CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS This section provides some conclusions and recommendations on enhancing the efficiency of gender equality policies mainstreamed in the security sector in Albania. The data provided by the Security Barometer 2022 indicate that gender stereotypes influence perception of the citizens/public on the qualification and suitability of men versus women in the security sector. There are no streamlined rules for reconciling work and family life of the professionals in this sector. There are no guaranteed equal opportunities in practice, especially on career growth and taking leadership, high level management roles. Women and girls employed in police or armed forces are still facing, noticeable“ structural barriers that keep men in positions where decisions count ”. 17F 18 When interpreting data about sexual harassment on the job, the sector has no full capacity to prevent and fight discrimination, sexual harassment and other forms of violence. The security and defence sector is not sufficiently transparent and open to participation by civil society and women’s organizations. Therefore, more efforts are necessary to be taken from different stakeholders in this institutional chain, in order to address the loopholes of the system and counter misconceptions, wrong perceptions and grow more accountable to third parties(e.g. media, civil society). The monitoring report on the implementation of the National Action Plan 1325(2018­2020) 1 18F 9 shows that 85.1% of the objectives outlined in this plan have been met. However, there are still actions that need to be taken to increase the performance of Albania vis-à­vis its commitments made on the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The drafting and adoption of a second National Action Plan for UNSCR 1325, giving special emphasis to the establishment of the implementation reporting mechanisms in order to guarantee more accountability by the stakeholders involved is highly recommended. At a domestic level, encouraging closer collaboration between security sector institutional constellation and civil society advocating for a meaningful inclusion and participation of 18 https://eca.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/10/the-first-report-on-the-implementation-of-resolution-1325­in-albania-launched 19 Monitoring Report No. 2 On the implementation of the interinstitutional action plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325“On women, peace and security” 2018-2020, October 2019 – November 2020 21