The Position of Women in the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans

This regional study presents the results from the monitoring of progress towards a more equal position of women in the ministries of defence (MoD) and the armed forces (AF) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, and the Republic of Serbia. The results are intended to enable comparison with the findings of the 2012 baseline study. The present study was created as a part of the project Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans, which has been implemented by UNDP SEESAC since 2012, in two phases. As a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), UNDP SEESAC provides support to the ministries of defence in the Western Balkans region to integrate the gender perspective into the MoDs’ and the AFs’ policies and practices as one of the key segments of security sector reform, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325. This regional project aims to bring the Western Balkans closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and 5 (Gender Equality) of the 2030 Agenda.