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Women in Defence System – Serbia – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

In late 2022, the Ministry of Defence began the process of developing the third action plan with the support of the OSCE Mission to Serbia. However, the first meeting of the government Working Group for the preparation of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council was held in August 2023 1 without presenting a new draft that is publicly available. Considering the dynamics, it can be concluded that the process of evaluating the previous plan and creating a new plan lasted for four years, which is longer than the implementation of the second plan (2017-2020) and may be an indicator of the lack of genuine political commitment to prioritise the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Despite the fact that military service in Serbia is more popular among women than among men, the high turnout of women in military schools and academies has not yet translated into their overall representation in the defence sector. This means that the share of women among non-uniformed personnel (civilians) and uniform personnel in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and in the Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) remains almost unchanged compared to 2022. Currently, around 55% of women preform civilian duties, while 11% of women work as professional military personnel. Nonetheless, Serbia is among the top countries in the region with 18% of women serving as enlisted personnel. However, a similar progress is not visible among officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs), as only 12% of women serve as officers and 4% of women are NCOs. Still, a slight increase has been noted in all the categories compared to 2022.

In the previous period, there have been changes to the uniforms for female officers, non-commissioned officers and cadets which reflects efforts to improve the position of women in the military. 2

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Little has changed in the representation of women in leadership positions, as 25% of women hold managerial positions in the MoD, while 7% of women hold command positions in the Serbian Armed Forces. The highest rank held by women in the Serbian Armed Forces is still that of colonel, and not a single woman has been promoted or appointed to a higher rank in the SAF and MoD based on the Decree passed at the beginning of 2023.3

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

In 2023, Serbia contributed to eight peacekeeping missions, while women from the Army and police participated in two UN operations (UNFIL and MINUSCA) and two EU operations (EUTM Somalia and EUTM RCA). Compared to 2022, the participation of women in peacekeeping missions slightly decreased, and out of 295 members of peacekeeping forces, 38 women were sent abroad.

      1.  Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Defence, Meeting of Working Group responsible for drafting National Action Plan, 31 August 2023, https://www.mod.gov.rs/eng/20432/sastanak-radne-grupe-za-izradu-nacionalnog-akcionog-plana20432 https://balkandefencemonitor.com/women-in-defence-system-north-macedonia-2023/
      2. Balkan Investigative Network, “Žene vojnici u Srbiji dobijaju poseban donji veš,” [Female soldiers in Serbia receive special underwear], 18 September 2023, https://www.balkansec.net/post/%C5%BEene-vojnici-u-srbiji-dobijaju-poseban-donji-ve%C5%A1
      3. Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Defence, “Minister Vučević presents decrees on promotions and appointments,” 9 March 2023, https://www.mod.gov.rs/eng/19831/ministar-vucevic-urucio-ukaze-o-unapredjenjima-i-postavljenjima19831

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Serbia

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Women in Defence System – North Macedonia – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

North Macedonia is in the fourth year of implementing its second Action Plan 1325 on Women, Peace and Security for the period 2020-2025.1 In early 2023, the Ministry of Defence, with the help of the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), took the first steps to prepare a gender self-assessment.2

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

According to Minister Slavjanka Petrovska, the results of the Ministry’s work in promoting gender equality are visible, because in the last competition for the admission of cadets at the Military Academy, 14 of the 35 accepted cadets were women.3 The long-term effects of gender policies are yet to be seen, but as of 2023, women make up 10 percent of the active personnel in the Army, of which 20% are officers, 13% non-commissioned officers and 6% enlisted personnel. Compared to the official statistics from 2022,4 there is a decline in female civilians as less than one third of women (29%) work as civilian personnel in the army.

There is a veiled criticism in the Albanian media that the North Macedonian Army does not fully reflect the diversity in the society. According to the Euronews Albania reports, “Albanian women in the Army of North Macedonia are located mainly in the unit of professional soldiers, where out of 5.8% of women in total, only 1.6% are Albanian”.5

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

North Macedonia is currently the only country in the region that has appointed a woman the Minister of Defence. Still, the share of women in command and management positions in the Ministry of Defence and the Army is 19%. According to the Army officials, the trend of enhancing the representation of women in the Army structure continues, especially in the officer ranks, since there are 3 colonels and 33 lieutenant-colonels in the Army.6 In addition, the number of female majors, captains and lieutenants is considered satis-factory by the Army officials.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

The participation of women in military operations is 4% of female personnel assigned to UN, EU and NATO-led missions, which is a slight decrease compared to the last year research. 7

      1. https://www.globalwps.org/data/MKD/files/2020-2025.pdf 
      2. Ministry of Defence, Gender self-assessment in the Ministry of Defence and the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, 17 February 2023, https://mod.gov.mk/gender-self-assessment-in-the-ministry-of-defense-and-the-army-of-the-republic-of-north-macedonia/
      3. Republic of North Macedonia, Ministry of Defence, „Petrovska at the conference on gender equality and the OSCE perspective: women in security are not just numbers, they are value and quality,“ 6 September 2023, https://mod.gov.mk/petrovska-nakonferencija-rodova-ednakvost-osce-06-09-2023/
      4. Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, „Brave Macedonian women for whom the Army is a guarantee of peace and security of the state,“ 8 March 2023, https://mil.mk/military-stories/hrabri-makedonki-armijata-za-niv-e-garantiranje-na-mirot-i-sigurnosta-na-drzhavata/?lang=en
      5. Euronews Albania, “The only Albanian female soldier in N. Macedonia, part of the army for more than 15 years,” 9 March 2023, https://euronews.al/en/the-only-albanian-female-soldier-in-n-macedonia-part-of-the-army-for-more-than-15-years/
      6. Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, „Brave Macedonian women for whom the Army is a guarantee of peace and security of the state,“ 8 March 2023, https://mil.mk/military-stories/hrabri-makedonki-armijata-za-niv-e-garantiranje-na-mirot-i-sigurnosta-na-drzhavata/?lang=en
      7. Balkan Defence Monitor, Women in Defence System, North Macedonia, 2023, https://balkandefencemonitor.com/women-in-defence-system-north-macedonia-2023/

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – North Macedonia

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Women in Defence System – Montenegro – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

In late 2023, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Strategy for the Implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security and accompanying resolutions for the period 2024-2027, with the Action Plan for 2024-2025.1 This is the third strategic document that includes the goals of the UNSC Resolution 1325 in Montenegro. The Ministry of Defence has created a special section on women in the defence on its official website, which ensures greater transparency and facilitates access to information on gender equality in the 1defence sector.2

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

More than two thirds of the employees in the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces are women (66%), which is the highest percentage in the region. Still, the representation of women among professional military personnel has not significantly changed (11.55%). Among the professional military personnel, there are the most women in officer ranks, that is 17%. On the other hand, the representation of women is the lowest among non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and amounts to 6%. The highest rank held by women in the Army of Montenegro is still the rank of major, and in the coming period some women should be promoted to the ranks of lieutenant colonel/frigate captain and colonel/captain of battleships. Finally, 16% of women serve in the army as enlisted personnel.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Due to frequent changes of government, the first Minister of Defence of Montenegro, Prof. Dr. Olivera Injac remained in office for less than a year and a half (December 4, 2020 to April 28, 2022). Nonetheless, the percentage of women in managerial positions in the Ministry of Defence is quite high and amounts to 51%, while percentage of women in command positions in Montenegro’s Armed Forces is 8%.3 Until 2022, Major Sanja Pejović worked as a gender advisor in the NATO command structure SHAPE, that is, the country’s first position in the NATO command structure.4

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

According to the Strategy, Montenegro significantly increased participation of women in international missions and operations. So far, 28 women members of the MoD and AF have participated in missions in Afghanistan, Somalia (ATALANTA), Western Sahara (MINURSO) and in Kosovo (KFOR). In 2022 alone, six women were engaged, which is 11% of the total number of military personnel, while in 2023, 7% of women were engaged in multinational missions and operations.

