This document discusses gender issues and the role of women in security. It covers topics like the definitions of sex and gender, the importance of gender equality and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The resolution calls for increased representation of women in decision-making related to conflict prevention and resolution. The document also discusses Bulgaria's experience implementing Resolution 1325, including by establishing a national action plan and improving gender education in military academies. NATO also has a committee on gender perspectives and an action plan to support Resolution 1325's goals. While progress has been made, women remain underrepresented in the Bulgarian armed forces and other security institutions.

1. GENDER ISSUES
WOMEN IN SECURITY:
WHAT THEY DO,
WHAT IT MEANS,
WHY IT MATTERS
LtCol. Assoc. prof. Nevena Atanasova – Krasteva, PhD
National Military University “Vasil Levski”
BULGARIA
Erasmus+

2. BASIC ISSUES:
1. The essence of gender equality.
2. The terms: sex & gender.
3. The integration of gender equality .
4. The gender equality in the Armed Forces .
5. The importance of U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1325
6. The Bulgarian experience.
7. NATO and UNSCR 1325.
8. NATO committee on Gender perspectives.
9. The education of gender issues in the Bulgarian
military academies.

3. “The world of humanity has two wings -
one is women and the other men. Should one
wing remain weak, flight is impossible”
BAHA’I WRITINGS
“The equality of women and
men is not a condition whose
effects will be limited to half
of the world’s population. Its
operationalization will
revolutionize all facets of
human society.”

4. IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIETY
The equality of women and men is a facet of human
reality and not just a condition to be achieved for the common
good. That which makes human beings human - their inherent
dignity and nobility - is neither male nor female. The search
for meaning, for purpose, for community; the capacity to
love, to create, to persevere, has no gender. This has profound
implications for the organization of every aspect of human
society.

5. GENDER EQUALITY = SEX EQUALITY = GENDER
EGALITARIANISM = SEXUAL EQUALITY =
EQUALITY OF THE GENDERS
This is the view that both men and women should receive
equal treatment and not be discriminated against based on their
gender. This is the objective of the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which seeks to create equality in law
and in social situations, such as in democratic activities and
securing equal pay for equal work.
A generic symbol for
gender equality

6. TERMS: SEX & GENDER
Sex - the biological differences between males and females.
These characteristics are constant and their differences are limited
to physical reproductive functions.
Gender - the social attributes associated with being male and
female learned through socialization and determines a person’s
position and value in a given context. These attributes,
opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are
learned through socialization processes. They are dynamic,
changing over time and between cultures.

7. SEX GENDER
Biological
Nature made
Constant
Individual
Non-hierarchical
Cannot be changed easily
Socio-cultural construct
Society-made
Variable
Systematic
Hierarchical
Difficult, but not impossible
to change
'MAN' = MALE SEX+ MASCULINE SOCIAL ROLE
'WOMAN' = FEMALE SEX + FEMININE SOCIAL ROLE

8. INTEGRATION OF GENDER EQUALITY
Equality between women and men is one of the
European Union's founding values. It goes back to 1957 when
the principle of equal pay for equal work became part of the
Treaty of Rome.
The European Union's achievements in fostering equality
between women and men have helped to change the lives of many
European citizens for the better. Although inequalities still exist,
the EU has made significant progress over the last decades. This
is mainly thanks to:
- equal treatment legislation;
-gender mainstreaming (integration of the
gender perspective into all other policies);
- specific measures for the advancement of women.

9. INTEGRATION OF GENDER EQUALITY
Integration of gender perspective: is a way of
assessing gender-based differences of women and men
reflected in their social roles and interactions, in the
distribution of power and the access of resources.
Gender equality: Women’s and men’s rights,
responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on
whether they are born female or male.

10. HOW TO APPLY THE INTEGRATION
OF GENDER EQUALITY
1. Gender inequality in the EU was tackled by 21 specific activities
over the consecutive 15 years, which was outlined in the 'Roadmap
for equality between men and women 2006-10' .
2. The European Commission presented its new priorities for
equality between women and men in the 21 September 2010, named
“Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015”
This strategy shall contribute to improving the place of
women in the labour market, in society and in decision-making
positions both in the European Union and the world.

11. GENDER EQUALITY IN THE ARMED
FORCES
Gender and diversity issues became subjects of
discussion quite recently as relevant to the armed
conflict. In 2000 the United Nations Security Council
adopted the Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, “Women,
Peace and security”
The Resolution “urges member
states to ensure increased representation of
women at all decision-making levels in
national, regional and international
institutions and mechanisms for the
prevention, management and resolution
conflict”.

