Progress Report: Gender Mainstreaming in Peacekeeping Operations

In October 2000, Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security acknowledged the need to address the specific vulnerabilities of women in conflict situations and to capitalise on their untapped potential to contribute to the establishment of peace and security.

For DPKO, the resolution has provided a framework for integrating gender perspectives into the implementation of peacekeeping mandates at policy and operational levels. One result of this is that over the last two years, gender advisers have been appointed to every new multidimensional peacekeeping operation, reinforcing the need to document ongoing work in this field. This report is the first effort to chronicle the progress and challenges related to gender mainstreaming in peacekeeping operations, as called for in the resolution. It focuses on DPKO Headquarters and the ten peacekeeping missions that have full-time gender advisory capacities. Far from being an exhaustive account, this report provides an overview of key interventions being supported by gender units in peacekeeping operations, often in cooperation with other mission components or with UN partner agencies.