EUFOR today held a conference entitled ‘Efficient Security Sectors include women at all levels’, in the Army Hall, Sarajevo. The conference was opened by COM EUFOR Major General Johann Luif and Mr. Alexander CUPLYGIN, Acting Head of Mission of the OSCE. The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ms. Ulrike Lunacek, honoured the initiative for this event by sending a video message with her best greetings and her conviction on that subject.

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“Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first country in South-Eastern Europe to produce a national action plan to adopt a gender perspective”,

Major General Luif stated in his opening remarks. He went on to say, “Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved much but work still lies ahead for the governmental institutions of BiH. I am proud to state that EUFOR has been supporting the capacity building of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces of BiH in this sector, and I stand ready to continue with this support through EUFOR’s CB&T capabilities.”

Competent speakers

The responsible organizer of the conference, Gender Advisor of EUFOR, Ms Nikolina Marceta, introduced remarkable speakers to the audience as there were Ms Tania Van Dijk, Deputy Head of the COE Office in BiH, Ms. Stefanie Altman-Winans Head of the Public Affairs Office of the US Embassy in BiH, Colonel Mersida Mesetovic, Ministry of Defense BiH, Ms Azra Hasanbegovic - “Zena BiH”, and Ms Samra Hadziabdic-Filipovic of the Gender Equality Agency BiH.

Among the audience

Participants of the conference included the Ambassador from Greece, H.E. Mr. Karolos Gadis, and the Ambassador from Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Subijaksono Sujono and many delegates from national and international organizations. The Armed Forces BiH was represented by General Tepsic, General Masovic, General Jerkic and General Stoicic.

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Video: Greetings from the EU parliament Vice-President