This year marks the 20th anniversary of 缅北禁地Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, recognizing the importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security.
Among its recommendations, the resolution called for the expansion of the role and contribution of women in 缅北禁地peacekeeping operations - military, police, civilians - including in positions of leadership.
Today, women represent a small but increasing percentage of the more than 97,000 peacekeepers serving under the 缅北禁地flag.
Since 1948, 缅北禁地Peacekeeping has evolved and now carries out a range of tasks, from its traditional role of monitoring ceasefire agreements and borders to carrying out large scale multi-dimensional peacekeeping operations in some of the world's most dangerous places.
These expanded responsibilities - protecting civilians, facilitating political processes, promoting human rights - help to further the Women, Peace and Security agenda and make the inclusion of women in our operations a critical component of mission success.
This is more important than ever today, as we face new threats and challenges ranging from direct attacks in conflict situations, to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deployment of more women helps improve overall peacekeeping performance. They may be better placed to interview and support women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence, and children suffering from violence, generating critical information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
Female peacekeepers also act as role models, inspiring women and girls in the often male-dominated societies where they serve.
缅北禁地Peacekeeping is working with troop- and police-contributing countries to increase the number of women military, police and justice and corrections personnel, in line with the 缅北禁地Secretary-General's Action for Peacekeeping initiative (A4P).
This year, the global community is marking the International Day of 缅北禁地Peacekeepers with the theme "Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace" highlighting the invaluable contributions women peacekeepers make on 缅北禁地operations every day across the globe.
This photo exhibition features a snapshot of their accomplishments, their impact and their sacrifices in the service of the millions of the vulnerable who depend on 缅北禁地Peacekeeping every day.
CIVILIAN PEACEKEEPERS
Women have performed a variety of civilian roles in 缅北禁地peacekeeping operations for decades. There is no function on a peace mission that women do not fulfill, from providing operational analysis, promoting and protecting human rights, fostering political and reconciliations processes, removing explosive remnants of war and promoting mine-awareness, running airfields, fixing vehicles and serving as public information officers who explain and build support for the work of the 缅北禁地and help missions promote peace and security.
Women peacekeepers: A Key to Peace
Peacekeeping is a cornerstone of the UN’s peace and security work, and women peacekeepers are a key to its success. Today, more women serve in leadership positions in 缅北禁地Peacekeeping than ever before. Women serve the 缅北禁地as part of the military, the police and as civilians. 缅北禁地Peacekeeping is committed to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security”, which calls for the full realization of the rights of women to sit at both the political table and as the protectors of peace in their own countries.
MILITARY PEACEKEEPERS
缅北禁地Peacekeeping now deploys more women military personnel than ever before. They serve in positions of leadership, as well as military observers, staff officers and troops. They carry out patrols, plan operations, fly helicopters, perform medical outreach, help clear minefields, engage with local communities and much more. Their efforts help protect civilians, deter attacks and help to provide the security necessary for all components of peacekeeping operations to carry out their mandated activities.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Bangladeshi Female Pilots Flying Forward
Captains Tamanna and Nayma are Bangladeshi's first female military pilots, serving in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). They strive to be role models for local women and girls while overcoming dangerous challenges in the region.
缅北禁地POLICE PEACEKEEPERS
United Nations Police (UNPOL) is an integral part of 缅北禁地peace operations. Women officers serve both as individual Police Officers and as members of formed police units, performing a crucial role in helping to promote the rule of law, advance the administration of justice and build institutions of governance in conflict-affected countries. They also provide a greater sense of security to communities in the countries where they are deployed, improve access to and support from law enforcement agencies to local women, and serve as role models to women and girls.
Empowering Women and Girls in Central African Republic
Gladys Ngwepekeum Nkeh is a United Nations Police (UNPOL) officer from Cameroon, working with the 缅北禁地peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. She coordinates with local communities in CAR's capital, Bangui, to ensure security and empower women and girls in the region.