22.03.2012.

Supporting the integration of gender equality values in security sector

Representatives of the Ministries of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and the United Nations Development Programme, signed in Belgrade in a joint statement, thus officially launching the project "Supporting the integration of gender equality values in security sector reform in the Western Balkans". On behalf of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia the statement was signed of Secretary of State Dr. Tanja Miscevic.

The meeting in the Central Military Club was attended by Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac who opened the event, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Dr Tanja Miscevic, the Swedish ambassador Christer Asp, Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway DA Esben Os, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Serbia William Infante and other representatives countries in the region.

Addressing the present, Sutanovac recalled an initiative was launched for the MoD to take more active role in implementing the UN resolution 1325 two years ago, he had been fully aware of the importance of the resolution.

"Women are different and in many armed conflicts they were both combatants, and victims. Their protection in extreme conditions is absolutely necessary. Women today play a significant role in the armed forces, as our colleagues in uniform, cadets, officers and non-commissioned officers who are now present and verified. Their role is to give a new quality, but also a new capacity to the armed forces. Responding to security challenges and global threats, requires cooperation among states, and require the involvement of all segments of society. In this struggle, gender plays no role, but rather knowledge and ability, "said the minister.

He said the adoption of the National Action Plan for the implementation of resolution 1325, establishing the political and operational bodies, the definition of indicators to monitor possible discrimination in the Republic of Serbia is ranked among all 34 countries that have adopted such a document.

"Not because we follow trends, but because we want to find the best answers to demonstrate what women in our system can do, as currently there are some 8% of women among professional soldiers, twenty percent of the cadets, as well as in the Ministry. I recall that this number, although insufficient, is several times higher than the data from a few years ago" he said, adding that the Ministry was very proud of the fact that one hundred and nine civil servants in that institution of ninety eight women.

He particularly thanked the representatives of UNDP and SEESAC for their general support to Serbia's efforts to make progress in the implementation of Resolution 1325 of UN Security Council, and the fact that our country was recognized as a leader in this field in the region.

"I thank all the representatives of the Western Balkans states in showing their interest for gender equality and the issue of implementation of the gender equality policy in the security sector to be treated as a problem together with the comprehensive support of NGOs and international organizations can be effectively addressed," he Sutanovac.

"If I were to finish my speech here, that would mean that even I do not fundamentally understand the gravity of the problem and I have a layman's attitude toward the reform that our society has to happen for a woman to get her rightful place, the position it deserves not only in the security sector, but in all segments of our society, country and family, "the minister said, adding that as in all other necessary reforms and the strong support of all segments of society.

With the introduction of a professional army, the defense minister noted, all young people have been given an equal opportunity to choose in Serbia, while women have been given this opportunity for the first time, in accordance with their preferences approaches to the military.

"My dear ladies, you cannot miss that chance, because in our system the ladies choose, and that is not just on paper. Remember that!" - said defense minister.

He particularly thanked the NGO sector, which has always insisted on gender equality as a corrective factor in our society, helping the system to mature and adopt all the universal European values as their own.

"I want also to thank our fellow officers and NCOs, who have recognized the need and importance of implementing the National Action Plan, without which neither this conference would be held" - underlined the Minister of Defence.

Addressing the present, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Dr Tanja Miscevic said that the women who have the knowledge wish to assist in the security sector and thus prove that they truly deserve their place in the defense system.

-At the moment we have several women in the rank of Colonel approaching the fulfillment of all criteria and conditions, to obtain even higher ranks. The General Staff has 8.5 percent of women professional soliders, and in the Ministry of Defence, the percentage is slightly higher, about 20 percent, because there are women and civilians participating in the work of the ministry. It is very interesting that at the Military Academy and the Faculty of Medicine, Military Medical Academy, this number exceeds 20 percent, because the interest in the education of women who want to become officers is greater than before, said Secretary of State, adding that women at the University of Defence want to prove with their skills and knowledge that one day they can even be generals.

Swedish Ambassador to Serbia, His Excellency Christer Asp, welcoming the participants, said that men and women should be equal and that gender perspectives are taken into consideration for any planning and execution of military operations. He added that there is a long-term responsibility of seeing women as important actors in the sphere of security because the women have significant role in the areas of conflict resolution and peace building, adding, that Sweden continues and will do so in the future to be committed to this project.

The Kingdom of Norway supports the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to achieve higher levels of gender integration and equality. Defense Atache of the Embassy of Norway Colonel Esben Os, suggested that it was very important to involve women in all issues of peace and security, emphasizing that the integration of this issue in the security sector and the introduction of equal opportunities for genders obligation of us all.

The Permanent Representative to the UN Development Programme in Serbia William Infante said that was a very important project of integration of gender equality in the security sector for all countries in the region, by promoting the inclusion of women through the reform of this sector. It is particularly noted that the UNDP had been proud partner in the Ministries of Defence of Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia, who have joined together to improve security and stability in the region.

Acting head of UNDP SEESAC Team Dr. Ivan Zverzhanovski presented the project "Strengthening regional cooperation in the integration of gender perspectives in security sector reform in the Western Balkans". Dr Zverzhanovski noted that the process of introducing women into the armed forces in most countries started in the last decade. He said it is necessary to create conditions for qualified women who meet all the conditions, able to enter into service and have the same conditions for career advancement as men. When it comes to the neighboring countries, Zverzhanovski notes that they have similar figures in terms of percentage of women in their forces, and in some the number of professional female soldiers is growing. In all four countries included in the project, the girls were able to study at military academies.

The signatories to the joint statement agreed, among other things, to joint planning of activities, information and consultation on issues of common interest related to promotion of gender equality principles in defense and security policies.

The project of gender equality as part of the security sector reform aims at helping ministries of defense in Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to promote gender equality in the security sector through regional cooperation. Other objectives are - to establish and support structures that are responsible for gender equality, increased employment and retention of women in the service and changes in organizational culture.

In order for a society to devote adequate attention to the needs and priorities of women and men they need to be equally represented in decision-making processes and developing and implementing policy, which applies to the security sector.

In the Western Balkans, the presence of women in the military is very small number in terms of command and leadership positions. The data shows that the necessary additional measures should be taken to attract women and keep them in the armies of the Western Balkans.

Key activities for the implementation of this project are to support the establishment of relevant structures for gender equality reflected in institutionalization of the support structure and capacity of relevant agencies for Gender Equality at the Ministry of Defense in order to integrate gender issues in defense policy, then supporting reforms of personnel policy in terms of greater recruitment and retention of women, research on the position and role of women in the army and establishing the necessary steps for recruitment and retention of women in ministry.

In addition, support is needed in the exchange of best practices in strengthening the human resource policies and practices on gender-sensitive manner and the analysis of employment and retention in the service and developing gender-sensitive approaches.

Another key activity is gender sensitization program which will be achieved through training of trainers to fostering a more sensitive view of military personnel on gender equality, supporting revision of the curriculum which would then include the issue of gender equality and security, and through the establishment of a regional network of coaches and supporting career development for women through a system of scholarships for attendance of educational courses and exchange programs.

The project is envisioned to last until 2014, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its UNDP Office, will be responsible for carrying out these activities in cooperation with the institutions of the Western Balkans.

After the adoption of the National Action Plan (NAP), the Ministry of Defence has established the analytical groups within the MoD and SAF, the person selected for the Political Council, multi-departmental coordinating body for implementation of the NAP, the Council for Gender Equality of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the person appointed to the Working Group Coordinator implementation of the Action Plan within the Directorate for Gender Equality. Since the adoption of the NAP, the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia have implemented more than 190 activities in connection with its implementation.