Military & Defence Forces

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NATO under the spotlight

ARTICLE
September 3, 2024

SecurityWomen has been asked a series of questions about NATO and here are our responses...

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Women in Security – the Czech Republic

ARTICLE
May 15, 2024

The Czech Republic is a small country of 10 million people located in the centre of Europe. Following the fall of communism and the breakup with Slovakia, Czechia became a member of NATO and the EU.

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Analysis of Gender Equality within the Security Sector in Indonesia

ARTICLE
April 25, 2024

Indonesia's geographical diversity can pose logistical challenges in implementing gender equality initiatives uniformly across regions due to remote and isolated areas that may face additional barriers to promoting gender equality in security sectors due to limited infrastructure and resources.

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Service Complaints Ombudsman/person for the UK Armed Forces

ARTICLE
August 23, 2023

The Ombudsman/person is an independent body, in its more recent 2016 incarnation, appointed by the Ministry of Defence, providing impartial oversight of the Service Complaints system for members of the UK Armed Forces. There are similar Ombudspeople in a number of countries.

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Women in Peace and Security:  A Sri Lankan Perspective

ARTICLE
February 23, 2023

The common narrative concerning women and security is that women are a vulnerable group who often require protection. But in truth a different story unfolds: the story of how women were forced to become strong, independent breadwinners for their families

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Boots, Berets and… Bras?

ARTICLE
September 25, 2022

Women in the armed forces need better support. Literally.

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Yelling at Snowflakes

ARTICLE
June 1, 2022

Professor Janet McIntosh was the key speaker in the NYU Spring 2022 colloquium where she talked about her current project on “Language Anxieties and Necropolitical Acculturation in the US Military”

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Prioritizing power over people: the sexual violence epidemic in the US military

ARTICLE
February 6, 2022

This article examines the policy reforms and shortcomings within the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022.

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A Look at Norway’s Approach to Gender-Neutral Conscription

ARTICLE
October 22, 2021

In 2015, Norway became the first NATO member and the first European country to introduce compulsory military service for both men and women. Since then, the percentage of women in the Norwegian armed forces has been steadily rising. In 2020, 33% of people who completed the initial compulsory military service were women. However, only a small percentage goes on to seek a career within the armed forces. Contemporary academic literature points to possible reasons for this, central among these are statistics of sexual harassment and bullying within the forces. This article will take a look at the Norwegian forces’ approach to compulsory military service.

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Confronting Sexual Harassment and Abuse within SANDF

ARTICLE
October 11, 2021

Ministerial Report Addresses Sexual Harassment and Abuse across South Africa's National Defence Force.

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Sexual Harassment in the UK Armed Forces

ARTICLE
September 4, 2021

This article analyses the findings from recent parliamentary and governmental reports investigating the prevalence of sexual harassment in the UK Armed Forces.

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Lack of Diversity in the US National Guard

ARTICLE
August 12, 2020

The United States National Guard, with its federal-state dual mandate, plays a unique role within the United States Military...

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Can Women Make a Difference?

ARTICLE
May 19, 2020

In this article, contrasts are made on considerations of gender in the 5-year plans of South Africa's Department of Defence (DOD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS)

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Empathetic Leadership – a Female Super Power

ARTICLE
February 25, 2020

As we enter a new year and decade, let us celebrate women by recognizing a special skill that many women have received informal training in, yet do not receive enough credit for. I am referring to empathy, and it is nothing short of a super power that can transform relationships, teams and organizations.

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United States Strategy on Women Peace and Security Underestimates Women's Agency

ARTICLE
November 12, 2019

The recent United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security is a promising first step in implementing the world’s first domestic legislation on the global Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Because the Strategy does not go far enough in recognizing women’s agency and participation in security services, we recommend that the departments tasked with implementation of the Strategy pay close attention to: • Recognizing existing women’s advocacy and participation in security and peacebuilding; • Analyzing differences in women’s experiences of conflict and intersecting identities;• Avoiding a narrative that focuses only on women’s victimization; and • Supporting women who are already participating in security services.

