NATO Participation

We can do better, however. Just 10 per cent of NATO armed forces are women; of those deployed in operations, it is just 5.5 per cent. We understand that improving this ratio will improve effectiveness, and we urge Member States to do their part. We support the United Nations pledge in London to double the proportion of women in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Again, we need to lead by example. The gender balance in the NATO leadership is now improving, after years of stagnation. Last week, we proudly welcomed the first female NATO Deputy Secretary- General, Ms. Rose Gottemoeller. In June, our first female four-star, American Admiral Michelle Howard, assumed command of the NATO Joint Force Command, Naples. The NATO Defence College in Rome will be led by a woman, too — Canadian Lieutenant-General Christine Whitecross. We know that we need to keep up this momentum, and we will, because equal participation is not a favour to women. It is a hard-core security requirement. It is essential to the resilience of our societies, to the effectiveness of our forces and to a modern, ready and responsive Alliance. But above all, it is fundamental to achieving lasting peace.