      1.  Vlada Crne Gore, Strategija implementacije R SBUN 1325 – Žene, mir i bezbjednost i njoj pratećih rezolucija za period 2024-2027, sa AP za 2024-2025. godinu, [Strategy for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 – Women, peace and security and accompanying resolutions for the period 2024-2027, with AP for 2024-2025], 15 December 2023, https://www.gov.me/dokumenta/a8a5a5ef-a812-4097-a34c-3175d58eb871
      2. Vlada Crne Gore, Strategija implementacije Rezolucije Savjeta bezbjednosti Ujedinjenih nacija 1325, [Strategy for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325], 15 December 2023, https://www.gov.me/mod/saradnja-sa-nvo
      3. The Strategy for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 – WPS and accompanying resolutions for the period 2024-2027, page 15.
      4. Ibid.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Montenegro

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Women in Defence System – Croatia – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

Croatia’s second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security expired in 2023. In June 2023, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs published the latest report on the implementation of the National Action Plan 1325 for the period of 2021 and 2022.1

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

The number and share of women among the personnel employed in the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Army slightly increased in the last year. According to the annual defence report (2022), out of 14,562 active military personnel, on December 31, 2022, there were 2,046 women or 14%. In the category of civil servants and employees, out of 1,872 employees on December 31, 2022, there were 957 women or 51%. The data on the proportion of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and enlisted personnel are not available. In the academic year 2022/2023. out of 417 students enrolled in the Croatian Military Academy, 93 are women, of which six women and 34 men from abroad. In 2022, 22 women out of 71 cadets graduated from the Military Academy.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

The share of women in command and leadership positions remains unchanged (12%), while 13% of women were promoted to a higher rank in 2022.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2022, a total of 29 members of the Croatian Army participated in three United Nations missions (UNMOGIP – India and Pakistan, MINURSO – Western Sahara, UNIFIL – Lebanon), including seven female members. However, in all peace support operations and missions abroad, the share of women was 9%.

      1. Republika Hrvatska, Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova, Nacionalni akcijski plan provedbe Rezolucije Vijeća sigurnosti Ujedinjenih naroda 1325 (2000) o ženama, miru i sigurnosti, te srodnih rezolucija, za razdoblje od 2019. do 2023. godine, [National action plan for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, and related resolutions, for the period from 2019 to 2023] https://mvep.gov.hr/informacije-za-gradjane-244593/ugovori-dokumenti-i-obrasci/dokumenti/nap-ii/27171 https://mvep.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2023/datoteke/Izvje%C5%A1%C4%87e-NAPII-2021-2022.pdf
      2. Data on the representation of women among NCOs and enlisted personnel are not available in the annual defence report for 2022. For this reason, it is not possible to make a comparison with other countries in the region.
      3. Vlada Republike Hrvatske, Godišnje izvješće o obrani za 2022. Godinu, [Annual Defense Report for 2022], 2 November 2023, https://www.sabor.hr/sites/default/files/uploads/sabor/2023-11-03/095806/GOD_IZVJ_OBRANA_2022.pdf

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Croatia

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Women in Defence System – Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

The third national action plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda expired in 2022 and new is not yet developed. However, the new Gender Action plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2023-2027 includes a chapter on Gender and Security, which states the goals to be achieved in the area by 2027. In addition, the key topics of the third local action plan on 1325 are mainstreamed in other strategic documents dealing with migration and asylum seeking, prevention of terrorism and control of small arms and light weapons.

