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Improving Gender Training in UN Peacekeeping Operations

Authored by: Velomahanina T. Razakamaharavo, Luisa Ryan, and Leah Sherwood

Categories: Peace Support Operations
Sub-Categories: Peacekeeping, Peacemaking, Security Sector Reform (SSR)
Region: No Region
Year: 2018
Citation: Razakamaharavo, Velomahanina T, et al. Improving Gender Training in UN Peacekeeping Operations. Women in International Security, 2018

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Executive Summary

United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 expressed a global commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Many policy statements and guidance on gender mainstreaming have followed in the 17 years since UNSCR 1325’s passage, yet peace operations on the ground appear little affected. They continue to overlook the many roles women play in conflict and conflict resolution, fail to engage fully with women’s organizations, and fail to include women fighters in reintegration and security sector reform programs. They even perpetrate exploitation: Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) continues to be widespread within peace missions themselves, despite increased SEA and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) training for operation forces. Improved gender training could help ameliorate this mismatch between policy rhetoric and practice. This policy brief outlines current gender training practice, identifies gaps, and recommends ways to strengthen training in order to help peace operations personnel better understand how to apply a gender lens in their missions.