admin – Page 3 – Balkan Defence Monitor

Women in Defence System – Montenegro – 2023

National Action Plan 1325:

Montenegro’s second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security expired in 2022. However, there is no information whether the Government of this country has taken any steps to develop the third one. Nonetheless, the Government of Montenegro regularly publishes reports on the implementation of NAP 1325, making it the most transparent in the region.¹

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Montenegro is the country with the highest share of women among the civil servants and employees in the MoD. More than two thirds of the civil servants employed in the MoD are women (66.25%). Representation of women among professional military personnel has increased slightly, from 10.35% in 2022 to 10.77%. When it comes to the share of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers, their number in the ranks of officers and professional soldiers is relatively high – 16.86% of the officers and 14.29% of the soldiers. The representation of women among non-commissioned officers (NCOs) is 5.21%.

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

In 2020, Montenegro appointed a woman to the position of defence minister for the first time. Ms. Olivera Injac served as Minister of Defence of Montenegro from 4 December 2020 until 28 April 2022, in the Government of Zdravko Krivokapić. According to the Ministry of Defence, the share of women in leadership and command positions is 6.96%.

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

According to the Ministry of Defence, the share of women in the total number of members participating in peacekeeping operations outside of Montenegro is 10%.

1. 1. Government of Montenegro, Report on the implementation of activities from the Programme of Implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security (2019-2022) for 2021, 31 March 2022, https://www.gov.me/dokumenta/86e5343d-1dd9-4581-ab77-a4bf- 751ce3c5

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Montenegro

Women in Defence System – Croatia – 2023

National Action Plan 1325:

Croatia is currently implementing the second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period
2019-2023. In November 2021, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs published its first report on the implementation of the National Action Plan 1325 for 2019 and 2020.¹

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

According to the annual defence report (2022), the number and share of women among the personnel employed in the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Army is constantly increasing. Of the 15,008 active military personnel on 31 December 2021, 2,019 were women (13.45%). As at 31 December 2021, there were 1,003 women, i.e. 50.7% of the 1,982 employees in the categories of civil servants and state employees. The latest data on the proportion of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and soldiers are not available. Still, the Croatian government assesses that Croatia ranks among the top NATO member countries in terms of the level of representation of women in the armed forces and regulated rights in the field of gender equality.

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

The share of women in command and leadership positions was 12.04%. According to the MoD’s annual defence report, a total of 13.86% of women were promoted to a higher rank in 2021. The number of women with the rank of General has stagnated since 2014, with a single female officer holding that rank (Brigadier General).

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

According to the MoD’s annual defence report (2022), the proportion of women in peace support operations and missions abroad was 6.93%. However, submitting the report to the parliamentary Defence Committee, the minister Mario Banožić said that “in 2021, Croatia continued to actively participate in NATO, EU and UN peace support operations, missions and activities, with 643 members of its armed forces, including 48 women (7.47%)”.²

1. 1. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs – Republic of Croatia, NAP II, 2022, https://mvep.gov.hr/informacije-za-gradjane-244593/ugovori-dokumenti-i-obrasci/dokumenti/nap-ii/27171

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Croatia

Women in Defence System – Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2023

National Action Plan 1325:

The third local action plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the women, peace and security agenda expired in 2022. In 2021, the BiH Agency for Gender Equality published the final evaluation report on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 “Women, Peace and Security” in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2018–2022.

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

The number of members of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence is limited by the Law on the Budget of BiH Institutions and by international obligations of BiH to have 10,000 professional military personnel (generals,
officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers) and 1,000 civilians employed in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.¹ The total number of employees in the defence system is currently 8,482, and women make up 8.2% of professional military personnel (674). According to data from 2023, the number of women among the civil servants and employees in the MoD is currently 100, which is 43.1% of total number of civil servants (232). When it comes to the share of uniformed women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers, Bosnia and Herzegovina has 6.7% female officers (120), 4.9% NCOs (127) and 11.1% soldiers (427). Compared to 2019, there is a decrease in the representation of women in the total number of professional military personnel and civil servants, but there is also a slight increase in female officers and soldiers.

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

There are currently 106 women in leadership and commanding positions, i.e. 4.2% of the total number of employees in the MoD and AF. The highest rank held by women in the Armed Forces of BiH is still that of Colonel, while a woman headed the Ministry of Defence from 2015 to 2019.