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Compared to the previous research, the total number of professional military personnel and civil servants shows an increase in the representation of women by one percent, but women stagnate in the ranks of officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel. According to data from the Ministry of Defence of BiH, the Armed Forces had about 8734, soldiers and 791 civilian employees in 2023. Among them, there are 758 women as uniformed personnel or 9 percent of the total number, while 107 women or 45 percent work as civilians. Women make up a quarter of the civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence. In the Armed Forces, about 143 women, or 8 percent of the total number, are officers in the ranks of brigadier, colonel, major, captain, lieutenant, and second lieutenant. A positive development is that in 2023, the Armed Forces received their first female pilot, Draženka Panić. Furthermore, there are 148 female non-commissioned officers, or about 6 percent of their total number. These are the ranks of sergeant, senior sergeant, sergeant first class, staff sergeant and chief sergeant. Finally, around 12 percent constitute female enlisted personnel.

According to the media reports, about 270 women in the Armed Forces identify themselves as Bosniaks regardless of their religion. Until recently, wearing hijab in the military was not allowed by the rules of service. The policy changed after Emela Mujanović, one of the hijab-wearing soldiers, sued the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina for discrimination. To solve the problem, Defence Minister Zukan Helez recently proposed changes to allow the wearing of headscarves of the same material and colour as the uniform.

 
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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

There are 69 women appointed to leadership positions in the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces. The highest rank held by women in the Armed Forces of BiH is still that of Colonel. Nevertheless, two women and 36 men, who hold the rank of brigadier, are awaiting appointments to the rank of general.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

After an institutional deadlock in decision-making, the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina made a decision in 2023 to deploy two members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and three members of the Armed Forces to the European Union (EU) Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTMRCA).

      1.  Gender action plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2023-2027, February 2023, https://arsbih.gov.ba/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GAP-BiH-2023-2027-Bosanski-jezik-1.pdf 
      2.  Radio Slobodna Evropa, „U Oružanim snaga BiH sve više žena, nijedna sa činom generala,“ [There are more and more women in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, none with the rank of general], 16 May 2023, https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/bosna-hercegovina-zene-vojska/32413772.html
      3. Hercegovina info, „JEDINA ŽENA PILOT U ORUŽANIM SNAGAMA BiH Draženka je savladala sve prepreke i sada ruši tabue,“ [THE ONLY WOMAN PILOT IN THE ARMED FORCES OF BIH Draženka has overcome all obstacles and is now breaking taboos], 10 December 2023, https://www.hercegovina.info/vijesti/bih/jedina-zena-pilot-u-oruzanim-snagama-bih-drazenka-je-savladala-sve-prepreke-i-sada-rusi-tabue/219633/
      4. Radio Slobodna Evropa, „Uposlenice sa hidžabom ‘problem’ za pravosuđe BiH,“ [Female employees with hijab a ‘problem’ for the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina], 29 August 2023, https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/bih-sudovi-pravosudje-hidzab/32569534.html
      5. Ibid.
      6. Preporod info, „OSBiH angažirane u dvije mirovne misije: BH. put od konzumenta do aktera kolektivne sigurnosti,“ [Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina engaged in two peacekeeping missions: BH. the path from the consumer
        to the actor of collective security], 25 December 2023, https://preporod.info/bs/article/48457/osbih-angazirane-u-dvije-mirovne-misije-bh-put-od-konzumenta-do-aktera-kolektivne-sigurnosti

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Women in Defence System – Albania – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

In 2018, Albania adopted its first two-year action plan on women, peace and security. The date of adoption of the Albanian government’s second plan remain unclear. However, the Ministry of Defence officially said that it has submitted its findings to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection responsible for compiling a comprehensive summary report on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Albania.

