Latest news with #InternationalDayofUNPeacekeepers
International Business Times
02-06-2025
- General
- International Business Times
The Changing Face of UN Peacekeeping: Women on the Frontlines
Each year on May 29, the world marks the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, honoring the courage of those who serve under the blue flag in the world's most challenging environments. Since 1948, peacekeepers have stood as guardians of stability in conflict zones across the globe. Today, more than 72,000 personnel work in peacekeeping operations, but a striking imbalance in their ranks reflects deeper questions about representation in global security. For the past 25 years, the Women, Peace and Security agenda has played an instrumental role in advancing women's participation in peacekeeping operations around the world. The story of UN peacekeeping is not merely about numbers but about whose voices shape peace. In March 2023, women constituted 8.4 percent of the more than 76,700 uniformed peacekeepers at the time, 6.4 percent of military contingents and 21 percent of military staff officers and military observers, a significant rise from just 1 percent in 1993, yet still far from parity. These statistics tell a tale of progress and challenge, of institutional barriers and bold changes happening within one of the world's most significant security frameworks. The Slow March Toward Equal Representation Women remain starkly underrepresented in military contingents despite high-level commitments and strategic frameworks. By 2028, the UN aims to have women comprise at least 15 percent of military personnel, 25 percent of military observers and staff officers, and 20 percent of police units, ambitious goals that demand systemic change. A variety of barriers hold back women's participation in peacekeeping, ranging from limited career advancement opportunities to family constraints and deployment criteria. The challenge runs deeper than simple recruitment: it reflects how societies structure their security forces and who they deem suitable for frontline roles. Countries with stronger domestic records of equality between men and women deploy significantly more women peacekeepers. Ghana, which began enlisting women in 1958 and trained female officer pilots by 1965, contributed 14.1 percent female peacekeepers as of October 2022 according to UN peacekeeping. This pattern repeats across nations, demonstrating that peacekeeping gender balance begins with domestic military policies. Beyond Numbers: The Quest for Meaningful Participation However, the presence of women in peacekeeping missions does not automatically translate to meaningful participation. Too often, female peacekeepers find themselves limited to stereotypical roles: nursing, community engagement, administration, and domestic services, regardless of their skills and experience. Missions with higher percentages of combat-related forces typically have the lowest percentages of women, reflecting persistent beliefs that women cannot protect themselves in dangerous conflict areas. This underutilization creates a challenging dynamic where women rarely conduct patrols or interact with local communities, precisely the areas where their representation could have the greatest impact. The focus on simply increasing recruitment numbers without addressing how women are deployed and what roles they fill risks what experts call the "instrumentalization" of female peacekeepers. As researcher Nina Wilen notes, there's an urgent need to contextualize women's contributions and emphasize the benefits that gender-balanced teams bring to peacekeeping, rather than segregating personnel based on gender alone. Pathfinders: Countries Leading the Charge Several nations have significantly outpaced global averages in deploying women to peacekeeping missions. According to Women in International Security, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Tanzania all surpassed the UN's 2022 target of having at least 9 percent women among countries contributing more than 1,000 troops. Nigeria stands out with 21.5 percent of its peacekeepers being women, while Indonesia has deployed over 570 female peacekeepers to various UN missions since 1999. The contrast with other major contributors is stark. India, the world's second-largest troop-contributing country with 5,548 deployed personnel, included only 51 women a mere 0.9 percent of their contribution. This disparity highlights how political will and institutional culture, not just available personnel, determine a country's balance between men and women in peacekeeping operations. When examining specific missions, MINUSCA in the Central African Republic, UNMISS in South Sudan, and MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo have the highest raw numbers of female troops, though women still represent only 5.9-6.4 percent of these forces. The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) stands as an outlier with 40 percent female representation, demonstrating what's possible when intentional deployment practices are implemented. True progress will require more than symbolic commitments. Experts suggest the UN should consider paying premiums to countries based on the percentage of high-ranking women assigned to contingents, creating financial incentives for meaningful inclusion. Such incentives could be tied to specialized training and rigorous vetting procedures, addressing multiple reform priorities simultaneously. The story of women in UN peacekeeping operations reflects a broader narrative about security, representation, and whose perspectives shape peace processes worldwide. The Women, Peace and Security agenda emphasizes the critical role that women and their perspectives play in the success of peacebuilding and peacekeeping missions around the world. As the blue helmets mark another International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the question remains: Will the next decade bring tokenistic increases in women's participation, or genuine transformation in how peacekeeping missions operate? The answer lies not just in recruitment statistics but in systemic changes to deployment practices, mission structure, and the fundamental understanding of what effective peacekeeping requires in complex modern conflicts.
