More than 130 delegations from around the world, including 60 at the ministerial-level – the largest ever in this five-year process – gathered today to re-affirm their support to UN Peacekeeping at the 2019 Peacekeeping Ministerial conference at United Nations Headquarters.
 
Building on ongoing efforts to strengthen peacekeeping operations through the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative as well as previous peacekeeping ministerial meetings and summits in New York, London, Paris and Vancouver, 45 countries announced new pledges to generate specialized capabilities, including rapidly deployable units, training and capacity-building support and to accelerate the full implementation of the women, peace and security agenda.
 
Among the announced pledges at the 2019 Ministerial meeting were:

• 20 countries announced pledges for new military and police units such as an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit, a Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol Unit, a Quick Reaction Forces, Explosive Ordinance Disposal units, Counter Improvised Explosive Device Units, Aeromedical Evacuation Teams and Formed Police Units and units for Rapid Deployment.
• 24 countries announced pledges for training assistance in the domains of protection of civilians, medical services, peacekeeping intelligence, jungle operations, mine awareness, counter-improvised explosive devices.
• 7 countries offered financial contributions for several initiatives, including the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations.

 
The UN Military Gender Advocate award was presented to Lieutenant Commander Marcia Andrade Braga (Brazil) serving in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
 
Angelina Jolie, co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), and Special Envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), highlighted the importance of protection of civilians and called on Member States to increase the participation of women in peacekeeping operations.
 
More information on the meeting, including statements and the list of pledges, can be found on the UN Peacekeeping website.