Slovakia
Slovakia’s first WPS NAP was introduced in 2021 to cover the period 2021-2022.
Objectives/Aims of 2021-2022 NAP:
These are set out in a matrix as four strategic goals, each supported by anticipated outcomes with indicators of achievement, methods of measuring achievement, and which ministry/department/agency is responsible for implementation.
1. Increasing women's participation in peace and security : Increasing and promoting the full and equal participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution, peace negotiations, peace-building and peacekeeping is a key prerequisite for sustainable peace and security.
2. Taking into account and protecting women's human rights and their specific needs in line with the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
3. Raising awareness and deepening expertise on the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
4. International cooperation
In implementing the above strategic goals, the NAP commits to:
· Increasing participation of women in the Armed Forces, military and civilian missions and international organisations.
· Ensuring equal pay for military women.
· Developing regulations to prevent GBV and sexual harassment.
· Increasing gender-education training and wider promotion of the WPS agenda.
· Increasing women's representation in leadership and decision-making positions in the Police Force of the Slovak Republic and alternative leadership roles.
· Active involvement in the WPS National Focal Points Network for the purpose of sharing information between member states.
Commentary:
The NAP states that prior to its development, Slovakia was already committed to issues related to the WPS agenda. Slovakia ratified CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1993, and in 2017 commitments were made to the UN General Assembly to increase the institutional participation of women, focus on the protection of women from both international and domestic violence and raise awareness of gender-based violence during conflict (A/72/501). Nationally, Slovakia passed the National Strategy for Gender Equality and the Gender Equality Plan for 2014-2019 and the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Violence Against Women from 2014-2019.
Internationally, the NAP states that Slovakia works closely with NATO, OECD, UNDP and recognises their commitments to Gender Equality and Human Rights as part of the European Union.
Civil Society’s involvement in development of the 2021-2025 NAP:
There were no specific references to involvement of civil society, either at the planning / development stage, or in the matrix listing responsibility for implementation, or contributing to its evaluation.
UN Peacekeeping Statistics:
The NAP states that in 2019, a total of 735 Slovak professional soldiers were deployed to international crisis management missions, of which 48 were women – a share of about 6.5%. Slovakia also contributed 29 police officers in 2019, which included 6 women, a better proportion at 20.7% (p12).
In May 2023 it seems Slovakia’s contribution had dropped to a total of 246 peacekeeping personnel, of which 23 (9.35%) were women.
Women’s Role in Peacekeeping:
While the NAP shows commitment by the Ministry of Defence to gender equality within the Slovakian military, there is no reference to increasing female presence in its international peacekeeping forces; instead the NAP focuses on female presence in national forces. However, the NAP notes that, at the time it was drafted in 2019, 20% of Slovakia’s women police officers were ready to be sent on peacekeeping missions (p12).
In May 2023 of Slovakia’s total UN peacekeeping personnel, women comprised 9% of troops, 12.5% of military officers and experts on mission, and 25% of police officers (1 of 4 officers).
References:
https://www.wpsnaps.org/app/uploads/2021/01/Slovakia-NAP-2021-2025.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_UN_peacekeepers_contributed (June 2021)
United Nations Peacekeeping. (May 2023): Troop and police contributors | United Nations Peacekeeping
Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country, Mission, and Personnel Type (May 2023): 05-Missions Detailed By Country
