Girls and women in security policy, Deputy Defence Minister: We have enhanced their representation in the AF

Empowering the role of women in society through knowledge and development of the next generation as a proactive contributor to national and international security policy was at the highlight of the activity organized on the occasion of the launch of the Institute for Women in National and International Security Policy II, a project funded by the US Embassy. Deputy Minister of Defense Dallëndyshe Bici, the US Ambassador Yuri Kim, the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania Vincenzo Del Monaco were some of the participants in this activity.

In her welcoming speech, Deputy Defence Minister emphasized that education, qualifications and equal opportunities widely spread in society are the best way to end the drama of the long transition that is weary to the most fragile and at the same time the strongest part of our society, women.

Focusing on the role and representation of women in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania, Deputy Defence Minister Bici said that compared to previous years there is an increase in the level of representation of girls and women, referring to the statistics of 2019 and 2020.

"Representation of female military personnel in the Armed Forces in 2020 is 14.01%, with an increase of 0.27% compared to December 2019; the number of civil employees is 1578, of which 561 are women, in percentage, 35.55%. We have 1747 officers in total, of which 341 are women, or expressed in percentage 19.51% (increase by 0.2% from previous years). Non-commissioned officers in total 2337, of which 348 are women or 14.89%; The total number of employees in the Ministry of Defense and in the Armed Forces is 7413, of which 1379 are women, 18.6% of the total ", - said Deputy Minister Bici.

Furthermore, added Mrs. Bici, there is an increase of 2.5% in terms of the number of recruits of girls and women in the AF, noting their participation in international missions, civil emergency missions to help the population, trainings, competitions and contests, always with a dignified and professional representation.

She mentioned the fact that the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces is a woman with the high rank of Major General.

Deputy Minister Bici also recalled the "Martyr of the Homeland”, Corporal Zarife Hasanaj, who lost her life in the line of duty, during the NATO military mission in Latvia.

Despite the achievements, Deputy Defence Minister said: "There is still a lot to be done in this direction. The presence of women in security and defence policy brings only positivity. This is thanks to the sharp mind, extraordinary intuition and rational judgment; natural characteristics in a woman ".