UN Women launched the first Textbook on Gender Dimension in the Security and Defense Area in Romanian

The Military Academy will use the textbook for training students, and in-service training for its personnel, the peacekeeping personnel of the Armed Forces, as well as officers, sub-officers, and sergeants of the National Army.

“This textbook is a useful tool for all forms of training at the Military Academy, and a necessary resource that will help teachers to introduce gender issue in their disciplines. It will also help to develop gender-focused courses for training military units, troops, and individual members of the National Army to carry out peacekeeping missions under UN auspices and other coalition operations,” said Col. Sergiu Plop, Rector of the Military Academy.

“Gender equality is a topical subject at both the national and international levels. Ensuring it is an important task for the National Army and for the Military Academy,” said Vice Minister of Defense Gheorghe Galbura.

The textbook addresses several subjects structured in 4 modules:

• Core gender concepts
• Gender policies and guidelines for the peace and security sector
• Gender mainstreaming in the defense sector
• Sexual and gender violence in times of peace and conflict

“By launching this textbook we aim to build a common understanding of the gender dimension in the security sector, which is a novel subject generating debates for many members of the Armed Forces. Few are aware that taking gender perspective into professional activity means planning missions and tasks, and setting up strategies and policies in a way that caters for the needs of both women and men,” said Natalia Albu, the author of the publication.

“Through strengthening education and training on gender equality, we aim at further progress on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in the Republic of Moldova,” said Asya Varbanova, Head of Office a.i., UN Women Moldova.

“Globally, women are too often left out of peace negotiation and peacekeeping processes. It is not only necessary to involve more women in this sector, but also to provide gender sensitive training to all personnel in this area,” noted H. E. Signe Burgstaller, Ambassador of Sweden to Moldova.

Despite accounting for 52% of the Moldovan population, women remain under-represented in peace and security. Only 37% of all staff employed by the National Army and only 3% of its decision makers are women. Moreover, women are more at risk in conflict situations, and represent a greater part of the victims of war crimes. The Military Academy admits female students since 2012.

The textbook “Gender Dimension in the Security and Defense Area” was published with the support of UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) and the financial support of the Swedish Government, in collaboration with the Military Academy of the Armed Forces “Alexandru cel Bun.”