The United Nations’ Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy 2018–2028 sets out a roadmap for increasing the participation of uniformed women in peace operations. The strategy is not just about numbers; it aims to foster meaningful participation and create enabling environments that meet the needs of all peacekeepers.
Gender-balanced teams, with diverse perspectives, experience, and backgrounds, strengthen mandate delivery.
Examples from the field show that they can enhance trust-building with communities, improve access to host country populations, strengthen security information gathering, and support more inclusive approaches to protection and peacemaking.
These benefits are essential to the credibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of United Nations peace operations. Lasting peace will require the voices, talents, and leadership of both men and women peacekeepers.
A recently completed review of the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy implementation provided an opportunity to reflect on progress and challenges since its launch in 2018.
The overall share of uniformed women in the military, police, and justice and corrections has more than doubled - from 4.9 per cent in 2018 to 10.1 per cent in June 2025 - driven by strong partnerships with troop and police contributing countries.
Significant efforts have been made to improve living and working conditions in peace operations by strengthening gender-sensitive camp designs, facilities, and healthcare. There is also peer support for women peacekeepers, for example, through the Pilot Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers currently active in UNMISS, UNISFA, and MINURSO.
However, challenges remain, such as limited national pools of women candidates and a low number of nominations, in particular for leadership roles. Some deployed women continue to experience gender bias.
Increased prevention and protection from sexual harassment is needed, as well as further improvements in infrastructure and accommodations.
Achieving meaningful participation requires sustained commitment by the United Nations and Member States, who play a decisive role in generating and supporting deployments.
Looking ahead, the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), Department of Operational Support (DOS), and Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC) will jointly focus on:
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Building capacity and strengthening the accountability of leaders at all levels to take action on gender parity and inclusion.
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Strengthening living and working conditions through targeted projects and systematic assessment of accommodations, camp design, health services, and equipment to meet the needs of all peacekeepers.
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Improving prevention and response to sexual harassment. DMSPC, with support from the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, a multistakeholder initiative to increase meaningful participation of uniformed women in UN peace operations, has been working to better understand the gaps, challenges, and good practices that can foster an environment free from sexual harassment.
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Expanding the Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers to other missions.
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Continuing targeted initiatives to strengthen pools of women ready for deployment, including in leadership positions.
