INTERNATIONAL: UN Chief Calls for More Women's Participation in Peacekeeping

Date: 
Monday, January 28, 2013
Source: 
News and Media UN Radio
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Peacekeeping

Countries have been urged to provide key military assets and more women staff to serve at United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The call came from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the Security Council held an open debate on peacekeeping operations.

Mr. Ban said the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support are working together to further improve how the UN plans, manages and supports its missions.

"When Member States show the will to make the right contributions at the right time, we can deploy more quickly and operate more effectively. And I repeat my standing appeal for more women to serve in our operations. I am a proud advocate of gender equality and I want to usher in the day when our peacekeeping operations benefit from the full participation of women, especially in leadership positions." (27")

Mr. Ban said the UN will conduct periodic reviews of its peacekeeping missions to ensure that they have the right mix of skills and capabilities to respond to evolving mandates and changing conditions on the ground.

Dianne Penn, United Nations.

Duration: 1'11"