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'Women and Gender Perspectives in the Military' Book Launch at Georgetown University

ARTICLE
November 12, 2019

Dr. Robert Egnell, Dr. Mayesha Alam, and Amb. Melanne Verveer discuss Gender Perspectives and Militarized Masculinities. On 8 November 2019, the Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace, and Security (GIWPS) celebrated the release of the new book ‘Women and Gender Perspectives in the Military’ with a talk by the book’s editors, Dr. Robert Egnell and Dr. Mayesha Alam, moderated by GIWPS Director Ambassador Melanne Verveer.

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UK Armed Forces Recruitment Challenge

ARTICLE
February 1, 2019

The UK Armed Forces is in the midst of a recruitment crisis – they are experiencing the biggest staffing shortfall in a decade. A National Audit Office report (April 2018) found that there is a staffing deficit of 5.7% (8,200 people), and with recruitment running below target the situation is not likely to resolve itself without immediate action.

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U.S. Army's Largest Command Gets Its First Female Commander

ARTICLE
October 23, 2018

October 23, 2018: The U.S. Army’s largest command has a new leader — and she’s making history. Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson is the first female Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces Command.

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“Women, Peace and Security Conference 2018” Conclusion

ARTICLE
October 4, 2018

October 4, 2018: On March 1st, 2018, the 3rd annual “Women, Peace and Security Conference” took place at the Estonian Ministry of Defence. The main topic of the conference introduced and reviewed the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, its impact on women in conflict, the important role women play in resolving conflicts, peace building, as well as the overall work of women peacekeepers in a global and national security framework.

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U.S. Army Must Revoke Policies Detrimental to Women

ARTICLE
September 3, 2018

September 3, 2018: In a message to members of the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), CEO Lydia C. Watts sets forth current policies creating obstacles to equality for women in the U.S. Armed Services.

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$1.7 Trillion Global Spending on Military in 2017: Highest since End of Cold War

ARTICLE
June 8, 2018

June 8, 2018: According to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in total, countries around the world spent $ 1.739 billion on arms in 2017. Although there was a marginal increase of 1.1 percent rise in real terms on 2016, the total global spending in 2017 is the highest since the end of the cold war.

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The Future of Warfighter Conference, November 2017, London

ARTICLE
February 21, 2018

The Future of Warfighter Conference was held by RUSI, Royal United Services Institute on 23 November 2017. The event took place at the Institute`s WhiteHall building. The conference brought together 11 professionals to share their experiences and to debate the future developments of the British Military. This report aims to provide a brief background of speeches and more importantly, to identify the discourse in relation to gender and women`s inclusion in military recruitment.

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Mari Skåre, former NATO Secretary General’s Special representative for Women, Peace and Security

ARTICLE
September 11, 2017

Mari Skåre, answers questions on NATO’s implementation of UNSCR 1325 in the Alliance and its missions.

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From College to Cabinet: Women in US National Security

ARTICLE
June 28, 2017

Women in US National SecurityThis report appeared recently on the CNAS (Center for a New American Security) website, written by Katherine Kidder, Amy Schafer, Phillip Carter and Andrew Swick:

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The fine line between patronizing and promoting women in defence and security

ARTICLE
June 28, 2017

By Virginia Comolli 19 August 2015

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Women on the Front Line by Vix Anderton

ARTICLE
June 28, 2017

n December 2014, the Ministry of Defence published a review into women in close-combat roles, where individuals on the ground are required to close with and kill the enemy.

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Women in the Military: Lessons on Leading and Women’s Expanded Role in Combat

ARTICLE
June 28, 2017

Women in the Military: Lessons on Leading and Women’s expanded Role in Combat by Mikaela Romero, WAND Intern Washington, DC

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