Donating to the UN mission in Mali increases the integration of women in peacekeeping
The grant comes from the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF), which supports the meaningful participation of women in UN peacekeeping as a whole.
The grant comes at a time when the three countries that contribute police to the UN’s regional operations – Nigeria, Senegal and Togo – have decided to increase and sustain the deployment of women in the Police Departments Form (FPU) in the coming years.
Increasing numbers
Senegal plans to raise it from the current level of 18 per cent to 26 per cent by 2025. Togo will look to double female mobility from 11 per cent to 25 per cent, while Nigeria will aim to maintain the current rate of 24 percent.
MINUSMA will use the grant to build seven residential units, 19 sanitary facilities, four laundromats and a dedicated sports field, which will improve working and living conditions for women peacekeepers.
Women should have equal opportunities to deploy to the field, and their contribution to the operational success of peacekeeping missions has been essential, according to UN Peacekeeping.
We support the environment
Mixed-gender FPUs improve engagement with the communities they serve and increase mission capability to deliver on mandated tasks, including public order management and high visibility patrols.
But “to reap the benefits of having more diverse groups in peacekeeping we need to create an enabling environment that will support the meaningful participation of women”, said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations.
“This support from the Elsie Initiative Fund contributes to gender-responsive peace projects that can better help build and protect peace and security around the world,” she added.
Addressing structural barriers
Senegal is currently the largest police contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.
In a declaration last year commemorating the integration of women in FPUs, the Senegalese National Police proposed the provision of gender-sensitive accommodation as a precondition for peaceful integration.
The Inspector General of the force, Seydou Bocar Yague, welcomed this project as an important one that will enable a sustainable increase in the deployment of women to MINUSMA.
Through a separate EIF project, Senegal aims to address structural barriers to the meaningful participation of women in the national police force by deploying gender-strong units to UN peacekeeping, establishing a women’s group training for implementation, adoption of gender policy and promotion of women’s recruitment.
Vision into reality
Togo’s Minister of Defense and Security, Brigadier General Damehame Yark, emphasized the importance of the project.
“The increased efficiency and professionalism of women personnel in the security forces is a well-known fact. Therefore, I am grateful for this project – it will allow us to change our vision to increase the participation of women in our FPUs to reality,” he said.
Togo is in sixth place in the list of countries providing police officers working with the UN. The country also received an EIF grant to conduct a study to assess the barriers, opportunities and challenges faced by female police officers in order to increase their meaningful participation in UN activities.
Nigeria is the 15th largest perpetrator of UN peacekeeping operations.
“Nigeria has been consistently contributing gender-coordinated units to MINUSMA. We appreciate the support from the Elsie Initiative Fund that will play an important role in improving the life and working conditions of peacekeepers,” said Alka Baba Usman, Inspector General of Police.
Commitment to progress
MINUSMA is the first UN peacekeeping mission to have two women leading its police component – as a Police Commissioner and Deputy Police Commissioner.
Over the past decade, it has made the advancement of women’s meaningful participation a priority, in addition to incorporating gender perspectives into activities.
MINUSMA is the second UN mission, after the United Nations in Lebanon, UNIFIL, to receive an EIF grant to create a more inclusive, effective, and sustainable community.
