The two-week “Gender Training of the Trainers Course” (GToT) commenced in Tunis, Tunisia, on 14th October 2024 and will take place until 25th October 2024. This important event is a direct outcome of RACVIAC ongoing cooperation with NATO and the Tunisian Ministry of National Defence, marking a crucial step towards the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda within the Tunisian Armed Forces (TAF) through the Defence Capacity Building project.
The Course was formally opened by Senior Colonel Sawsen Miled, Inspector in the Tunisian Armed Forces General Inspectorate and Igor Gabrić, Activity Manager in Security Sector Governance Pillar, RACVIAC.
During the opening ceremony Senior Colonel Miled, representing the TAF Inspector General, underlined the importance of this GToT course for further advancing gender perspectives within the Tunisian Armed Forces (TAF). She highlighted the partnership with RACVIAC and NATO, noting that this training equips Tunisian defense personnel with the necessary tools to further address gender-related challenges and ensures greater inclusivity within the Armed Forces.
On behalf of RACVIAC Director, H.E. Ambassador Constantin-Mihail Grigorie, Igor Gabrić emphasized in the Course Opening statement the critical role of gender mainstreaming in security and defense. The Director’s message underscored that gender equality is not merely an aspiration but a fundamental right and an essential factor when ensuring sustainable peace and security, one of key prerequisites for social justice and economic development.
The partnership between NATO, RACVIAC and the Tunisian Armed Forces within this project signifies a shared commitment to these values, with a special focus on advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda that Tunisia has been actively supporting.
For over a decade RACVIAC has worked closely with the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations and the defense ministries of its Members in order to promote gender mainstreaming and equal opportunities within the security sector. This collaboration has been instrumental in creating a vast pool of gender instructors in the South East European (SEE) region and beyond, contributing to regional and global progress in the work on the WPS agenda, including in military operations. This deployment of RACVIAC Mobile Education and Training Team (METT) to Tunisia is a testament to RACVIAC ability to provide practical skills where needed and in a way that is contextual, impactful and sustainable.
Twenty-eight participants from the Tunisian Ministry of National Defence and Armed Forces are attending the Course, which is based on the NATO-certified NCGM program. The Course prepares future gender instructors to ensure that challenges in the WPS agenda are met with more knowledge, commitment and actionable solutions.
