The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for more women’s participation “the centre of peacekeeping decision-making”, describing them as “central to sustainable solutions” to challenges facing the Organization worldwide.
“This is not just a question of numbers, but also of our effectiveness in fulfilling our mandates,” Guterres said while addressing the Security Council on Thursday.
Guterres told the Council that women can better access intelligence to provide a holistic view of security challenges, and at checkpoints they promote a less confrontational atmosphere.
The 69-year-old thanked the more than 150 Member States who have signed on to his Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, which calls for women’s participation in every stage of peace operations, and integrates a gender perspective into all analysis, planning, implementation and reporting.
The UN chief’s sentiments were echoed by the first female Force Commander and current Head of the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) mission, Major General Kristin Lund, who told the Council that the “momentum of pushing gender equality must be kept”.
While acknowledging that it “has been more challenging”, Guterres vowed “to press ahead” with the quest to ensure more women’s representation in military, police and justice systems.
He urged the UN member states to “keep on track” with the efforts to ensure gender parity is realized.
