DOCSLIB.ORG

Summary of the National Reports of NATO Member and Partner Nations to the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Summary of the National Reports of NATO Member and Partner Nations to the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives Summary of the National Reports of NATO Member and Partner Nations to the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives 2016 1400-17 NATO Graphics & Printing TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction . 5 Executive Summary . 7. 1 Representation of Men and Women in the Armed Forces in 2016 . 9 2 Applications and Successful Recruitments in 2016 . .13 . 3 Retention Statistics in 2016 . 15 3 .1 . Reserves . 19 3 .2 . Work-Life Balance - Parental, Maternity and Paternity Leave . 20 . 4 Services and Ranks in 2016 . .23 . 5 Integration of Gender Perspectives in 2016 . 29 5 .1 . Gender in Operations in 2016 . 33 6 2015 and 2016 NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP) Recommendations to the Military Committee (MC) . 37 . 7 Conclusion . 43 8 2016 National Reports from NATO Member Nations . 45 Albania . .47 . Belgium . 53 . Bulgaria . 59 . Canada . .65 . Croatia . 77. Czech Republic . .85 . Denmark . 91 Estonia . 97. France . 101 Germany . 107 Greece . 115 . Hungary . .121 . Iceland . 125 . 2016 NATO Summary of the National Reports 3 Italy . 127 Latvia . 137. Lithuania . 141 Luxembourg . 147 Netherlands . .151 . Norway . 157 Poland . 163 Portugal . 167 Romania . .173 . Slovakia . 179. Slovenia . 183. Spain . 189 Turkey . 195 United Kingdom . 201 . United States . 207 . 9 2016 National Reports from NATO Partner Nations . 213 Australia . .205 . Austria . 221 Finland . 227. Georgia . 233 Ireland . 237 Japan . 241 Moldova . .245 . Montenegro . .249 . New Zealand . 253. Serbia . 259. Sweden . 261 Switzerland . 267. Ukraine . 269 Acronyms . .271 . 4 2016 NATO Summary of the National Reports INTRODUCTION The 2016 Summary of the National Reports of NATO member and partner nations to the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP) on the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security is the third edition of the NATO’s comparative study on the integration of gender perspectives in the armed forces . For NATO as an Alliance, UNSCR 1325, gender mainstreaming and the integration of the gender perspectives into all our efforts and tasks remains a top priority . There can be no lasting peace without inclusion and gender equality which relate back to the fundamental values on which the Alliance was built – democracy, individual liberty, human rights and the rule of law . This extensive review of national statistics and policies demonstrates the effects and added value of integrating the gender perspective in recruitment, retention, work-life balance and in military operations . However, the purpose of the Summary is not only to provide transparent reporting on the improvements made on the gender domain, but also to share best practices, experiences and comparison of different approaches . This work, therefore, becomes an exemplar for NATO member and partner nations determined to fulfil NATO’s and their commitments. I would like to thank all the contributing nations and subject matter experts who contributed to this body of work . Jan Broeks, NLD Lieutenant General Director General of NATO International Military Staff 2016 NATO Summary of the National Reports 5 6 2016 NATO Summary of the National Reports EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 2016 Summary of the National Reports of NATO member and partner nations (hereafter referred as ‘Summary’) to the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP) is a comprehensive compendium of the statistics, policies and programmes related to the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and related resolutions in the armed forces . The origins of this work date back to 1998, when the NCGP began to request annual National Reports from all NATO member nations. In 2015, the Office of the Gender Advisor of the International Military Staff at NATO HQ (IMS GENAD), as the secretariat to the NCGP, began to forward a standardised online questionnaire to all NATO member and partner nations . The result was a conclusive report with an analysis of the implementation and mainstreaming of gender perspectives in the armed forces . The 2016 Summary is the third edition of the report and shows significant progress and commitment of NATO member and partner nations . As the questionnaire has been standardized, the final report provides comparisons with last year’s data and shares a review of gender policies and programmes adopted by the Nations . The 2016 Summary collects data from all NATO member and 13 partner nations - Australia, Austria, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Japan, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine . The first part of the 2016 Summary comprises the Executive Summary, which is organised in seven Chapters . These are: Representation of Men and Women in the Armed Forces, Applications and Successful Recruitment, Retention Statistics (including Reserves and Work- Life Balance), Services and Ranks, Integration of Gender Perspectives (including Gender in Operations), the 2015 and 2016 NCGP Recommendations to the Military Committee (MC) and Conclusion . The second part of the 2016 Summary introduces the profiles of all NATO member and partner nations separately and offers a detailed overview of national legislation, programmes and policies related to the advancement of the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions in the armed forces. 