26-31 May 2002

Women in uniform - 26th annual meeting The NATO nations' delegates and Partnership for Peace observers who attended the conference. The Committee on Women in the NATO forces meets annually to discuss policies and practices affecting servicewomen in the armed forces of NATO member countries. This year they met at NATO HQ, 26-31 May, where they focused on lessons learned from gender integration throughout the Alliance. The results of comparative research on gender issues in the armed forces were presented and panel discussions were held on equal opportunities, challenges within an international environment, new skills requirements for peace support operations and lessons learned on women in operations. Traditionally, the Committee has been working on issues affecting women in uniform in three main areas: recruitment and employment, training and development, and quality of life. Each year, the results of these studies and conferences are presented to the Military Committee -NATO's senior military authority- with recommendations. This year, the Committee invited Partner countries to attend the conference. Austria, Croatia, Estonia, Ireland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland each sent an observer to participate and presented the situation of servicewomen in their respective countries to the Committee. More than 80 women attended. As Canada is currently chairing the Committee, next year the annual meeting will be held in Ottawa, Canada, 1-6 June 2003. Additional information: 26th Annual Meeting - 26-31 May 2002 "Wanted: A Few Good Women" - Gender Stereotypes and their Implications for Peacekeeping - Professor Gerard J DeGroot University of St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland Gender Integration in the Armed Forces: A Cross National Comparison of Policies and Practices in NATO Countries - Helena Carreiras ISCTE/University of Lisbon European University Institute - Florence Flexibility Towards Diversity, New Skills for Military Personnel in PSOs by Marina Nuciari University of Torino Department of Social Sciences International Military Staff:(IMS): Committee on Women in the NATO Forces