Women in Peace Operations - First Report
Report: United Nations Reform: Improving Peace Operations by Advancing the Role of Women
UN Photo/Eric Kanalstein 30/1/2007
In November 2006, WIIS, in coordination with the Stanley Foundation, launched a new project to increase the numbers and opportunities for women in peace operations globally. The project identifies the obstacles (political, institutional, etc.) that prevent more women from attaining leadership positions in peace operations and develop mechanisms to facilitate the selection of highly qualified women to serve at senior levels in such operations.
This project is intended to provide useful quantitative and qualitative data on women’s participation in leadership positions in peace operations; encourage the development of more transparent procedures for identifying and selecting leaders of missions (at the national, regional and international levels); improve understanding of the qualities, experiences, and skills that are needed in multidimensional operations; increase the visibility of qualified, senior level women within institutions that lead peace operations for leadership roles, and encourage reform of bureaucratic and institutional structures to provide expanded opportunities for women.
With support from the Stanley Foundation, WIIS has convened relevant actors within international organizations, governments, and the NGO community in consultations in New York and Washington, DC on this topic.
Following these consultations, an analytical study is now available in PDF, which examines the participation of women in UN and other peace operations since 1990. This study incorporates findings of the consultations and provides policy recommendations, including recommendations on the establishment of a roster of qualified female candidates.
About the Authors:
Camille Pampell Conaway is a researcher, writer, and expert on women, peace, and security. As an independent consultant, she has published articles and studies for various UN agencies, the United States Institute of Peace, and non-governmental organizations and think tanks. From 2002-2004, she was a program associate with The Initiative for Inclusive Security in Washington, DC, and has worked for non-profit groups, universities, and the U.S. Department of State. Ms. Conaway holds a master’s degree in international peace and conflict resolution from American University and is currently based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Ms. Conaway can be reached at +1 202-361-1805, SkypeID cpconaway, or cpconaway@sbcglobal.net.
Jolynn Shoemaker is the Executive Director of WIIS. Previously, she handled international law and policy issues for the Initiative for Inclusive Security. She served as Country Director in the U.S. Department of Defense, focusing on the Western Balkans region, and completed two rotational assignments as an attorney in the General Counsel’s Office for International Affairs. Ms. Shoemaker was a Presidential Management Fellow from 2000-2002, serving as the Regional Advisor for Southern and East Africa at the U.S. Department of State. She has a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and an M.A. from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and has published articles and chapters on women and armed conflict, legal reform in post-conflict situations, and human rights. Ms. Shoemaker can be reached at +1 202-687-2817 or shoemakj@georgetown.edu.