12. WHAT IS U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
1325 AND WHY IS IT SO CRITICAL TODAY?
In 2000, the United Nations Security Council
formally acknowledged through the creation of Resolution
1325 the changing nature of warfare, in which civilians are
increasingly targeted, and women continue to be excluded
from participation in peace processes.
UNSCR 1325 addresses not only the inordinate
impact of war on women, but also the main role women
should and do play in conflict management, conflict
resolution and sustainable peace.

13.  Why do women need to be critical actors in peace building?
The experiences of men and women in war are different. In these
differences, women offer a vital perspective in the analysis of conflict
as well as providing strategies toward peacebuilding that focus on
creating ties across opposing factions and increasing the
inclusiveness, transparency, and sustainability of peace processes.
 Why involve men in discussions about women in conflict
zones?
Men are too often left out of discussions about the targeted
victimization of women in conflict. Peacebuilding requires an
awareness of how men and women together can better contribute to
sustainable peace and security.

14. Men are also victims
Men,
war and
conflict
Women,
war and
conflict

15. Women are also actors
Men,
war and
conflict
Women,
war and
conflict

16.  Why is Resolution 1325 important?
Resolution 1325 has changed the way the
international community thinks about peace and
security.
The importance of Resolution 1325 through its impact
on:
 International Law;
 Women's Empowerment;
 Military;
 Global Security.

17. The four pillars of Resolution 1325?
1. Why is PARTICIPATION important to Resolution 1325?
Resolution 1325 calls for increased participation of women at all levels of
decision-making, including in national, regional, and international
institutions.
2. Why is PROTECTION important to Resolution 1325?
Resolution 1325 calls specifically for the protection of women and girls
from sexual and gender-based violence, including in emergency and
humanitarian situations.
3. Why is PREVENTION important to Resolution 1325?
Resolution 1325 calls for improving intervention strategies in the
prevention of violence against women, including by prosecuting those
responsible for violations of international law.
4. Why is RELIEF AND RECOVERY important to Resolution 1325?
Resolution 1325 calls for advancement of relief and recovery measures to
address international crises through a gendered lens.

18. How is Resolution 1325 being implemented?
To 2010, 24 countries have developed
and launched NATIONAL ACTION PLANS:
Bosnia Herzegovina (2010) Belgium (2009) Côte d’Ivoire (2007)
Canada (2010) Chile (2009) Netherlands (2007)
Democratic Republic of Congo (2010) Liberia (2009) Spain (2007)
Estonia (2010) Portugal (2009) Switzerland (2007)
Nepal (2010) Finland (2008) Norway (2006)
Philippines (2010) Iceland (2008) Sweden (2006)
Rwanda (2010) Uganda (2008) United Kingdom (2006)
Sierra Leone (2010) Austria (2007) Denmark (2005)

19. - Resolution 1889 - it calls for further
strengthening of women's participation in
peace processes and the development of
indicators to measure progress on Resolution
1325.
- Resolution 1820 – it explicitly links sexual
violence as a tactic of war with women
peace and security issues.
- Resolution 1888 - it mandates that
peacekeeping missions protect women and
children from sexual violence during armed
conflict, and requests that the Secretary-
General appoint a special representative on
sexual violence during armed conflict.
HISTORY OF SECURITY COUNCIL MANDATES ON
WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY

20. THE NATIONAL PLAN ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF UN
Security Council RESOLUTION 1325
in Ministry of Defence in Bulgaria – 2011
BULGARIAN EXPERIENCE
The plan for the implementation
of Resolution 1325 of the UN
Security Council in the Ministry of
Defence will send a strong political
signal to the Bulgarian and
international community about the
priorities of the management of the
Ministry of Defense and Armed
Forces to the implementation of the
Euro-Atlantic policies in this area.

21. THE NATIONAL PLAN ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF
UN Security Council RESOLUTION 1325
in Ministry of Defence in Bulgaria – 2011
BULGARIAN EXPERIENCE
Preparation and standards of
behavior: To develop materials
(manuals, lectures, promotional
materials, standards of conduct /
ethics, etc.) for the
implementation of Resolution
1325 in order to integrate the
Policy of equality at all levels of
the Armed Forces.

