QUOTAS IN THE SERBIAN SECURITY SECTOR – DO THEY CONSTRAIN OR PROMOTE WOMEN?
QUOTAS IN THE SERBIAN SECURITY SECTOR – DO THEY CONSTRAIN OR PROMOTE WOMEN?

Author(s): Maja Bjeloš
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Sociology, Security and defense
Published by: BCBP Beogradski centar za bezbednosnu politiku
Keywords: security sector; gender studies; police; military; Serbia; defence
Summary/Abstract: Worldwide, the security sector is dominated by men, and Serbia is no exception to this. Recent times have seen some changes to this situation, with the quota system being among the factors responsible for this. Quotas are provisional measures which set a minimum proportion of women in security sector institutions. In the Serbian security sector, a quota system is used for the enrolment of women in police or military schools or in training for police or military jobs. Are quotas suitable for resolving the problem of inequality between women and men? Do they constrict or encourage the recruitment and promotion of women in traditional security institutions? Do they alter the prevailing perception of the role of women in the security sector, or do they reinforce existing preconceptions? This paper focusses primarily on analysing the way in which the quota system has been applied in the Serbian police and military. Based on this, recommendations are made for security and defence system institutions. In addition, the paper attempts to identify the origin of quotas and to outline the advantages and shortcomings of their application in the security sector.

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