28 NATO member nations are introduced first, followed by 13 NATO partner nations . Although Montenegro is since 2017 a member nation, for the purpose of this Summary reflecting year 2016, the Montenegrin national report is presented at the second part designated for the partner nations . The 2016 Summary also builds up on the work and analysis conducted in previous years . The Chapters on the Representation of Men and Women in the Armed Forces, Applications and Successful Recruitment, Retention Statistics, Services and Ranks and Integration of Gender Perspectives in the Armed Forces have been maintained as well as the deliberate use of the same graphs, with updated statistics, which allows comparison between years . However, several innovations were introduced; such as additional graph to further review the statistical data provided on the main areas of employment of men and women in the armed forces and column graphs on the distribution of men and women in the armed forces . Furthermore, new graphs have been added to the Chapter 4 – Ranks and Services to provide detailed overview of the distribution of ranks among men and women and in Chapter 6 - the 2015 and 2016 NCGP Recommendations to the MC is provided overview of actions taken by nations on the implementation of the 2015 and 2016 NCGP Recommendations to MC . Each graph is further described and provided with significant results of 5 member nations and 1 partner nation. All innovations serve to better present the data . Ultimately, apart from the statistical overview, the 2016 Summary should also serve as a practical guide to NATO nations on how to gender mainstream and how to integrate gender perspectives in their armed forces by best practices provided in tables with selections of national approaches . 2016 NATO Summary of the National Reports 7 All NATO member and partner nations are highly encouraged to continue to submit their reports in the years to come, so that the Summary can become a continuous record that is increasingly effective and useful for all . Whilst there is commonality in much of the data and its presentation, the written narratives can vary quite considerably . As such, the IMS GENAD has purposely chosen not to amend the content . Nations are encouraged to consider what works best for them in subsequent reports . All Nations are responsible for the information they submitted . 8 2016 NATO Summary of the National Reports Representation of Men and Women in the Armed Forces in 2016 1 This chapter presents an analysis of the representation of men and women in the armed forces, all active duty military personnel, based on statistical information provided by NATO member and partner nations. The first section provides averages based on the National Reports submitted by NATO member nations . The second section looks at the averages based on the reports from NATO member and partner nations combined . Representation of Men and Women in the Armed Forces of NATO Member Nations Figure 1 shows that the average percentage of women in the armed forces of NATO member nations was 10 .9% in 2016 . This includes all active duty military personnel . In 2015, the average percentage of women in the armed forces was 10 .8% and in 2014 it was 10 .3% . Figure 2 shows the average percentage of female military personnel over the course of the last 18 years . This average has increased by 3 .8% since 1999 when women represented 7 .1% of the armed forces of NATO member nations . Figure 1: Average of men and women Active Duty military personnel in the armed forces of NATO member states in 2016 10.9% 89.1% Women Men Figure 2: Percentage of women in the armed forces of NATO member states from 1999 to 2016 10.5% 10.5%.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • For a Sustainable Defence
    Area: Defence & Security - ARI Nº 84/2003 6/10/2003 For a Sustainable Defence Ignacio Cosidó∗ Subject: We analyse the low level of Spain’s defence spending compared with its European, the effects on the defence budget of ending conscription and the difficulties of sustaining the necessary modernisation of the Spanish Armed Forces in a context of Spain’s increasing ambitions in the international arena. Summary: The defence spending debate recently resurged in Spain as a result of the tragic air disaster in Turkey. Yet, regardless of this terrible event, it has to be said that Spain has long been the NATO country that, on most measurements (GDP percentage, investment per man under arms, man under arms per 1,000 people, etc.), spends least on its defence. This longstanding funding shortage was recently aggravated by the added cost for the armed forces of ending conscription, costs that had to be borne with practically no supplementary budgetary allowance. All this meant a steady reduction in defence investment, which, however, was cushioned to some extent since 1997 by alternative means of funding. However, the sustainability of the modernisation of the Spanish Armed Forces could fail unless defence allocations in the medium term are increased, particularly in view of the fact that all three Services are now being called upon to play a much more active role beyond Spanish frontiers. Spain will therefore be obliged in the near future to increase defence spending in line with its growing ambitions in defence policy. Analysis: The tragic accident that cost the lives of 62 Spanish servicemen coming back home from their mission in Afghanistan in a Ukrainian aircraft suddenly reopened the debate over whether Spain’s defence spending was sufficient to cater for the country’s increasing international commitments.
