Videoconference on women’s contribution to peace and security held as part of Croatia’s A5 presidency

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Wednesday hosted a videoconference on “Women’s Contribution to Peace and Security: Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead”

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Wednesday hosted a videoconference on “Women’s Contribution to Peace and Security: Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead”.

The conference was organized by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in cooperation with the Defence Ministry as part of Croatia’s year-long presidency of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter (A5).

Keynote addresses were delivered by former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar Kitarović and the Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Melanne Verveer, who underlined the role of women in building and preserving peace and security in the world. The first high panel confirmed the A5 member countries’ commitment to the implementation of the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

Addressing the conference, Grlić Radman said Croatia appreciated the contribution made by women to the security and stability of the society. Croatia is taking measures to boost the representation of women on the political scene and in the security sector, as foreseen by the 2019-2023 National Action Plan for the Implementation of Resolution 1325 and its follow-ups.

The minister highlighted NATO, EU and U.S. as partners in the joint efforts to achieve gender equality, adding that the principle of gender equality was a building block in Croatia’s foreign policy, humanitarian aid and development assistance. He underscored that women accounted for more than 50% of senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Zdravko Jakop recalled that NATO membership implied caring for the development of society as a whole. He emphasized that Croatia from the Homeland War onward carried a valuable experience of women’s participation in armed forces and the defence sector as a whole.

“We are proud of the fact that women account for nearly 40% of senior officials at the Defence Ministry. We strongly support women’s inclusion and participation in all segments of society, including the defence system. Women’s involvement in the armed forces at all levels and in all roles, is a key to success and further progress and development,” the state secretary said.

“There’s still work to be done on eliminating any obstacles that may be preventing women from achieving full potential in their military careers,” said Jakop, adding that implementing gender equality in the defence sector was particularly challenging.

Presenting the activities and experiences of their respective countries concerning women’s contribution to peace and security were Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Defence Minister Sifet Podžić, North Macedonia’s Defence Minister Radmila Šekerinska Jankovska, Albania’s Deputy Foreign Minister Agron Tare, State Secretary at Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Laura K. Cooper.

An expert panel saw the exchange of experiences on the topic by international and national experts, including NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Clare Hutchinson, Deputy Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, Brig. Gen. Sandy Best, and Head of the Planning Directorate at the Croatian Armed Forces General Staff, Brig. Gen. Gordana Garašić.

 

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