Contributing to Resilience Through the Integration of Gender Perspective in the Defence Sector Reform in Four Countries of the Western Balkans

Women in the Western Balkans (WB) region face challenges related to equal access and advancement opportunities in the military. The imbalance can be in part attributed to the male-dominated defence sector and persisting gender stereotypes. Women bring skills and perspectives, which the armed forces (AFs) require to address increasingly complex security risks in the WB region. How can gender equality in the AFs increase as part of a defence sector reform agenda? This policy brief attempts to offer possible responses. The emphasis is twofold: Regular gender-disaggregated data gathering is sine qua non for gender-responsive policymaking. Regional thematic cooperation can work as an accelerator of gender equality processes while also contributing to the resilience of the region.