Peace Operations

The United Nations has in recent years strengthened its commitment to increasing the deployment of women peacekeepers and the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in all areas of UN peacekeeping operations, as exemplified and prescribed in the four UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security.

Experience has proven that women peacekeepers can perform the same tasks and to the same standards as their male counterparts — whether as troops, police or in civilian roles. Moreover, evidence shows that the presence of female personnel has benefited missions in many ways. Women peacekeepers can be at an advantage in some areas, including in:

• strengthening women’s participation in non-traditional roles in post-conflict countries, such as in the security sector;
• providing protection and assistance to female ex-combatants during demobilization and reintegration into civilian life, as well as to women prisoners;
• responding to the needs of victims of gender-based and sexual violence, leading to increased reporting, enhanced investigation processes, more trust in local law enforcement services and reduced rates of such violations;
• diffusing hyper-masculine approaches to peacekeeping that contribute to the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by UN personnel; and
• promoting conditions that empower women to contribute to peacebuilding in other ways, such as through grassroots peace movements and conflict prevention mechanisms.

While women are still underrepresented in all areas of peace operations, progress has been made in recruiting women in civilian roles, such as work on human rights, public information, institutional reform, logistics, medicine and political processes. In 2009, women made up 30 percent of civilian mission staff, but represented only 8 percent of police officers and 2 percent of military personnel. All missions are supported by Gender Advisors; however they often lack adequate support to fulfil their mandate.

The United Nations also recognizes the importance of including gender perspectives in the planning of peacekeeping missions. All new mission mandates are to provide for mechanisms to increase women’s security, to strengthen their participation in conflict prevention and governance, and to ensure equal access to services provided by peacekeeping personnel. Although progress has been made, the level of commitment to integrating gender perspectives tends to vary considerably from mission to mission.

UN Women’s Approach

Developing an inventory of best practices: UNIFEM (now UN Women) collaborated with DPKO and on behalf of UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict to develop an analytical inventory of best practices by peacekeepers to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence. This inventory compiles innovative solutions by UN missions, including firewood patrols, community liaison initiatives, and joint protection teams. UN Women will continue to collaborate with DPKO on the development and implementation of scenario-based training material to be undertaken by peacekeepers prior to being deployed.

Hosting multi-stakeholder dialogues: UNIFEM (now UN Women) has also hosted conferences and other discussions among stakeholders, to help strengthen the understanding of the appropriate role for peacekeepers in the protection of women from sexual violence, and to develop good practices. UNIFEM (now UN Women) hosted a three-day conference in 2008 titled Women Targeted or Affected by Armed Conflict: What Role for Military Peacekeepers? which focused on current peacekeeping practices in the prevention of widespread and systematic sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict contexts. Read the Summary Report.

Strengthening awareness and training and supporting the deployment of gender experts: UN Women has supported the deployment of Gender Advisors and other gender experts to peace operations around the world.