06.03.2012.

Belgrade Center for Security Policy visits the 1st Training Center in Pozarevac

A group of 15 journalists visited the First Training Center in Pozarevac in the organization of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, as a continuation of a two-day training seminar "Responsible reporting and gender-equal security sector."

Welcoming the guests, the Acting Commander of the Training Center in Pozarevac Army Colonel Dusko Sljivancanin gave a presentation of the centre saying that its main task was training non-commissioned officers, professional soldiers, and soldiers on voluntary military service, including the members of fairer sex.

- As a sort of an old school officer I did have prejudice against women in the military, but I no longer, have them, because in practice they proved as responsible in the performance of all duties, and some even outdid their male counterparts-Colonel Sljivancanin said, noting that the Centre includes ten percent of women in uniform.

He pointed out that the physical training is the same for both sexes, but that the regular check standards have been adapted to women, while professional training is the same for all.

- We are equal with colleagues in all tasks placed before us, and perhaps even more is expected of us women - said Lt. Jasna Pesic, who is a resident doctor with the centre and is one of two women officers in the Centre.

Researcher of the Centre for Security Policy Maja Bjelos said that journalists who attended the course were covering the topic about women in the security in order to stress their contribution.

- I am convinced that after this visit the media will be even more willing to change the image of women in the security sector, although a lack of specialized journalists for reporting about the sector is still a major problem - said researcher Bjelos, one of the organizers of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.

The idea of the course was that through discussions and workshops journalists from print and electronic media are acquainted with the sector, and for responsible reporting on women and men who are employed or in training at these institutions. Study visits to institutions of security allowed them to learn more about the issue of access to information, confidential information, but also the challenges faced by employees in the sector, particularly women.

Training and study visits are one of the activities under the project Supporting Implementation of the National Action Plan for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 in Serbia - Women, Peace and Security.