22. The Resolution 1325 recognises the disproportionate impact that
war and conflicts have on women and children, and highlights the fact that
women have been historically left out of peace processes and stabilisation
efforts.
The additional Resolutions (1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106 and
2122) call for full and equal participation of women at all levels in issues
ranging from early conflict prevention to post-conflict reconstruction,
peace and security.
Together, they frame the Women, Peace and Security agenda!
Women, peace and security

23. HIGHLIGHTS:
NATO and its partners are committed to removing barriers for
women’s participation in the prevention, management and resolution
of conflicts and in peace-building.
They are also committed to reducing the risk of conflict-related and
gender-based violence.
To achieve these goals, NATO and its partners work with other
international organizations – in particular the United Nations – and
civil society.
NATO and UNSCR 1325

24. A new action plan for supporting the implementation of
UNSCR 1325 and related Resolutions was endorsed in June
2014. Like the policy, the action plan was developed by Allies
together with their EAPC partners, plus Afghanistan, Australia,
Japan, Jordan, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.
The plan also focuses on the same areas of intervention,
namely cooperative security, crisis management and NATO-led
operations and missions, and national contributions.
THE NATO ACTION PLAN

25. The NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP)
advises NATO leadership and Member Nations on gender related
issues in order to enhance organizational effectiveness in support of
Alliance objectives and priorities, including the implementation of
relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).
NATO COMMITTEE ON GENDER PERSPECTIVES

26. NATO is an equal opportunities employer committed to
valuing everyone as an individual. Gender balance and diversity
efforts have been mainstreamed in NATO Headquarters (HQ)
policies and practices since 2002. They aim at addressing issues such
as imbalance in gender, age and national representation in the
International Secretariat (IS) of NATO.
GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY IN NATO

27. On a national level the body for consultations, cooperation
and coordination among the governmental and Non-Governmental
Bodies in the elaboration and realization of the National Policy on
Gender Equality is the National Council on Gender Equality under
the Council of Ministers.
The Deputy Defence Minister is a member of National
Council on Gender Equality. The Council of Ministers adopted an
Annual National Action Plan for Promotion of Gender Equality.
The Plan followed the objectives, set out in the National Strategy for
Promotion of Gender Equality for the
period 2009 – 2015.
NEW POLICIES OR INITIATIVES CONCERNING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER IN THE BULGARIAN
ARMED FORCES

28. The National assembly approved additional change in Defence
and Armed forces Act by extending the category of military personnel
which can take advantage of the parents’ leave to improve the work-life
balance and diversity. This was a result of the cooperative work done
between MoD and the non-governmental organization “Bulgarian Armed
Forces Women Association”.
A Doctrine for human resources management in MoD was
adopted in 2013. There the principle for equality in gender, race, ethnic
and belief (diversity) when building a human resources management
system is incorporated in the whole process of retention, recruitment,
education and training, internal support and inclusion.
NEW POLICIES OR INITIATIVES CONCERNING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER IN THE
BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES

29. BULGARIAN ARMED FORCES WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
BUAFWA
NEW POLICIES OR INITIATIVES CONCERNING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER IN THE BULGARIAN
ARMED FORCES
MISSON: TO PROMOTE AND ENDORSE THE PRESTIGE
AND SOCIAL STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES

30. Package of training and education tools
SACT, NATO
The aim is to support the increased awareness on gender
perspective in military operations and to assist NATO Allies and
Partners to build their gender capacity and capabilities.
VASSIL LEVSKI
NATIONAL MILITARY UNIVERSITY
LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
- NEW CURRICULAS
EDUCATION OF GENDER ISSUES IN THE
BULGARIAN MILITARY ACADEMIES

31. VASSIL LEVSKI NATIONAL MILITARY UNIVERSITY
LEADERSHIP Training Module I – IV part:
“ The essence of Gender Equality Policies. International
framework and documents. "- lecture; workshop and exercise;
"National framework and policies of the implementation of
gender equality" – lecture and workshop;
"Integration of Gender Equality Policies in the planning,
implementation and evaluation of military operations and
missions." – lecture and exercise.
EDUCATION OF GENDER ISSUES IN THE
BULGARIAN MILITARY ACADEMIES

32. Air Force
3,84
JFC
1,39
MoD
0,05
SSMD
1,27
Navy
1,07
Army
6,94
Total
14,55 %

33. Air Force
0,2
JFC
0,3
MoD
0,2
SSMD
2,2
Navy
0,1
Army
2,7
Total
5,6 %
FEMALE IN OPERATION

34. Man’s brain vs Woman’s brain

35. Logic Intuition
Summary Analysis
General perception Attention to detail
Binge abstractions Concreteness
Orientation in time and space Agility and precision of hands
Technical focus Humanities
Motive-success Motive- relation to others
Striving for Leadership Ability to obey
Binge innovation Following the rules

36. THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION!