International Conference
Athens Representative 
Master Sergeant MARIA CHATZIIOANNOU

Gender Equality – 20 years after the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The impact on the security and defence sector.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Security & Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women peace and security. The Resolution on women peace and security recognized gender equality issues as well as security issues and underlined the role of women as peacemakers. The percentage of women in leadership positions in the security and defence areas is getting higher year by year, showing the importance of the female role on them. Examples like Albania (DCHOD – Brigadier General Ms Manushaqe SHEHU), Georgia (First Deputy Minister – Ms Lela Chikovani), Greece (Former First Deputy Minister - Ms Fotini Gennimata). Also in the Highest State Rank of Greece there is now a woman leader as a President of Greece, Mrs Katerina Sakellaropoulou. These actions are showing that nowadays the political will of actual implementation of the UNSCR 1325 is strong.
As far as it concerns further actions of the above mentioned implementation of the UN act, a project of National Act is being currently processed for Women, Peace and Security – (WPS) which derives from the UNSCR 1325/2000. Our nation’s progress in the domain of Women in Security and Defence is reflected in NATO’s Annual statement which presents all the necessary information given by NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP).
According to the above mentioned plan our country has assigned a National representative as a member of the “Committee for Women in the NATO forces”.  Furthermore, Ministry of National Defence in cooperation with the National Centre of Public Administration provides a full and effective education of its personnel in the aforementioned area. In addition the MOD is seeking the continuity of education of its personnel in the matter of equality of genders and provides seminars, which are taking place in the NCPA (National Centre of Public Administration) and are free to the public.