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

There are currently no members of the Ministry of Security and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina engaged in peacekeeping missions.

1. 1. Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, O oružanim snagama Bosne i Hercegovine [On the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina], 2022,
    http://os.mod.gov.ba/o-oruzanim-snagama-bih/misija/Default.aspx?id=41&lang-Tag=bs-BA&template_id=181&pageIndex=1

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System –
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Women in Defence System – Albania – 2023

National Action Plan 1325:

Most countries have already adopted the second generation of action plans, except for Albania, which was the last in the region to adopt the first Action Plan in 2018. The Albanian Action Plan expired in 2020 and there seems to be no political will to draft a new one. The Ministry of Defence however states that it complies with other gender related documents, such as the newly adopted National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2030. The Ministry is focused on fulfilling three strategic goals: promoting and enhancing women’s leadership in the military, increasing women’s participation in missions and operations, and increasing the number of women in the Albanian military representations in NATO command structures and the number of women in diplomatic missions.

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

The total number of employees in the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces is 7,749, of which 19.98% are women. This constitutes a slight increase of 0.58% compared to 2021. The representation of women in the Albanian Armed Forces is 14.98% (892 women out of 5,953 personnel), which is an increase of 0.66% compared to
2021. Albania thus met the NATO goal of 15% of female uniformed personnel in the armed forces. However, Albania is the only country in the region with the quota for women in the army (15%) that can affect their further admission. The increase of representation of women in the armed forces is slow; namely, the percentage of women military personnel in the armed forces in 2011 was 12.3%, in 2012 – 13.42%, while in 2013 it decreased to 11.2%.¹ Still, Albania had the highest share of women officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in 2022 – 21.01% of the officers (365 out of the total of 1,737) and 13.78% of the non-commissioned officers (348 out of the total of 2,525), while female enlisted personnel make up 10.58% (179 out of the total of 1,691), which is an increase of 1.94%. The percentage of women among the civil employees in the MoD is 36.56%. In other words, out of 1,795 civil servants, 657 are women.

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Female officers who perform duties of commander and deputy commander make up 8.25% (35 women out of 424). The highest rank of women in the Albanian Armed Forces is that of Major General. This rank is held by Manushaqe Shehu, who became the first female Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces in 2018. Until recently, Albania had two women defence ministers, who headed the Ministry from 2013 to 2020. Mrs. Olta Xhaçka was the second woman to be appointed Minister of Defence (2017-2020) after Mrs. Mimi Kodheli, who led the defence sector for four consecutive years. There are also other decision-making positions held by women, such as that of Deputy Defence Minister.

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

As at 21 December 2022, 16 out of 324 military personnel participating in missions are women, which is 5%. This represents a slight decrease compared to 2019, when 7% of women participated in NATO operations. ²

1. 1. Megi Llubani, Women’s representation in the security sector in Albania, Albanian Institute for International Studies, 2014, https://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/albania.pdf
  2. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Summary of the National Reports of NATO Member and Partner Nationsto the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives, 2019, p. 142, https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2021/9/pdf/NCGP_Full_Report_2019.pdf

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Albania

Defence expenditure – Croatia – 2023

Croatian military expenditure had a sharp increase in 2021, due to the to the contract signed for the purchase of 12 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets at the end of the year. Before that, the expenditure did not experience any large changes, either nominally, or as a military burden. Defence expenditure has taken up around 3.50% of the total governmentexpenditure until 2021.

2022

Share of GDP 1.67%
Share of total government
expenditure 4.35%

The Croatian Parliament regularly adopts the budget for the forthcoming year in late November or early December. The Parliament also regularly adopts balance sheets and yearly Reports on Defence.

The 2021 increase is entirely attributed to the Rafale purchase at the end of the year, which resulted in a rebalance and a 43% increase in the planned budget. Prior to that, there were no significant fluctuations during the year, and the initial budget was slightly underspent. Croatia spent the largest portion of its military budget on personnel; however, the above purchase changed the planned budget structure in favour of arms and equipment. The Croatian defence budget is the most transparent and disaggregated in the region. Unlike the budgets of other countries, it shows major procurements individually and breaks them down into subcategories.

