close cooperation with Germany, France and the EU. It presents a guiding and consensual document in achieving a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse, and trafficking of SALW/firearms and its ammunition in the Western Balkans. The Roadmap places specific importance on the advancement of gender equality, which presents an essential element of sustainable and effective SALW control. The integration of gender perspective and its implementation through action plans adopted by jurisdictions in the region, is regularly monitored.