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Albania has achieved the NATO standard of 15% of female uniformed personnel in the army. However, Albania is the only country in the region with the quota for women in the army (15%) that can affect their further admission. In 2023, Albania had the highest percentage of women officers and non-commissioned officers in the Western Balkans, comprising 21% of officers and 13.5% of NCOs. Still, the percentage of female enlisted personnel (11%) remains lower than other countries in the region. The MoD has a civil employee representation rate of 37% women.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

The current representation of women in leadership positions is approximately 10%, which equates to 44 women. Manushaqe Shehu, the first female Deputy Chief of General Staff, holds the highest rank of Major General in the Albanian Armed Forces since 2018. In addition, Albania had two women as its defence ministers until 2020.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

The percentage of women participating in missions abroad remains at 5%.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Albania

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Women in Defence System – Serbia – 2023

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National Action Plan 1325:

Serbia’s second Action Plan for the implementation of the Resolution 1325 expired in 2020. In 2022, the Ministry of Defence formed a new organisational unit within its human resources sector – the Gender Equality Office, with the aim of improving gender equality in the defence sector. The Office will be responsible for the preparation of the third action plan.

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Military service recently became quite popular in Serbia, both among young women and young men. In the last two years, more girls than boys have enrolled in the Military Gymnasium and Military Vocational High School in Belgrade.1 Currently, there are 34% female cadets at the Military Academy, while at the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy (VMA) the number of women is greater than 70%.

In principle, all positions are available to women and they are represented even in the special forces’ units such as the Military Police Detachment for Special Purposes – “Cobras” or the 72nd Special Operations Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces. Statistics from the Ministry of Defence show that the share of women among
non-uniformed personnel (civilians) in the MoD and in the Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) is currently 54.23%, while the representation of women in the total number of professional military personnel is 10.59%. Similar to many other countries in the region, women are engaged mostly in civilian positions within the defence system. When it comes to the share of women among officers, non commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers, Serbia has the highest percentage of women who are professional soldiers – 17.66%. However, a similar trend is not present in the higher ranks, as only 10.24% of women serve as officers and 3.63% of women as NCOs. Still, a slight increase has been noted in all the categories compared to the previous “Balkan Defence Monitor”.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions, with 26.88% of them in managerial positions in the MoD and 6.23% holding command positions in the Serbian Armed Forces. The highest rank held by women in the Serbian Armed Forces is still that of Colonel. Serbia is still the only country that has never appointed a woman as defence minister.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

Currently, out of 283 members of the Serbian Armed Forces participating in four UN peacekeeping operations and three EU missions, 43 are women (15.09%). In 2022, there were 88 women in peacekeeping operations.

      1.    Vojkan Kostić, Vojni poziv u Srbiji sve popularniji među ženama [Military service is becoming ever more popular among women in Serbia], Balkan Security Network, 21 Jan 2023, https://www.balkansec.net/post/vojni-poziv-u-srbiji-sve-popularniji-me%C4%91u-%C5%BEenama

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Serbia

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Women in Defence System – North Macedonia – 2023

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National Action Plan 1325:

North Macedonia is currently implementing its second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period 2020-2025.¹

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

According to the Ministry of Defence, women currently (2022) make up 30.86% of the civilian staff and 10.66% of the armed forces. The share of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers increased moderately compared to the last year’s survey. North Macedonia has 18.16% of women with the ranks of officers, 11.87% of the NCOs and 5.78% of the soldiers. Although the percentage of women in operational jobs has increased, women generally still work in civilian positions in the defence system.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

North Macedonia is one of the three countries in the region that have appointed women as defence ministers. The share of women among the total number of officers in the Armed Forces is 10.93%.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

According to the Ministry of Defence, 4.92% of women are currently deployed to peacekeeping operations. This is a significant drop compared to 2019, when North Macedonia deployed 8% of its uniformed women to peacekeeping operations.

      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, July 2020, https://www.globalwps.org/data/MKD/files/2020-2025.pdf

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – North Macedonia

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Women in Defence System – Montenegro – 2023

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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

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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%.

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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%.

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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.    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

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Women in Defence System – Croatia – 2023

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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

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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.

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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).

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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. 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

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