The Croatian defence budget is the most transparent and disaggregated in the region. Unlike the budgets of other countries, the Croatian budget shows major procurements individually and breaks them down into subcategories.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Defence Expenditures – Croatia

Strategic Document – Serbia – 2023

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2020
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2020

NO CHANGES IN 2022

National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Preserving sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity // Preserving internal stability and security // Protection of the Serbian people wherever they live // Preserving peace and stability in the region and the world // European integration and membership in the European Union

Main threats:
Separatist aspirations // Ethnic and religious extremism // Covert activities of foreign factors // Organised crime // Illegal migration

Main principles of national security policy:
Democratic standards // Cooperation policy // European foreign policy orientation // Military neutrality // Developing the concept of total defence

Regional cooperation:
Regional security is increasingly based on joint and coordinated activities in the field of security, politics and economy, other areas aimed at preserving stability and preventing crises in this region, and on the common interest of the region’s countries to join the European Union. Activities within the framework of regional initiatives and the construction of joint mechanisms for the prevention of risks and threats, and for crisis management, create conditions for the accession of all countries in the region to the European Union.

Regional threats:
Ethnic and religious alienation, and different interpretations and attempts to
revise history, are creating limitations in the process of stabilising the region. Other factors that threaten regional security are non-military threats, including separatist aspirations and ethnic, religious and political extremism. The risk of outbreak of wars and other armed conflicts in Southeast Europe, although reduced, have not been eliminated.

Relations with NATO:
The development of partnership cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and NATO, based on the policy of military neutrality and through the Partnership for Peace programme, contributes to the stability of the Republic of Serbia and contributes to bilateral relations with the countries of the region that are members of NATO. The Republic of Serbia does not intend to become a member of NATO or any other military-political alliance.

Relations with the EU:
Improving national security and defence through the process of European integration contributes to the full membership of the Republic of Serbia in the European Union. (Serbia) is firmly committed to contributing to the European Union’s Common Foreign, Security and Defence Policy as part of the accession process and integrating into the concepts of that European policy.

International military cooperation:
Through the participation of military and civilian capacities in multinational operations and missions of the United Nations, the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Republic of Serbia will improve its position as a reliable partner in international relations. Special attention will be paid to the trade in weapons and military equipment, because the suppression of illegal trade is a continuous commitment of the Republic of Serbia.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – Serbia

Relations with NATO and the EU:
The development of partnership cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and NATO, based on the policy of military neutrality and through the Partnership for Peace programme, contributes to the stability of the Republic of Serbia and contributes to bilateral relations with the countries of the region that are members of NATO. The Republic of Serbia does not intend to become a member of NATO or any other military-political alliance.

Women in Defence System – North Macedonia – 2022

National Action Plan 1325:

North Macedonia is currently in the phase of implementing its second action plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period 2020-2025.¹ The adoption of the second action plan coincided with the country’s NATO membership and the 20th anniversary of the Resolution 1325. North Macedonia’s new plan is forward-looking and focused on leadership in government institutions and the civil sector, unlike the first action plan for the period 2013- 2015, which focused more on participation and contribution of women in international, civilian and military missions, including conflict prevention. In the previous period, key challenges for the implementation of NAP 1325 were related to the political context and the conservative forces in the government which obstructed the implementation of gender-related policies. On the structural level, the challenges were related to budgetary concerns and the weaknesses of the monitoring and reporting mechanisms, as well as to the relatively limited capacity of state institutions in terms of gender sensitivity, knowledge and resources.2 Lack of disaggregated data and gender-based analyses posed an additional challenge for evaluation and monitoring.

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Equality between women and men is guaranteed by different defence-related laws, and the gender equality principle is mainstreamed in the latest Defence Strategy (2021).3 Moreover, there are no restrictions for women in the military. According to the Ministry of Defence, women currently (2022) make up 34% of its employees and 10% of the armed forces, which is a slight increase compared to 2019.4 When it comes to the share of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers, North Macedonia has a relatively high percentage of females in the ranks of officers and NCOs – 14% of the officers, 11% of the NCOs and 5% of the soldiers.5 Although the percentage of women in operational jobs has increased, women generally still work in civilian posts in the defence system.

