By Mariana Alvarenga
To broaden the discussion of women’s participation in defense, the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) held a seminar on Women, Peace and Security. The event was broadcast on YouTube and the zoom platform, with presentations by nine speakers from different countries, including Lieutenant Commander Taryn Senez, the first gender and human rights advisor to the IADB General Secretariat.
The officer is also responsible for the Women, Peace and Security Program (WPS), which advises 29 inter-American member states on the issue. In her talk, she explained the objectives, pillars and action plan of the initiative, and stressed the results awaited by the MPS, such as the development of training and capacity building activities, and the dissemination of the Program.
“The first expected result is the active participation of countries, encouraging them to make urgent progress on MPS issues, promoting direct interactions between nations, where one country supports the other in reducing disparities,” she said.
During the seminar, United Nations (UN) Resolution 1325, which was created in 2000 and deals with the issue of MPS, was discussed. Brazil, in compliance with the provisions of this standard, created the National Action Plan (PNA). The document mentions advances in gender equality in the Armed Forces.
Women in the Armed Forces
The Navy was the first to receive women, in 1980, and also the pioneer to promote women to the Admiralty, the highest rank in the Force. From 2024, they will be inducted into the Marine Corps, the Naval Force’s land combat troops.
Throughout its history, the Army has increased the number of women in its ranks. In 1943, during the Second World War, women were inducted into the Ground Force. In 2018, women were admitted to the Agulhas Negras Military Academy, allowing them to pursue a career in combat.
In the Air Force, the admission of women began in 1982, and in 2003 they became airmen.
THE IADB
The IADB is an international military organization made up of civilian and military representatives from 28 countries. It provides technical, consultative and educational advice on military and defense matters in the American hemisphere to the Organization of American States (OAS) and its member states. The IADB is based in Washington, United States.