Around 25 experts addressed the role of women in promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in the defence and security sector, at a seminar held in Podgorica, Montenegro, on 25 September.
The seminar, Women's Role in Building Integrity and Promoting Good Practices in the Defence and Security Sector, Experience from South Eastern Europe, is part of the NATO Building Integrity Programme for South Eastern Europe launched in December 2012.
Delegates examined the challenges and opportunities faced by women from southeastern Europe in promoting good governance in the defence institutions. The programme focused on assessing needs and developing recommendations to further enhance the practical tools to assist building integrity practitioners with capacity-building activities.
Participants from southeastern Europe, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine as well as representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia, the United Nations Women Project Office in Serbia and local non-governmental organisations took part in the discussions.
Nada Drobnjak, Chairwoman of the Gender Equality Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro, stressed the importance of looking at the gender aspects of corruption. All participants recognised that education is key to preventing the risk of corruption.
The seminar was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland and the newly established Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector of Norway, which plays a lead role in developing tailored education and training solutions under the Building Integrity programme. It was organised under the current Montenegrin Chairmanship of the Adriatic Charter Initiative.
This is the first regional seminar to address this issue and is part of NATO's contribution to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. It was a follow-up to the seminar onWomen's Role in Reducing the Risk of Corruption and Promoting Good Practices in the Defence and Security Sector, which took place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels earlier this year to mark International Women's Day.