Peacekeeping

The Peacekeeping theme focuses on a gendered approach to multi-dimensional peacekeeping missions, predominantly through gender mainstreaming of peace support operations and the increase of female recruitment in peacekeeping, military, and police.

The Security Council calls for an increase in the number of women in peacekeeping operations (1325,OP6).

It is also important to note that the issues of gender and peacekeeping should never be reduced to the number of women recruited as peacekeepers. Promoting security is about providing real human security for the population, not about the militarisation of women. The point is not to achieve gender parity for its own sake, but rather to draw on the unique and powerful contribution women can make to peacekeeping.

The Security Council commits to include a gender component in UN field operations (1325,OP5), and requests that the Secretary-General’s reports to include information on the progress of gender mainstreaming within each operation (1325,OP17). Without a gender perspective, it is almost impossible to adequately create an inclusive security, which forms the basis of promoting sustainable and durable peace. Gender training, pre-deployment, on the ground, and post-deployment is effective for ensuring peacekeeping personnel have sufficient knowledge and skills.

Peacekeeping missions are increasingly being mandated to address sexual violence (1960,OP10), and training can increase the prevention, recognition, and response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (1820,OP6). The implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda varies greatly among Peacekeeping Operations. This variation is a result of the peacekeeping mission’s mandates and also structure, leadership, funding, whether there is a designation of a separate unit to address gender, and the number of gender advisors. These key gaps were highlighted in DPKO’s Ten-Year Impact Study on Implementation of Resolution 1325 in Peacekeeping.


These measures can trigger positive changes for women within conflict and post-conflict situations, such as increased physical security, employment-related benefits, capacity building for local women’s organisations, and increased awareness of women’s rights. Additionally, positive role models and examples of women’s leadership have a positive effect on the environment and contribute to the success of peacekeeping missions.

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First, prevention is a priority as it is an essential part of our efforts to ...

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First, prevention is a priority as it is an essential part of our efforts to protect, in which many stakeholders have a role to play. Specific and timebound commitments to put an end to all acts of sexual violence and to bring their perpetrators to justice can help to break the cycle of violence.

In order to incorporate those important aspects in the preparations for peace...

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In order to incorporate those important aspects in the preparations for peacekeeping missions, all Nordic military and police personnel receive training on resolution 1325 (2000). A joint Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations was established last month in Stockholm. The aim of the Centre is to raise the countries' competence in gender issues within planning, execution and evaluation in military operations.

As is well-known, Darfur is one of the regions of the Sudan that is affected ...

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As is well-known, Darfur is one of the regions of the Sudan that is affected by conflict. The report includes a call on the non-signatory movements to cease hostilities and join the forward march towards peace. I mention this for the benefit of those who are unaware that violence against women in Darfur is fundamentally and actively caused by the armed movements that are intent on preventing the establishment of peace and security in Darfur.

Sri Lanka stands ready to extend its support to achieving gender parity in Un...

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Sri Lanka stands ready to extend its support to achieving gender parity in United Nations peacekeeping activities and in carrying our gender-related mandates of the peacekeeping missions. Necessary predeployment training has been completed to deploy an all-female battalion comprising 855 personnel and 28 female officers, at any time.

Moreover, in order to raise the profile of gender advisers and ensure the inc...

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Moreover, in order to raise the profile of gender advisers and ensure the inclusion of the gender perspective in peacekeeping missions, the Ministry of Defence of Spain organized a course in late October 2011 on the gender perspective in operations, with conferences for members of the armed forces on equal opportunity, setting norms on gender issues, and the fight against rape and sexual violence in conflict.

In recent months, in application of Spain's national action plan on resolutio...

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In recent months, in application of Spain's national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000) and other associated resolutions, we have engaged in several activities, especially in the area of training, that I wish to highlight. We are firmly convinced that training is an essential aspect of our efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict.

We welcome the commitments that were made by the Governments of countries of ...

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We welcome the commitments that were made by the Governments of countries of concern during the visit of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in relation to addressing impunity for sexual crimes and the training of security personnel.

We fully concur with the recommendation that the Security Council should syst...

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We fully concur with the recommendation that the Security Council should systematically reflect conflict-related sexual violence in the authorization and renewal of peacekeeping mandates and the renewal of special political missions.

We are pleased with the development of a framework of early warning signs spe...

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We are pleased with the development of a framework of early warning signs specific to conflict related sexual violence by UN-Women, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the broader United Nations system. That will assist a great deal towards preventing those heinous crimes.

Women are clearly decisive actors at every stage of the peace building proces...

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Women are clearly decisive actors at every stage of the peace building process in the long term. It is therefore necessary to promote their full participation as an integral part of efforts to establish, maintain and strengthen peace.

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