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

North Macedonia is an example of good practice because some of the senior leadership positions are held by women. North Macedonia is one of the three countries in the region that have appointed women as defence ministers. UNDP SEESAC data show that in 2019, the share of women in leadership positions held by uniformed personnel in the Armed Forces was 16%, while 47% of women among non-uniformed personnel held managerial positions in the MoD.6

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

According to the 2021 UNDP SEESAC report, North Macedonia deployed 8% of uniformed women to peacekeeping operations in 2019. Since the presented share of women in peacekeeping operations is based only on a one-year situation overview, it should be borne in mind that annual fluctuations can be significant.7

1. 1. SECOND NATIONAL ACTION PLAN of the Republic of North Macedonia for the Implementation of United Nations
    Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security 2020 – 2025, https://www.globalwps.org/data/MKD/files/2020-2025.pdf
  2. Gorana Odanović (ed.), Women, Peace and Security in the Western Balkans, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy,
    2013, https://unescowomen.uom.gr/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WOMEN-PEACE-AND-SECURITY_Independent-review-of-translation-of-UNSCR-1325.pdf
  3. Ministry of Defence, Defence Strategy of the Republic of North Macedonia, MoD, 2021, https://www.mod.gov.mk/
    storage/2021/06/Defence-Strategy-of-the-Republic-of-North-Macedonia.pdf
  4. United Nations in Serbia, The Position of Women in the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans, UNDP SEESAC, 23
    December 2021, https://serbia.un.org/en/166414-position-women-armed-forces-western-balkans
  5. Ibid, p. 24
  6. Ibid, p. 28
  7. Ibid, page 27.

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – North Macedonia

Women in Defence System – Montenegro – 2022

National Action Plan 1325:

Montenegro is currently in the phase of implementing the second action plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period 2019-2022.1 According to the plan, there are three strategic goals for the implementation of Resolution 1325: increasing women’s participation in decision-making and peace processes; protection of women and girls in conflict zones, and integrating the gender perspective and gender education into peacekeeping
operations. In 2017, NATO membership prompted Montenegro to adopt its first plan, which remained in effect until 2018.2 As a NATO member state, Montenegro has adjusted its normative framework in line with NATO policies and guidelines on women, peace and security, such as the NATO Directive 40-1 on integrating UNSC Resolution 1325.3 The Government of Montenegro is the most transparent in the region, and has so far published three reports on the implementation of NAP 1325.

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Montenegro is the country with the highest share of women among the civil servants and employees in the MoD. Two thirds of the civil servants employed in the MoD are women (65.33%). Representation of women among professional military personnel has increased by 60%, from 6.2% in 20194 to 10.35% in 2022. When it comes to the share of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and soldiers, their number in the ranks of officers and professional soldiers is relatively high – 16.49% of the officers and 13.78% of the soldiers.
The representation of women among non- commissioned officers (NCOs) is 5.1%. In the past three years, a share of women has been recorded in all the categories.

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Montenegro can serve as an example of good practice, as one of the three countries in the region that have appointed women to the position of defence minister. According to the available data from 2022, the share of women in leadership positions in the MoD, including military personnel, is 46.78%. There are 26 women in command positions in the Armed Forced of Montenegro.

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

Currently, 11.76% of women are engaged in peacekeeping operations outside of Montenegro. This constitutes a significat increase, as three years ago only two percent of women were engaged in NATO operations.5 However, it
should be borne in mind that the presented share of women in military missions is based only on a one-year situation overview, and that annual fluctuations can be significant. In 2020, the share of women in the position of defence advisor in the Permanent Mission of Montenegro to NATO was 67%.6

1. 1. Government of Montenegro, Report on the implementation of activities from the Programme of Implementation of the
    Action Plan for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security
    (2019-2022) for the second period, https://www.gov.me/dokumenta/7f4ecc0a-e96e-49fe-8090-7b44d45ecdd5
  2. Government of Montenegro, Report on the implementation of the Action Plan for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security in Montenegro (2017-2018), https://www.gov.me/dokumenta/e73cb264-31d3-488a-849a-d3d00766c664
  3. United Nations in Serbia, The Position of Women in the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans, UNDP SEESAC, 23
    December 2021, p. 19, https://serbia.un.org/en/166414-position-women-armed-forces-western-balkans
  4. UNDP SEESAC, 2021, p. 24
  5. 2019 NATO Summary of the National Reports, p. 397, https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2021/9/
    pdf/NCGP_Full_Report_2019.pdf
  6. Government of Montenegro, Report on the implementation of activities from the Programme of Implementation of the
    Action Plan for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security
    (2019-2022) for the second period

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Montenegro

Women in Defence System – Croatia – 2022

National Action Plan 1325:

Croatia is currently in the phase of implementing the second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period 2019-2023. In November 2021, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs published its first report on the implementation of the National Action Plan 1325 for 2019 and 2020.