    [Show full text]
  • Training and Simulation
    Food for thought 05-2021 Training and Simulation Written by AN EXPERTISE FORUM CONTRIBUTING TO EUROPEAN CONTRIBUTING TO FORUM AN EXPERTISE SINCE 1953 ARMIES INTEROPERABILITY the Research team of Finabel European Army Interoperability Center This study was written under the guidance of the Swedish presidency, headed by MG Engelbrektson, Commander of the Swedish Army. Special thanks go out to all ex- perts providing their insights on the topic, including but not limited too: MAJ Ulrik Hansson-Mild, Mr Henrik Reimer, SSG Joel Gustafsson, Mr Per Hagman, Robert Wilsson, MAJ Björn Lahger and SGM Anders Jakobsson.This study was drawn up by the Research team of Finabel over the course of a few months, including: Cholpon Abdyraeva, Paolo d'Alesio, Florinda Artese, Yasmine Benchekroun, Antoine Decq, Luca Dilda, Enzo Falsanisi, Vlad Melnic, Oliver Noyan, Milan Storms, Nadine Azi- hane, Dermot Nolan under the guidance of Mr Mario Blokken, Director of the Per- manent Secretariat. This Food for Thought paper is a document that gives an initial reflection on the theme. The content is not reflecting the positions of the member states but consists of elements that can initiate and feed the discussions and analyses in the domain of the theme. All our studies are available on www.finabel.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 3 Data Utilisation, the Need for Standardisation and Obstacles 33 Cultural Interoperability 4 Introduction 33 Introduction 4 9. What is Data? 34 1. Exercises as Means to 10. Political Aspects: National Deter Opposition 5 Interests vs. Interoperability 34 2. Current Trends in SBT 13 11. Data Interoperability 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Major General Jose Luis Triguero De La Torre, Spanish Air Force
    MAJOR GENERAL JOSE LUIS TRIGUERO DE LA TORRE, SPANISH AIR FORCE Born in Madrid, Spain, Major General Jose Luis Triguero de la Torre joined the Spanish Air Force Academy in 1975. During his more than 35 years’ experience in major CIS and C2 systems, he participated in the specification, development, acquisition, implementation and management of systems at different levels of responsibility, from Commander of a Maintenance Communications Squadron, to Commander of the Air C2 System. MGen Triguero has extensive experience related to Cyber Defence. He also has a deep understanding of managing human resources which was part of his core responsibilities. In March 2016, MGen Triguero took up the post of Director, NATO Headquarters Consultation, Command and Control Staff (NHQC3S) at NATO Headquarters. This post fulfils the role of Co-Vice-Chairman of the C3 Board and the role of C3 Capability Area Manager. From 2012, in the rank of Major General as Chief of the Air Force Technical Services, CIS and Cyber Defence Directorate, he was the CIS main adviser to the Chief of the Air Force Staff in Madrid. One of the responsibilities of this position was the definition and implementation of the Cyber Defence Capability in the Air Force. From October 2010 to Nov 2012 in the rank of Brigadier General, he commanded, led and managed the Spanish Air C2 real time system that provided the capabilities assigned by Spain to SACEUR for the NATINAMDS missions. He commanded and led more than 2,500 personnel and managed an organization composed of 22 Air Force units. From March to July 2011 in US Central Command in Macdill Air Force Base, Florida, he was the coordinating element of the Spanish Operational Command with the US Central Command for ISAF Operations.
    [Show full text]
  • Academic Studies for Officers
    University VIENNA and National Defense Academy VIENNA Academic Studies for Officers A Central European Perspective (Presentations of the First International Conference in Vienna, 15 – 19 March 1999) Published by Brigadier-General Gernot ALBRECHT Vienna, April 2001 SUMMARY OF CONTENTS WOLFGANG GREISENEGGER..................................................3 Welcome Address......................................................................................3 ERNEST KÖNIG..........................................................................5 Welcome Address......................................................................................5 GERNOT ALBRECHT .................................................................9 Opening Statement....................................................................................9 ARMIN A. STEINKAMM ............................................................10 The Bundeswehr University [UDBW]..................................................10 JÖRG E. P. KELLER.................................................................17 Academic Officer Training within and for the Armed Forces – a German Perspective ....................................................................................................................17 BEAT A. KÄCH .........................................................................32 The Swiss Military College ....................................................................32 ALTERO FASANO.....................................................................43
    [Show full text]
  • Reserve Forces Review 2030 Unlocking the Reserves’ Potential to Strengthen a Resilient and Global Britain
    Reserve Forces Review 2030 Unlocking the reserves’ potential to strengthen a resilient and global Britain May 2021 Contents Executive summary 7 Reserve Forces Review 2030 recommendations 11 Chapter 1 – Context and the imperative for change 15 Chapter 2 – Redefining the relationship between the reserves and society 25 Chapter 3 – Expanding the role of the reserves 43 Chapter 4 – Unlocking the potential of reservists 55 Chapter 5 – Transforming support to the reserves 73 Engagement log 88 Glossary 102 Reserve Forces Review 2030 3 4 Reserve Forces Review 2030 Foreword Brigadier The Rt Hon The Lord Lancaster TD VR When the Chief of the Defence Staff asked me to chair an independent review into the reserve forces, I leapt at the opportunity. For over 32 years, the Army Reserve has been an integral part of my life and perhaps the one constant of my adult years. Like many fellow reservists, my service has been part of a fairly consistent juggling act between the competing demands of a hectic professional career, private life and soldiering. In writing this foreword I recognise that so much has changed. Rather than looking ‘down and in’ at the use of The reserves have evolved from almost entirely reserves by the single services, we have been contingent forces – that trained at weekends tasked with looking ‘up and out’. and annual camps, recruited locally, and were At its heart, this Reserve Forces Review 2030 encapsulated by names such as ‘Territorial (RF30) is about people and skills, and how Army’ and ‘Royal Auxiliary Air Force’ – to the Defence, industry, government and wider reserve forces we have today across all three society can share them.
    [Show full text]
  • NRA Police Pistol Combat Rule Book
    NRA Police Pistol Combat Rule Book 2020 Amendments On January 4, 2020, the NRA Board of Directors approved the Law Enforcement Assistance Committees request to amend the NRA Police Pistol Combat Rule Book. These amendments have been incorporated into this web based printable PPC Rule Book. The 2020 amendments are as follows: Amendment 1 is in response to competitor requests concerning team matches at the National Police Shooting Championships. Current rules require that team match membership be comprised of members from the same law enforcement agency. A large percentage of competitors who attend the Championships are solo shooters, meaning they are the only member of their agency in attendance. The amendment allows the Championships to offer a stand-alone NPSC State Team Match so that solo competitors from the same state can compete as a team. The Match will be fired at the same time as regular team matches so no additional range time is needed, and State Team scores will only be used to determine placement in the State Team Match. NPSC State Team Match scores will not be used in determining National Team Champions, however they are eligible for National Records for NPSC State Team Matches. The amendment allows solo shooters the opportunity to fire additional sanctioned matches at the Championships and enhance team participation. 2.9 National Police Shooting Championships State Team Matches: The Tournament Director of the National Police Shooting Championships may offer two officer Open Class and Duty Gun Division NPSC Team Matches where team membership is comprised of competitors from the same state. For a team to be considered a NPSC State Team; 1.
    [Show full text]
  • French Armed Forces Update November 2020
    French Armed Forces Update November 2020 This paper is NOT an official publication from the French Armed Forces. It provides an update on the French military operations and main activities. The French Defense Attaché Office has drafted it in accordance with open publications. The French Armed Forces are heavily deployed both at home and overseas. On the security front, the terrorist threat is still assessed as high in France and operation “Sentinelle” (Guardian) is still going on. Overseas, the combat units are extremely active against a determined enemy and the French soldiers are constantly adapting their courses of action and their layout plans to the threat. Impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the French Armed Forces have resumed their day-to-day activities and operations under the sign of transformation and modernization. DeuxIN huss arMEMORIAMds parachut istes tués par un engin explosif improvisé au Mali | Zone Militaire 09/09/2020 11:16 SHARE On September 5th, during a control operation within the Tessalit + region, three hussards were seriously injured after the explosion & of an Improvised Explosive Device. Despite the provision of + immediate care and their quick transportation to the hospital, the ! hussard parachutiste de 1ère classe Arnaud Volpe and + brigadier-chef S.T1 died from their injuries. ' + ( Après la perte du hussard de 1ere classe Tojohasina Razafintsalama, le On23 November 12th, during a routine mission in the vicinity of juillet, lors d’une attaque suicide commise avec un VBIED [véhicule piégé], le 1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes [RHP] a une nouvelle fois été Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, nine members of the Multinational endeuillé, ce 5 septembre.
    [Show full text]
  • Heritage, Landscape and Conflict Archaeology
    THE EDGE OF EUROPE: HERITAGE, LANDSCAPE AND CONFLICT ARCHAEOLOGY by ROXANA-TALIDA ROMAN A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology School of History and Cultures College of Arts and Law University of Birmingham May 2019 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT The research presented in this thesis addresses the significance of Romanian WWI sites as places of remembrance and heritage, by exploring the case of Maramureș against the standards of national and international heritage standards. The work provided the first ever survey of WWI sites on the Eastern Front, showing that the Prislop Pass conflictual landscape holds undeniable national and international heritage value both in terms of physical preservation and in terms of mapping on the memorial-historical record. The war sites demonstrate heritage and remembrance value by meeting heritage criteria on account of their preservation state, rarity, authenticity, research potential, the embedded war knowledge and their historical-memorial functions. The results of the research established that the war sites not only satisfy heritage legal requirements at various scales but are also endangered.
    [Show full text]
  • NATO ARMIES and THEIR TRADITIONS the Carabinieri Corps and the International Environment by LTC (CC) Massimo IZZO - LTC (CC) Tullio MOTT - WO1 (CC) Dante MARION
    NATO ARMIES AND THEIR TRADITIONS The Carabinieri Corps and the International Environment by LTC (CC) Massimo IZZO - LTC (CC) Tullio MOTT - WO1 (CC) Dante MARION The Ancient Corps of the Royal Carabinieri was instituted in Turin by the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele 1st by Royal Warranty on 13th of July 1814. The Carabinieri Force was Issued with a distinctive uniform in dark blue with silver braid around the collar and cuffs, edges trimmed in scarlet and epaulets in silver, with white fringes for the mounted division and light blue for infantry. The characteristic hat with two points was popularly known as the “Lucerna”. A version of this uniform is still used today for important ceremonies. Since its foundation Carabinieri had both Military and Police functions. In addition they were the King Guards in charge for security and honour escorts, in 1868 this task has been given to a selected Regiment of Carabinieri (height not less than 1.92 mt.) called Corazzieri and since 1946 this task is performed in favour of the President of the Italian Republic. The Carabinieri Force took part to all Italian Military history events starting from the three independence wars (1848) passing through the Crimean and Eritrean Campaigns up to the First and Second World Wars, between these was also involved in the East African military Operation and many other Military Operations. During many of these military operations and other recorded episodes and bravery acts, several honour medals were awarded to the flag. The participation in Military Operations abroad (some of them other than war) began with the first Carabinieri Deployment to Crimea and to the Red Sea and continued with the presence of the Force in Crete, Macedonia, Greece, Anatolia, Albania, Palestine, these operations, where the basis leading to the acquirement of an international dimension of the Force and in some of them Carabinieri supported the built up of the local Police Forces.
