Advocacy campaign on gender equality and security sector reform

A public advocacy campaign on gender equality and women’s participation in security and defence sectors is being launched by the Department of Peace Operations (DPO).

To advance the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda enshrined in UN Security Council resolution 1325, the United Nations supports national efforts to increase the meaningful participation of women at all levels of security and defence sectors in peacekeeping settings as well as in countries contributing uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping.

“When women’s needs and experiences are at the centre of security sector reform, security institutions are more representative of the population they serve and are better able to effectively respond to the specific security needs of diverse groups,” says Germana Dalberto, gender focal point, Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions’ (OROLSI).

The campaign will spotlight the good practices of Member States in promoting women in the military, a sector that is traditionally male dominated.

A focus of the one-year project is to “encourage women to join security and defence sectors and engage leadership to create space and involve women in reform efforts, to advocate for the removal of harmful gender stereotypes, for their empowerment and full participation in peacebuilding as well as post-conflict recovery and development,” says Sophie Boudre, who implements the project on behalf of the Strategic Communication Section.

“The stories of female judges, military officers, Ministers of Defence, members of grassroots security mechanisms, or policewomen are too often untold. They are powerful examples and role models to inspire, follow and promote for more equitable societies,” Ms. Boudre adds.

The campaign will tell these stories.

Specific messages and tools will also be created to support efforts by peacekeeping missions with a security sector reform mandate to promote women in security and defence sectors, including:

This advocacy campaign coincides with UN Peacekeeping’s 75^th anniversary in 2023. It is funded by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations.