The Marie-Claire - Agir pour l'égalité Think & Do Tank met at the Hôtel de Brienne on 25 June to discuss the place of women in the defence and cybersecurity professions. The aim was to raise awareness of the opportunities offered by these booming sectors and encourage women to take advantage of them.
On the programme, five round tables to understand, debate and find solutions: What place for women in the defence and cybersecurity professions? What opportunities are there for women in the defence professions? Choosing defence professions within private companies; Women and cybersecurity: professions of the future; How to promote women in cybersecurity?
What about IHEDN?
General Benoît Durieux, Director of the IHEDN, spoke at the third round table of the day. He highlighted the Institute's commitment to promoting diversity and equality. The IHEDN has a female staffing rate of 53 % (there is strict parity on the management committee: 3 men and 3 women), and between 25 % and 40 % for its auditor promotions, with the percentage varying according to specialisation, giving an average of 29 % for the national session and 34% if only civilians are taken into account.
General Durieux stressed the importance of role models in breaking down preconceptions and enabling women to see themselves in defence-related careers. "You have to make people dream! This is what the IHEDN does through its website and social networks, highlighting the personalities and career paths of women such as Najat Vallot-Belkacem, former Minister of Education, and Sophie de Ravinel, political journalist, both auditors of the IHEDN this year, or Sophie Adenot, colonel in the air force and space, former trainee at the Ecole de Guerre and now an astronaut.
The IHEDN is delighted with the growing presence of women in its ranks, a higher proportion than in many companies in the defence sector. The voice of women is crucial for the armed forces and the whole defence and security ecosystem. Indeed, General Durieux concluded his speech by emphasising that the Institute, which aims to raise awareness of the major national defence issues, must be "representative of society".
These words echo those of Sébastien Lecornu, Minister for the Armed Forces, who, at the event, pointed out that in 12 years the rate of feminisation of the French armed forces has increased by 8 %, from 12 % to 20 %, placing France fourth in the world. "He stressed the adaptability of the French army, concluding that "no army can properly carry out its mission if it does not resemble the social body and therefore the nation it protects".
To see a replay of the day's events : Defence and cyber security: time for women! - Marie Claire
