WUNRN
http://www.osce.org/fsc/190691
GENDER EQUALITY IN MILITARY ENHANCES SECURITY FOR ALL,
SAY PARTICIPANTS OF JOINT OSCE FORUM FOR SECURITY CO-OPERATION-PERMANENT
COUNCIL EVENT
Captain Anna Björsson, gender advisor with the Swedish
Armed Forces Headquarters, speaking at a joint meeting of the Forum for
Security Co-operation and the Permanent Council, Vienna, 7 October 2015.
(OSCE/Micky Kroell)
VIENNA, 7 October 2015 – Implementing
gender equality in the military is a work in progress but further efforts are
still needed to improve the participation of women in the decision-making in
the armed forces, said experts who took part in the joint session of the OSCE
Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and the Permanent Council today in
Vienna.
The joint session organized under
the Norway’s Chairmanship of the FSC and Serbia’s 2015 OSCE Chairmanship
provided a platform for sharing best practices in the OSCE area.
The discussion touched upon the
practical implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on
Women, Peace and Security, which this year marks its 15th anniversary. UNSCR
1325 is a landmark document addressing the disproportionate and unique impact
of armed conflict on women, recognizing the importance of women's equal
participation in maintaining and promoting peace and security, and the need to
enhance protection of women, girls and their rights.
The discussion highlighted the
importance of a comprehensive approach in implementing gender equality by
establishing broad co-operation with other government bodies as well as with
civil society.
Hanna Syse, Senior Advisor with
the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, noted that gender equality improves the
diversity of the armed forces and as a result enhances their operational
capability making them more resilient and flexible.
Bringing the responsibility for
gender up the chain of command plays an important role in effective
implementation of gender equality, said Louise Olsson, Head of Research and
Policy on Gender, Peace and Security at the Folke Bernadotte Academy.
Referring to the lessons learned
from the Gender Coach Programme introduced in the Swedish Armed Forces, Olsson
said: “It is a leadership programme which provides the highest leadership with
knowledge and skills on gender equality and UN resolutions on Women, Peace and
Security in order to strengthen the organization”.
Talking about Serbia’s
achievements in implementing UNSCR 1325 Brigadier General Slobodan Joksimoviæ
said that women today are represented in all categories of personnel. He also
noted that one of the priorities in the coming period is to create conditions
for achieving the higher participation of women in decision-making processes.
Other speakers included Admiral Jonas Haggren, Head of the Policy and Plans Department, and Captain Anna Björsson, Gender advisor and Project co-ordinator for the Gender Coach Programme from the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters.