Slovenian female soldiers in the field

1
Slovenian female soldiers in the field

• Janja Vuga

2
Female soldiers and members of the police

• 1997 Slovenia sent first soldiers and members
  of the police to the peace operation in Albania
• Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) consists of approx.
  15 women
• Slovenian police consists of approx. 6 women.
• Female members of the police since 1974
• Female members of SAF since 1991
• First female member of the police on the peace
  operation in 2000 in Kosovo (UNMIK CIVPOL).

3
Gender based perception of obstacles

• Female
• Physical capability
• Male environment
• Lack of time for family
• Promotion vs. motherhood.
• Male
• Physical and psychological capability
• Weakening the team cohesion
• Traditional role.

4
The number of Slovenian female soldiers in Peace
Operations between 2005 and 2009
5
The geographical dispersion of female soldiers
6
Public support
Do you support women entering armed forces? Do you support women entering armed forces?
yes, they should do all tasks, even combat 35,8
yes, but they should do only non combat tasks 37,8
I don't support the idea of women entering AF 18,7
don't know 7,7
Is the percentage of women in SAF Is the percentage of women in SAF
too high 13,2
too low 16,0
suitable 53,8
don't know 17,0
7
Few positions entrusted to female members of the
SAF and the police

• Slovenian Armed Forces
• 1999 female deputy commander of SVNCON in
  Cyprus
• 2000 female commander of SVNCON in Cyprus
• 2004 female commander of SVNCON in Bosnia
• 2008 the commander of the SVNCON, senior
  representative and the chief of Infoops division
  in Bosnia
• 2008 female deputy commanders in Afghanistan
• 2008 female deputy commander in Kosovo
• 2009 female officers on different levels of
  staff positions in KFOR and EUFOR HQ and in the
  Slovenian battle group in Kosovo.
• Slovenian Police
• Police officers on the field
• Airport officials
• Regional Crime Squad.

8
Why gender mixed teams in peace operations make
sense?

• To be a role model
• To establish contacts with local women
• To include local women
• To define priorities
• To soften the male environment.