In its resolution 1325 of 31 October 2000, the Security Council expressed its willingness to incorporate a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations and urged that a gender component be established in peace missions. Gender offices have been placed in large, multidimensional peace missions and gender focal points in small missions. In addition, a number of missions have undertaken measures to promote gender balance in local police forces and to work with newly restructured police forces on issues related to domestic violence and human trafficking.

DPKO is committed to ensure that gender perspectives are integrated into all functional areas of peacekeeping, from negotiations and decision-making mechanisms to security sector reforms, from mine action initiatives to the enforcement of the rule of law.

Institutionally, the Department strives to establish a gender balanced staffing structure. For senior management appointments, a roster of qualified, regionally-representative female candidates is being developed. Recruitment policies are being reviewed with a view to removing all possible barriers that could impede career advancement, retention and recruitment of female personnel in peacekeeping. In collaboration with Member States, procedures and strategies for improving the numbers of uniformed female personnel serving on peacekeeping missions are also being reviewed.