“As women in leadership, we should strive for excellence and embrace positivity. It has a remarkable way of overshadowing negativity and dissolving bias” .

A series of webinars originally designed to empower uniformed women peacekeepers and build their confidence, evolved into a dynamic discussion on assertively communicating when confronted with gender bias and stereotyping encountered during deployments to UN Peace Operations.

In collaboration with the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF), the Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers organized three webinars in response to a request from uniformed women for practical guidance on navigating challenging interactions during deployment. Across three webinars held from 21 to 24 October, more than 50 uniformed women from UNMISS, UNISFA and MINURSO participated.

The interactive sessions provided a safe and supportive space to share experiences and strategies for navigating gender bias encountered by uniformed women. Facilitators used anonymized real-life scenarios collected ahead of the webinars to shape discussions and encourage participants to reflect on practical, actionable approaches to addressing such situations, including through effective communication.  Discussions underlined that gender bias remains a persistent barrier, affecting both individual confidence as well as collective effectiveness.

The series concluded with several key “jewels” to take away for managing difficult situations:

1) Choose your battles, 

2) It’s a marathon, not a sprint, 

3) Advocate for others. Negotiate on behalf of others, 

4) Search/find and empower (male) supporters, and 

5) Balance assertiveness with empathy.

Participants highlighted the value of ongoing workshops and peer exchanges in supporting uniformed women to strengthen their confidence, leadership, and ability to navigate complex interpersonal and institutional dynamics in peacekeeping missions.

As facilitator Police Superintendent Annah Sowse noted, “We are here to learn from each other. We are here to build each other up.”

About the Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers

This initiative is implemented by the DPPA-DPO Office for Coordination and Shared Services, in partnership with the Office of Military Affairs, the Police Division, and the Justice and Corrections Service, with support from Germany.   

Questions? Contact dpo-womenpknetwork@un.org.