06Feb2015
Gender Training of Trainers for representatives of MoD and Armed Forces from Western Balkans
Second generation of gender trainers from Ministries of Defence (MoDs) and Armed Forces (AF) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Serbia have been awarded certificates upon completing their training. The closing ceremony was held on February 5, 2015 at the Peacekeeping Operations Center of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff.
Organized by SEESAC, together with the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM), this two-week NATO accredited course teaches instructors how to efficiently and effectively integrate a gender perspective in mission-specific as well as national basic training and education for troops, units, and officers on gender perspectives in military.
Deputy Chief of Serbian Armed Forces General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic , UN Resident Representative Ms. Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, Ambassador of Norway H.E. Nils Ragnar Kamsvåg and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Sweden Ms. Liseltt Martynenko Agerlid addressed the second generation of trainers during the ceremony.
“Sustainable human development can only be fully achieved if women and girls are able to contribute on an equal basis with men and boys to their societies, and if progress is achieved in reducing gender based violence. Security sector institutions play an important role in achieving these goals”, UN Resident Representative Ms. Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano told the new generation of trainers during the ceremony.
Ambassador of Norway H.E. Nils Ragnar Kamsvåg emphasised that Norway was the first country to include women in the army. “Equal rights for everyone is essential for economic process and welfare and for preventing armed conflict”, the Ambassador said adding that “gender sensitivity and cultural awareness is a common responsibility”. Norway’s Ambassador also stressed the importance of regional cooperation between the MoDs and Armed Forces in the Western Balkans.
“Gender equality and gender awareness is key for Swedish foreign policy” Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Sweden Ms. Liseltt Martynenko Agerlid said while addressing the new trainers. She added that awareness is the first aspect, followed by regional cooperation and making sure these processes are sustainable.
Deputy Chief of Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, addressed the new gender trainers stressing the importance of their role in raising gender awareness in their respective militaries when they return to their duties.
When assessing the impact of the course, Commander Jan Dunmurray of the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations, explained that he was truly impressed to see that how well the course participants succeeded in integrating gender perspective into lectures and training modules that were developed for the training audience in their armed forces.
‘’A young platoon commander created a training program specifically for his soldiers to better understand and learn how to integrate a gender perspective into their ordinary daily tasks and duties, improving thus his platoon operational effectiveness. Another student demonstrated how he is going to raise gender awareness on a higher, command level through a totally different training module, which is however just as effective for that specific training audience. This is evidence that participants learned a lot and that they will be able to train colleagues on how to ensure the integration of gender perspective in the military”, Commander Jan Dunmurray said.
Although the course is specifically tailored for the needs of the Ministries of Defence and Armed Forces in the Western Balkans, four students from outside the region also attended, two female officers from the British Armed Forces, one officer from the Swedish Armed Forces and one representative of SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe). This is the second such course co-organized by SEESAC and NCGM. The course was hosted by the Peacekeeping Operations Centre in Belgrade from 28 January to 5 February 2015.
As part of the Gender Equality in the Military project, the total number of NATO certified gender trainers in the four participating Western Balkan countries is now 33. Sixteen (16) instructors trained during the first course and seventeen (17) certified during the second are now members of the Regional Network of Trainers.