Women in peacekeeping
As peacekeeping has evolved to encompass a broader humanitarian approach, women have become increasingly part of the peacekeeping family.
They are deployed in all areas – police, military and civilian – and have made a positive impact on peacekeeping environments, both in supporting the role of women in building peace and protecting women’s rights.
In 1993, women made up 1% of deployed uniformed personnel. Today out of approximately 125,000 peacekeepers, women constitute 4% of military personnel and 10% of police personnel in UN Peacekeeping missions. Women also account for approximately 30% of international civilian staff. Find out more in our gender statistics section or download the Consolidated Statistical Information on Female Military and Police Personnel in UN Peacekeeping Operation from 2005 - 2010 
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In all fields of peacekeeping, women peacekeepers have proven that they can perform the same roles, to the same standards and under the same difficult conditions, as their male counterparts. It is an operational imperative that we recruit and retain female peacekeepers.
For its part, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) continues to respond to the call in all Women, Peace and Security mandates to increase the numbers of women in peacekeeping by advocating for the deployment of more women. However the ultimate responsibility for getting more women into the military peacekeeping lies with the individual countries that contributing troops and police.
Why is it important to have female peacekeepers?
Female peacekeepers act as role models in the local environment, inspiring women and girls in often male-dominated societies to push for their own rights and for participation in peace processes.
The increased recruitment of women is critical for:
- empowering women in the host community;
- screening of female ex-combatants;
- assisting female ex-combatants during the process of demobilizing and reintegration into civilian life;
- widening the net of information gathering;
- performing the cordon and search of women;
- interviewing survivors of gender-based violence;
- mentoring female cadets at police and military academies;
- interacting with women in societies where women are prohibited from speaking to men.
The presence of women peacekeepers can also:
- help to reduce conflict and confrontation;
- improve access and support for local women;
- empower women in the community;
- provide a greater sense of security to local populations, including women and children;
- broaden the skills and styles available within a peacekeeping mission.
Key facts and figures
- In the 32 years between 1957 and 1989 a total of only twenty women served as UN peacekeepers;
- In 1993, 11 out of 19 peacekeeping missions had civilian components and women made up one third of civilian staff. Today, women constitute around 30 percent of the 19,800 civilian staffers working in peacekeeping missions;
- 3 women lead peace operations as Special Representatives of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and 3 women are Deputy SRSGs;
- Three all-female UN police units have been deployed around the world: Indian in Liberia; Bangladeshi in Haiti and Samoan in Timor;
- The UN Police Adviser is a woman who advises DPKO on police-related matters – Ann-Marie Orler of Sweden.