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

According to the statement of Deputy Chief of General Staff, Major General Siniša Jurković,1 women currently make up 14.6% of employees in the Croatian Army. This is an increase compared to 2020, when they made up 13% of the active military personnel.2 Given the statistics, Croatia will soon meet the NATO standard of 15% of female uniformed personnel in the armed forces. In addition, Croatia is one of the countries in the region with the highest percentage of women in the ranks of officers, as well as non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and professional soldiers. According to the available data from 2020, the share of female officers is 19.19%, of non-commissioned officers – 10.84%, and of female soldiers – 11.49%.3 In 2020, the share of women among civil servants and employees in the MoD was 50.2%.4

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

In 2021, Croatian Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General Siniša Jurković, said that the number of women in command and leadership positions was unsatisfactory.5 In 2020, 36.4% of women held leading positions in the MoD, while 10.4% held command positions in the Croatian Army.6 According to MFA’s progress report on NAP 1325 implementation, the share of women exercising command and managerial posts in the MoD and in the CAF in 2020 was 11.59%, which was an increase compared to 2019 (10.95%).7 The number of women with the rank of general has stagnated since 2017, with one woman Brigadier General8 among the total of 30, which is a share of 3.33%. Among the senior officers with the rank of brigadier, women comprise 6.73% (there are 23 of them). A total of 13.7% of women were promoted to a higher rank in 2020.9

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

Despite being a member of NATO and the EU, Croatia has the lowest participation of women in international operations. Representation of women from the Croatian Armed Forces in the international (UN, NATO and EU-led) missions and operations was 5.83% in 2020 (54 women), showing a slight decrease compared to 2019.10 Regardless, in December 2020 the Croatian Ministry of Defence informed NATO that it had achieved the required gender balance target in its peacekeeping operations.11

1. 1. “VIDEO: Final conference of the project “Women’s Empowerment and Support in the Military Forces and Peacekeeping Missions of the Republic of Croatia”, Ministry of the Interior, 25 October 2021, https://www.zeneimediji.hr/zene-u-vojnim-snagama-i-mirovnim-misijama-rh-analiza-polozaja-zena-u-sustavu-oruzanih-snaga/
  2. Ministry of the Interior, Analysis of the position of women in the military forces and peacekeeping missions of the Republic of Croatia, 2021, https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2021/10/Projekt%20Osna%C5%BEivanje%20%C5%BEena-%202510.2021/BrosuraFinal.pdf
  3. Ibid, p. 8
  4. Ibid, p. 8
  5. “VIDEO: Final conference of the project “Women’s Empowerment and Support in the Military Forces and Peacekeeping Missions of the Republic of Croatia”, Ministry of the Interior, 25 October 2021
  6. Analysis of the position of women in the military forces and peacekeeping missions of the Republic of Croatia, 2021, p. 8
  7. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Report on the implementation of the National Action Plan for the implementation
    of the Resolution of the United Nations Security Council 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, and related resolutions for the period 2019-2023, for 2019 and 2020
  8. “Women in the Croatian Armed Forces – pride and prejudice”, Women and the media, https://www.zeneimediji.hr/zene-u-oruzanim-snagama-rh-ponos-i-predrasude/
  9. Ibid, page 8
  10. Analysis of the position of women in the military forces and peacekeeping missions of the Republic of Croatia, 2021.
  11. NATO statistics, https://www.globalwps.org/details/HRV

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Croatia

Women in Defence System – Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2022

National Action Plan 1325:

Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first country in the region to adopt the local action plan on 1325, which made it one of the pioneers in translating the UN women, peace and security agenda to the local level. The country has taken a proactive approach in developing action plans and is the only one that already has the third action plan for the period 2018-2022. The BiH local action plan has a strong human security dimension and attaches great
importance to regional and international networking.

