Peacekeeping training for female officers extols role played by women in the military
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The second UN peacekeeping training for female military officers, convened by UN Women in collaboration with the South African government, concluded after two busy weeks on Friday, 18 September. Held at the South African Army School’s Peace Mission Training Centre in Pretoria, the training was attended by 40 female officers from 26 countries around the world. It follows a successful first pilot held in Delhi, India earlier this year.
The purpose of the course is to increase the number of female military officers deployed to peacekeeping missions by providing a space where women in the armed forces can gain exposure, additional training, and opportunities for professional advancement and networking with military women from other countries. The course facilitates engagement between UN Women and troop contributing countries, incentivizing the deployment of more women in their military contingents.
In UN military components, women still account for only three per cent of military personnel, an improvement of only two percentage points in 21 years. This is despite repeated calls for more women in peacekeeping since the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 was adopted in 2000.
Read the full story on UN Women’s Regional Africa website, where this story was originally posted.