Secretary General welcomes gender advisors to NATO Headquarters
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed gender advisors to NATO Headquarters in Brussels at an event on Monday (2 March 2020). Mr. Stoltenberg thanked them for their important work, “to make NATO more effective and to improve security and stability wherever we operate”. NATO’s gender advisors are military or civilian personnel deployed to NATO commands, operations, and missions.
The gathering at NATO HQ brought together gender advisors from the Alliance, other international organizations, representatives of civil society, as well as academics. They discussed the importance of integrating gender perspectives in enhancing operational effectiveness.
The Secretary General highlighted how gender advisors had helped transform Afghan society to support the participation of women in education, politics, government, and the armed forces. Gender advisors provide strategic and practical guidance to commanders on gender-related issues in all of NATO’s work. For example, gender advisors can help identify patrol routes that enable better protection for women and girls.
The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 in 2000, establishing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. NATO remains committed to implementing the agenda, including by integrating gender throughout its policies and activities.