    [Show full text]
  • Pesco: the Lithuanian Perspective / September 2018
    #29 PeSCo THE LITHUANIAN PERSPECTIVE By Margarita ŠEŠELGYTĖ Studies Director, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University September 2018 The views expressed here are solely those of the authors. They do not reflect the views of any organization. Policy Paper PeSCo: The Lithuanian Perspective / September 2018 ABSTRACT The Lithuanian position vis-à-vis Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) derives from a national security concept, which suggests a clear division of labour between NATO and the EU, where NATO is accorded security provider function and the EU is considered as a source of economic welfare or the provider of so-called “soft” security. Reinvigoration of the European security and defence policy as well as increasingly challenging security environment, Brexit and impulsiveness of the actions of the US President, however, might inflict a revision of the current priorities. The paper outlines current Lithuanian position on PESCO, the factors shaping this position and the opportunities as well the challenges for more active engagement in various PESCP initiatives and p rojects. Keywords: PeSCo, Common Security and Defence Policy, Framework Nations Concept, European Defence Fund, European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, Lithuania. or a number of years being a pro-Atlantist member of the European Union (EU), Lithuania has been quite sceptical regarding the Common Security and Defence F Policy (CSDP) and the necessity to develop European strategic autonomy. The Lithuanian position vis-à-vis CSDP was highly influenced by its security concept, which has evolved since 1991 when Lithuania has re-established its independence in the face of the imminent threat from Russian Federation and is defined by its size and threat assessment.
    [Show full text]
  • Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers
    Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers Updated June 15, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov RL30802 Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers Summary The Constitution provides Congress with broad powers over the Armed Forces, including the power to “to raise and support Armies,” “to provide and maintain a Navy,” “to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces” and “to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States.” In the exercise of this constitutional authority, Congress has historically shown great interest in various issues that bear on the vitality of the reserve components, such as funding, equipment, and personnel policy. This report is designed to provide an overview of key reserve component personnel issues. The term “Reserve Component” refers collectively to the seven individual reserve components of the Armed Forces: the Army National Guard of the United States, the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air National Guard of the United States, the Air Force Reserve, and the Coast Guard Reserve. The purpose of these seven reserve components, as codified in law at 10 U.S.C. §10102, is to “provide trained units and qualified persons available for active duty in the armed forces, in time of war or national emergency, and at such other times as the national security may require, to fill the needs of the armed forces whenever more units and persons are needed than are in the regular components.” During the Cold War era, the reserve components were a manpower pool that was rarely used.
    [Show full text]
  • The Algerian Armed Forces: National and International Challenges
    THE ALGERIAN ARMED FORCES: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGES Carlos Echeverría Jesús Working Paper (WP) Nº 8/2004 1/4/2004 Area: Mediterranean & Arab World / Defence & Security – WP Nº 8/2004 (Trans. Spanish) 1/4/2004 The Algerian Armed Forces: National and international challenges ∗ Carlos Echeverría Jesús THE ROLE OF THE ARMED FORCES: FROM INDEPENDENCE TO THE FIRST STEPS TOWARD DEMOCRACY (1962-1988) The Algerian Armed Forces arose from the National Liberation Army (ALN), particularly from the so-called ‘border army’ which, as General Jaled Nezzar recalls in his Memoirs, began to play a dominant role under the command of Colonel Houari Boumedienne in late 1959: this army relentlessly waged war on the French forces deployed on the borders of Morocco and Tunisia until the conflict ended in 1962 (1). Although the creation of the ALN itself dates back to 1954, it was not until the Summam Congress, on August 20, 1956, that its structure was determined and it became considered an instrument for implementing the policies developed by the party: the National Liberation Front (FLN). The internal struggles within the FLN-ALN tandem, both in and outside Algeria, have been described by many authors: both the confrontations within the National Council of the Algerian Revolution (CNRA) and those at the various FLN congresses during and immediately after the war –the Summam Congress (1956), Tripoli Congress (1962) and Algiers Congress (1964)– aimed at taking control of the embryo of the future Armed Forces. According to Mohamed Harbi, the session of the CNRA held in December 1959 – January 1960 was crucial, as it abolished the Ministry of the Armed Forces, replacing it with an Inter-Ministerial War Committee (CIG), directed by military officers of a General Chiefs of Staff (EMG) led by Boumedienne, who went on to become Defense Minister of the first independent government and, starting in June 1965, President until his death in 1978.
    [Show full text]