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

The number of women among the civil servants and employees in the MoD is currently 111, out of 235 (47.23%),
while the number of women among the professional military personnel is 601, out of 8,639 (6.96%). Although the
percentage of women civilians has increased, the share of women in the armed forces has remained
almost unchanged in the last five years.¹ When it comes to the share of uniformed women among officers,
non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and soldiers, Bosnia and Herzegovina has 98 female officers, 121 NCOs and 328 soldiers. Progress is difficult to track because the available data are inconsistent. For example, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo reported in 2020 that the percentage of women serving in the MoD and the AF BiH is 8.1%.² However, using a different methodology, UNDP/SEESAC reported that the percentage of women in uniform in the MoD in 2019 was in fact 5.2%, and in Armed Forces BiH – 6.5%, whereas the share of uniformed women among the officers was 4.5%, the NCOs – 4.2%, and soldiers – 8.6 %.³

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

There are currently 96 women in commanding positions, which is 1% of the total number of employees in the MoD and AF (9,425). The highest rank held by women in the Armed Forces BiH is still that of Colonel, while a woman headed the Ministry of Defence from 2015 to 2019.

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

In 2019, Bosnia and Herzegovina had 8.6% of women among its military personnel engaged in peacekeeping missions.4 Data from other reports show that 8 female police officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the UN police, and that 24% of the female personnel took part in the OSCE field operations.5 According to the latest data of the MoD, from 2022, a total of 8 officers are currently engaged in three missions: MINUSMA (2 officers), MONUSCO (3) and EUTM RCA (3). However, the share of women in peacekeeping missions is not known because the Ministry failed to present gender-segregated data.

1. 1. See 3.1.2 Participation of women in the army, police and peacekeeping missions in the UNSCR 1325 Implementation
    Action Plan “Women, Peace and Security” in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2018-2022, October 2017, https://arsbih.gov.ba/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/180718_Prijedlog-AP-UNSCR-1325_2018-2022-u-BiH.pdf
  2. https://jfcnaples.nato.int/hqsarajevo/jezici-bosne-i-hercegovine/vijesti-iz-nato-staba-sarajevo/2020/11092020
  3. United Nations in Serbia, The Position of Women in the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans. UNDP SEESAC, 23
    December 2021, https://serbia.un.org/en/166414-position-women-armed-forces-western-balkans
  4. Ibid, p. 29
  5. SIRPI, Women in Multinational Peace Operations in 2021: What is the State of Play? https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/women_in_multilateral_peace_operations_in_2021-what_is_the_state_of_play.pdf

National Action Plan 1325:

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2023 – Balkan Defence MonitorWomen In Defence System – Montenegro

National Action Plan 1325:

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2023 – Balkan Defence MonitorWomen In Defence System – Croatia

National Action Plan 1325:

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2023 – Balkan Defence MonitorWomen In Defence System –Bosnia and Herzegovina

National Action Plan 1325:

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2023 – Balkan Defence MonitorWomen In Defence System – Albania

2022

Share of GDP 1.67%Share of total government expenditure 4.35%

2023 – Balkan Defence MonitorDefence Expenditures – Croatia

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2020NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2020

NO CHANGES IN 2022

2023 – Balkan Defence MonitorStrategic Documents – Serbia

National Action Plan 1325:

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2022 – Balkan Defence MonitorWomen In Defence System – North Macedonia

National Action Plan 1325:

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2022 – Balkan Defence MonitorWomen In Defence System – Montenegro

National Action Plan 1325:

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2022 – Balkan Defence MonitorWomen In Defence System – Croatia

National Action Plan 1325:

Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2022 – Balkan Defence MonitorWomen In Defence System – Bosnia and Herzegovina

Belgrade Centre for Security Policy Đure Jakšića 6/5, Belgrade - www.bezbednost.org

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Montenegro

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Croatia

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System –
Bosnia and Herzegovina

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Albania

Share of GDP 1.67%
Share of total government
expenditure 4.35%

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Defence Expenditures – Croatia

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2020
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2020

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – Serbia

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – North Macedonia

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Montenegro

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Croatia

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System –
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
Đure Jakšića 6/5, Belgrade - www.bezbednost.org