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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SOUTH SUDAN: Women Raped Under the Noses of UN Forces

Emily was bitten, beaten and raped just a few hundred metres from the UN camp in South Sudan's capital, Juba.

Tomping camp is Emily's home - a vast, squalid sanctuary where thousands of South Sudanese now live cheek by jowl after a political fallout triggered a major military rebellion.

It has split the army in two and seen civilians targeted along ethnic lines.

INTERNATIONAL: UN: We Need Women Peacekeepers To Obtain Peace

Obtaining stability and security in conflict zones could be as simple as getting more women involved in the peace process, according to the United Nations.

Admittedly, the U.N. has been a slow to appoint women to peacekeeping positions, but the organization recently set an ambitious goal for women police officers around the globe. It wants women to make up 20 percent of police officers around the world by the end of this year.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Leadership, Peace Training Ends

The five days transformational leadership and character education for peaceful co-existence training ended successfully on Friday.

Held at the Mendana Hotel, the training which was dominated by rural women ended with awarding of certificates.

INTERNATIONAL: UN Chief Appoints First Woman To Command A UN Peacekeeping Force

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed the first woman to command a United Nations peacekeeping force — a Norwegian general who has served in Lebanon, the first Gulf War, Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Maj. Gen. Kristin Lund will replace Chinese Maj. Gen. Chao Liu on Aug. 13 as commander of about 1,000 U.N. peacekeepers in Cyprus, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced Monday.

SIERRA LEONE: Sierra Leone Sends Women Peacekeepers to Somalia

Sierra Leone is demonstrating that it understands the important role women can play as peacekeepers. Half of the 50 Sierra Leone military personnel participating in a recent workshop by USIP on negotiations and communication in peacekeeping were women, an important development considering the unit will be deployed in Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL: Equality for Women is Progress for All


Today we join the people of the world in celebration of the progress made for women's rights, women's empowerment and gender equality. We also acknowledge that progress has been slow, uneven and in some cases women and girls face new and more complex challenges.

HAITI: The Safety of Haitian Girls and Women Should Be Our Goal

This past Saturday marked three years since Haiti was stuck by a devastating earthquake. There is a place in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, called Cité Soleil. It means Sun City, and it is the poorest place, most dangerous place to live in this hemisphere.

COLOMBIA: UK takes Campaign to Stop War-zone Rape to Colombia

Britain's foreign minister William Hague has urged world leaders to make tackling and rape in armed conflicts a top global priority.

Speaking in Bogota on Monday at an event to raise awareness about sexual violence in , British Hague said “global attitudes to these crimes” must change and more efforts must be focused on prosecuting those responsible.

SOUTH AFRICA: Women on the front lines

The South African National Defence Force is the only military in Africa, and one of a few in the world that deploys female soldiers to fight at the sharp end.

Before you believe we've overcome the notion that boys are stronger than girls, the vast majority of women who serve still only expect support roles; they have limited combat duties and are under-represented in leadership positions.

IRAQ: Iraq Illegally Detains Thousands of Women, Tortures Many: HRW

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi authorities are detaining thousands of women illegally and subjecting many to torture and ill-treatment, including the threat of sexual abuse, Human Rights Watch said in a report published on Thursday.

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