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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Defence sector to play active role in implementation of Resolution 1325 in Serbia

Belgrade, 31 March 2010

Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac stated today that the defence sector is ready to play an active role in the preparation and execution of a national action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, in Serbia.

Sonja Licht, Dragan Sutanovac and Marijana Pajvancic

Author: Fonet

Speaking at a press conference concerning recommendations for the national action plan, Sutanovac said that in 2007 the first class of female cadets was admitted to the Military Academy.

In September 2011 the cadets will complete their education and get promoted to the first class of female ensigns. This year 25% of the applicants at the Academy were women, he said.

A relatively small number of women, approximately 330, serve as army officers but there are more than 5,800 in the entire defence system, said the Minister.

Women employed by the Interior Ministry, some of them serving in the Gendarmerie, carry out their tasks with full equality to their male colleagues, he said.

President of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence Sonja Licht said that the designing of a national action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 is one more step forward for Serbia in its EU integration process.

Licht submitted recommendations for the action plan to Minister Sutanovac and said that it is of great significance that the Defence Ministry recognises the importance of women’s participation in the security sector.

She said that Serbia could be the first country in the region to have adopted a national action plan, the implementation of which will fulfil the constitutional obligation of the state to secure equal rights for men and women.

She said that the drafting of the national action plan is a historic step for the security forces as well, since this topic has never been considered in this manner.

Liht stressed that work on this document is another step towards Serbia’s inclusion in global affairs, adding that the participation of the Ministry of Defence is particularly important since jobs in the military have been traditionally performed by men.

Professor at the Novi Sad Law Faculty Marijana Pajvancic presented the basic goals of the national action plan, such as equal status of men and women in the decision-making process regarding security issues and increase of female staff in the security sector.

Pajvancic said that this also means that female influence in the security sector will increase, as well as the role of women in the creation of peace, protection from all forms of discrimination and improvement of conditions for professional advancement.

UN Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security is one of the key UN resolutions in the domain of peace and security which legally binds all UN member countries and highlights the importance of the role of women in the creation of peace and the post-conflict recovery of the country.