11 November 2018
Stories from seven magnificent women excelling in foreign and security affairs.
Challenges to our collective security are not evenly perceived among both women and men. In the last Pew Research Centre global threat perception report, women across the globe and specifically in NATO countries show significantly more concern about some key security challenges like ISIS or North Korea than men. NATO is responding to these challenges, but the perception of its performance varies depending on gender, and to keep the alliance robust, it needs support regardless of any perceptive divisions. In other words, it has to engage equally both women and men on all fronts from diplomatic and civilian to military efforts.
Visegrad Insight’s #WomenAreNATO initiative serves the purpose of developing the voices of women – female opinion-shapers who stand up for a more secure and democratic world which is now facing different challenges. We are all – men and women – touched by the serious threats in our lives, and although being half of the population, fewer women respond actively to these threats. It is not easy to hypothesise why this is the case. Perhaps fewer women are interested in the related topics or have been given the opportunity to understand security properly; possibly, the public debates focused on shaping the international policies are not easily accessible to them.
Apart from securing peaceful, stable and democratic political order – security in terms of military and defence – the realm of security also includes securing our culture and values such as the freedom of speech, media freedoms, gender equality as well as our economic and humanitarian values, among others. Such a wide range of topics necessitates engagement with all social groups, including women. Women cannot stand aside, an equal sign cannot simply be put between security and war; we need to address the everyday dangers from crime and terrorism but also incorporate how to avoid deteriorating situations. Yes, many can be trained to be soldiers or tough personalities; generally, though, women should learn how to have their voices heard and how to exert their influence as a pressure group in the broadly understood security context.
Security is a women’s issue, and their role is crucial and might be very different to what many imagine. The diversity of women working in security and in high-profile career paths can act as inspiration for future generations or those working in various sectors at all levels who do not see the importance of security in this broader sense.
NATO, therefore, spends a considerable amount of effort to make women active and equally represented in the security world. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda has been widely promoted, and all NATO initiatives conform to it. More and more NATO member states are following the UN Security Council Resolution #1325, and are implementing National Action Plans (NAP), which are focused on supporting women’s full participation in peace and security efforts, to prevent, address and fight impunity for conflict-related sexual violence and to consolidate women’s and girls’ empowerment to advance gender equality, including in the world’s most dangerous and complex conflicts. This is highly important that we are there, that we have a say, that we take an equal share in such NATO endeavours.
The countries of Visegrad Group are not pioneers when it comes to implementing these strategies, sadly. Poland has finally introduced its own NAP at the end of 2018 (18 years after UNSCR #1325 was approved), and its army consists of only around 6% of female-soldiers most of which (75%) do not receive high ranks, and there are currently no active female generals. The concern raises when Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary are brought into the picture. Though their military spendings are each above 1.5 bln USD, domestic decision-makers affirm support for WPS agendas and these countries participate in international peace missions, none of the countries has introduced a NAP.
Czechia, however, has a female-general and 13% of all Czech professional soldiers are women, placing it fifth highest among NATO countries as regards to the number of women serving in the army. Hungary’s army may be considered emancipated with its almost 20% female staffing, but there has never been a single female general in all its history. Slovakia does continue to heavily promote national efforts aimed at strengthening the role of women in society but with no specific milestones. There is a continuous effort from civil society activists to boost female representation that would match overall women’s contribution to the public good.
Hopefully, this is only a question of time even though women’s inclusion in the army is often confronted with strong social contempt fuelled by the idea of the traditional family model where their first duty is to raise children and care for their families. Let us all be reminded, both men and women care for their families, and it is from this affection and responsibility that security gains its importance. Moreover, security challenges are becoming increasingly hybrid, it is necessary to respond to them on every front. For women losing out on NATO is not an option.
The stories of female leaders in the field of security – which you will discover in this issue – assures us that there is still much to do in respect to increasing diversity in this sector. Beginning from more regular and habitual input from female-experts in international security programmes, through understanding that different competencies and brainpower bring better solutions as well as highlighting the importance of raising the next generations to be fully aware of equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities, all these elements require serious steps to be taken and personal investment from all groups of society. The goal for those working in security should be to work towards a world where men and women can stand next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, and face any obstacle together.
To be continued…
Contact person: Magda Jakubowska m.jakubowska@res.publica.pl +48 694401980
Res Publica Foundation is the publisher for Visegrad/Insight – a magazine with best analysis and opinions on Central Europe, and leading partner for innovator’s network project – New Europe 100.