Over the last several decades, the number of women serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions globally, as both police and military personnel, has grown exponentially. Today, there are more than 6,200 uniformed women peacekeepers, half of whom are from Africa and serve on the continent. Among African troop-contributing countries (TCCs), Nigeria has had one of the highest percentages of uniformed women personnel in active peace operations.

Still, as women continue to comprise less than 10% of all uniformed peacekeepers, the quest for peace and security remains a massive concern, and the role of women in peacekeeping operations has increasingly come under the spotlight. Our Secure Future’s (OSF) Women, Peace and Security Global Polling Project reveals that 80% of women surveyed feel that security actors, such as military, peacekeeping, governmental, and police forces, do not adequately represent them.

This stark revelation underscores the critical need for gender-responsive peacekeeping, which has evolved significantly over the years but still faces numerous challenges.

On May 29, 2024, the world will commemorate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, and it is crucial to recognize the role of women in fostering sustainable peace and security.

Throughout the years, OSF, an initiative dedicated to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, has been leading the advocacy and efforts to achieve gender-responsiveness in peacekeeping operations.

The Evolution of Gender-Responsive Peacekeeping

The landmark U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000 began the journey toward gender-responsive peacekeeping, emphasizing the importance of women’s participation in all aspects of peace and security. This resolution marked a shift in recognizing women’s unique contributions and perspectives to peacekeeping efforts.

Despite this progress, the implementation of gender-responsive peacekeeping has encountered numerous obstacles, ranging from institutional biases to a lack of comprehensive strategies for integrating women into peacekeeping roles.

The Importance of Women’s Participation in Peacekeeping

Women’s participation in peacekeeping significantly enhances operational effectiveness. Their presence improves situational awareness, as they often have better access to local communities and can gather information that male peacekeepers might not be able to obtain. This comprehensive understanding of the area of operation is essential for mission success.

Female peacekeepers are vital in building trust and acceptance with local populations since they appear less threatening, fostering better communication and cooperation with communities. This trust is particularly important when addressing sensitive issues such as sexual violence, as local women are more likely to report incidents to female officers.

Studies have linked the deployment of female peacekeepers to a reduction in instances of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations. The mere presence of women in missions can deter such misconduct and create a safer environment for the local population and fellow peacekeepers.

Without question, female peacekeepers bring unique skills and perspectives to the table. They excel in tasks such as female body searches, working with women’s prisons, providing escorts for victims of sexual violence, and screening female combatants at disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) sites. This is invaluable for the success of peacekeeping missions.

Barriers to Women’s Participation

Despite the proven benefits of women’s participation, social norms and gender biases continue to hinder their involvement in peacekeeping. Stereotypes that position security as a “man’s issue” and cultural barriers often limit women’s opportunities to serve in peacekeeping missions. Addressing these deeply ingrained biases is crucial for achieving gender equality in peacekeeping.

Women often face challenges in balancing their peacekeeping duties with family responsibilities. The lack of adequate facilities, such as separate accommodations and childcare support, can deter women from participating in missions.

Recruiting and retaining female peacekeepers also remains a significant hurdle. Many countries lack specific policies to recruit women into their national forces, while others have ceilings on the proportion of women allowed to serve. Addressing these barriers and implementing targeted recruitment strategies are necessary to increase women’s participation in peacekeeping.

Moreover, women are severely underrepresented in senior ranks within peacekeeping missions. The lack of combat experience or leadership opportunities in conflict situations can restrict women’s advancement to high-level positions. Breaking through these glass ceilings and providing equal opportunities for women’s career progression is important in achieving gender equality in peacekeeping.

OSF’s Efforts in Promoting Gender-Responsive Peacekeeping

OSF aims to shift attitudes and promote gender equality in peacekeeping operations by highlighting the importance of women’s participation and the benefits of integrating gender perspectives.

Recognizing the importance of evidence-based advocacy through research and data collection initiatives, OSF contributes to the growing body of knowledge on women’s participation in peacekeeping. Identifying gaps and best practices enables OSF to provide valuable insights to inform policy decisions and drive change.

OSF also actively collaborates with U.N. entities and member states to promote gender-responsive peacekeeping. Engaging in dialogue, sharing expertise, and providing recommendations helps OSF strengthen the implementation of the WPS agenda in peacekeeping operations.

Capacity-building and training initiatives to enhance gender-responsive peacekeeping should be a priority, and OSF understands this. OSF contributes to building a more inclusive and effective peacekeeping force by providing training on gender mainstreaming and promoting women’s leadership.

Canada’s Elsie Initiative, A Groundbreaking Effort to Increase Women in Peacekeeping

In 2017, Canada launched the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, a groundbreaking effort to increase the meaningful participation of uniformed women in U.N. peacekeeping operations that can serve as a useful model for other countries. Named after Canadian women’s rights pioneer Elsie MacGill, the initiative is designed to help overcome barriers to women’s participation in peacekeeping.

The Elsie Initiative focuses on three main areas, including developing a barrier assessment methodology that helps countries identify and address barriers to women’s participation. This includes collecting and analyzing sex-disaggregated data on deployment and working with countries to develop national action plans.

The initiative also provides training and capacity-building assistance for countries contributing troops and police to peacekeeping missions. This includes supporting the development of gender-sensitive deployment criteria and providing gender-focused training.

Finally, it promoted women’s participation in peacekeeping in global policy dialogues through working with the U.N. and member states to increase awareness and support for women peacekeepers.

The Elsie Initiative addresses the persistent underrepresentation of women in peacekeeping with an innovative, practical viewpoint. It serves as a blueprint for other countries globally, inspiring transformative change in increasing women’s meaningful participation in U.N. peacekeeping.

The Elsie Initiative comprises a contact group of several member states, including Argentina, France, Ghana, the Netherlands, Norway, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

Recommendations from OSF

OSF recommends that member states develop comprehensive National Action Plans (NAPs) to operationalize the WPS agenda in peacekeeping. NAPs should include specific targets for increasing women’s participation, strategies for gender mainstreaming, and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation.

Strengthening policy frameworks and accountability are also non-negotiables in achieving gender responsiveness in peacekeeping. OSF emphasizes the need to fully implement existing policies and hold stakeholders accountable for progress.

Concerted efforts to address institutional biases and discriminatory practices that hinder women’s participation in peacekeeping cannot be understated. To achieve this, several things must be done, including challenging gender stereotypes, providing equal opportunities for training and advancement, and creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Engaging Men as Allies and Advocates

In order for women to achieve equal and meaningful participation in peacekeeping operations, men need to be more visible allies. OSF recognizes the crucial role of men as allies and advocates in promoting gender-responsive peacekeeping and emphasizes the need to inspire male political and military leaders to drive change and foster a culture of gender equality within peacekeeping missions.

To help with this, OSF set up Mobilizing Men as Partners for Women, Peace and Security, a group of prominent men and women leaders in support of women’s engagement in global peace, reconciliation, and post-conflict reconstruction.

Reaffirming Commitment to Gender-Responsive Peacekeeping

The evidence is clear: women’s participation is a matter of equality and a strategic necessity for the effectiveness and legitimacy of peacekeeping operations.

The insights from OSF serve as a powerful reminder of the efforts that have been made and, more importantly, the work that lies ahead. Truly, the journey toward gender-responsive peacekeeping is a collective endeavor that requires the dedication and collaboration of all stakeholders.

OSF remains dedicated to advancing the WPS agenda and promoting gender equality in peacekeeping. On the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, it is imperative to honor the brave women and men who serve in peacekeeping missions worldwide.