Uniformed women need to be part of shaping policies and decisions that?impact?them.?
This was the key message from?the Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers, represented by PA Millicent Alambo, a UN Police Gender Advisor with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), at the high-level event?¡°Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) at a Crossroads¡± on Wednesday.?
The network had three asks of UN leadership and Member States:
1.???Support the Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers.??
¡°The network has been a powerful tool to raise our voices.¡± ??
¡°Mission leaders, like former UNISFA Police Commissioner Violet Lusala and UNMISS Force Commander General Mohan, have also met with us, through the network. That leaders take the time to meet with us directly?sends?a clear message: our concerns matter.¡±? ?
2.?Ensure?we are represented in leadership roles.??
This has been the top issue raised by uniformed women since the network launched in 2023.?
¡°Diverse leadership leads to better decisions and stronger missions. When women lead, it also sends a powerful message to peacekeepers and the communities we serve. We have, for example, seen this in UNMISS with former Police Commissioner Christine Fossen.¡±? ?
As one network member said, ¡°If you can see it, you can be it.¡± ??
3.??We?need the right kind of leaders in peacekeeping, that is,?leaders who are gender-responsive.??
¡°Leaders who understand that gender equality isn¡¯t just the right thing to do¡ªit¡¯s about better peacekeeping.¡±?
"On behalf of the network, I ask the UN and Member States to deploy leaders with the right mindset," said Ms. Alambo, who is also the UN Police focal point?for the Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers.
About the Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers
The group is coordinated by the DPPA-DPO Office for Coordination and Shared Services, in partnership with the Office of Military Affairs, the Police Division, and the Justice and Corrections Service, with support from Germany. ??
Questions? Contact?dpo-womenpknetwork@un.org.??
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