Express Tribune
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistani blue berets honoured
The United Nations honoured 57 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers from 32 countries, including two from Pakistan, who paid the ultimate price for the cause of peace last year serving the missions around the world, at an impressive ceremony Thursday that marked the annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Among the posthumous awardees of Dag Hammarskjold medals are: Sepoy Muhammad Tarique and Havildar Ahsan Ullah Khan who both served with UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who presided over the ceremony in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at UN Headquarters in New York, gave away the awards for the fallen peacekeeper which were received by ambassadors of the countries they hailed from. The awards for the civilians, who lost their lives in line of their duty, were received on behalf of their families by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, Atul Khare. Pakistan's UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, accompanied by the Mission's Military Adviser Col. Umar Shafique, attended the ceremony and accepted the awards, along with other heads of missions and their military attaches. The UN chief also presented awards to the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year, Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme from Ghana and the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award to Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone. Both of them also serve with the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA). The first UN peacekeeping operation was established in 1948 and today more than 68,000 civilian, military, and police personnel are posted at 11 missions in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Pakistan is the 5th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, the UN's flagship activity.
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Two Indian peacekeepers honoured posthumously for sacrifice in line of duty on International Peacekeepers Day
Two Indian peacekeepers, who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag last year, were honoured posthumously by the United Nations on International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Brigadier General Amitabh Jha, who served with the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), and Havildar Sanjay Singh, who was deployed with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), were honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold medal at a solemn ceremony here on Thursday on the occasion of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish received the Dag Hammarskjold Medal on behalf of the families of fallen Indian Peacekeepers from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the solemn ceremony in the UN headquarters. 'The departed peacekeepers remind us of the sacrifices made for the greater and collective good of humanity. Blue Helmets continue to be the face of the United Nations in crises all over the world, bringing peace and reassurance to those most critically affected. UN Peacekeeping is true multilateralism in action,' the Permanent Mission of India to the UN said in a post on X. India also 'remembered late Brigadier Amitabh Jha (UNDOF), Havildar Sanjay Singh (MONUSCO) & Col (Retd.) Waibhav Anil Kale whom we lost last year.' India is the 4th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping. It currently deploys more than 5,300 military and police personnel to the UN peace operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara. Guterres laid a wreath to honour the more than 4,400 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948. He then presided over the solemn ceremony at which the Dag Hammarskjöld Medals were awarded posthumously to 57 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers, who lost their lives serving under the UN flag last year. The Secretary-General also presented awards to the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme from Ghana and the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award to Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone. Both of them serve with the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA). Last year, Major Radhika Sen, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), received the prestigious '2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award' from Guterres. The theme for this year's International Day of UN Peacekeepers is the 'Future of Peacekeeping', which emphasises that the 'Pact for the Future' – adopted by world leaders in September last year – includes a commitment to adapt peacekeeping to the changing world, the release added. In his message for the Day, Guterres said that 'today, peacekeepers face increasingly complex situations in an increasingly complex world… Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations — and the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today's realities and tomorrow's challenges.' Honouring the service of the peacekeepers, Guterres said, 'We draw inspiration from their resilience, dedication and courage. And we remember all the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace. We will never forget them – and we will carry their work forward.' Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in his message that peacekeeping personnel are 'our most important capability. The sacrifices made by our peacekeepers call for more than remembrance; they demand action.' 'Throughout its history, peacekeeping has always adapted to ever-changing contexts to achieve results. The future of peacekeeping hinges on our collective commitment to continue to adapt and invest—so we can continue delivering hope and protection where it's needed most,' he added. The International Day of UN Peacekeepers was established by the UN General Assembly in 2002 to pay tribute to all men and women serving in peacekeeping, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. In 1948, the decision was made to deploy military observers to the Middle East to supervise the implementation of Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements, in what became the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation. Since then, more than two million peacekeepers have served in 71 operations globally. Today, about 68,000 women and men serve as military, police and civilian personnel in 11 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and 119 countries currently contribute uniformed personnel.
DW
30-05-2025
- General
- DW
How do peacekeepers operate in Africa? – DW – 05/30/2025
05/30/2025 May 30, 2025 This year, the world marked International Day of UN Peacekeepers with an eye on the future of peacekeeping. But how do blue helmets currently operate in Africa, and what have their challenges been? Eddy Micah Jr. talks to Malawi Defense Forces Major Tadziwana Kapeni and DW's Ben Shemang in Abuja.
MTV Lebanon
29-05-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
UNIFIL: Any miscalculation could lead to serious and unforeseen consequences
UNIFIL Force Commander Aroldo Lázaro confirmed that 'the situation along the Blue Line remains tense, with ongoing violations and concerns about the risk of any miscalculation that could lead to serious consequences.' Speaking on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, he said: 'We welcome the relative calm since November, but weapons are still being fired and the challenges remain significant.'
