On October 17, 2024, the United Nations released a groundbreaking report titled Towards Equal Opportunity for Women in Defence, spotlighting the need to address gender disparities and improve women’s access to roles in defense sectors worldwide. This report emphasizes the critical role of structural reforms to promote women’s participation and leadership in defense, including operational and decision-making positions, with an overarching goal of building a more inclusive global security framework.

The UN’s findings indicate that, while progress has been made in expanding women’s roles, significant barriers persist. The report shows that women remain underrepresented, particularly in senior and operational roles, with recruitment, retention, and promotion practices still favoring men. Such imbalances are not only detrimental to diversity within defense but also impact operational effectiveness by narrowing the range of perspectives within defense institutions.

A core recommendation of the report is to establish gender-sensitive recruitment policies that address the limited access women often have to training and career opportunities in defense. To further enhance inclusivity, the report advocates for mentorship programs specifically aimed at helping women overcome the unique challenges they face in defense environments that are traditionally male-dominated. These programs would provide women with vital support networks and resources, creating pathways for career advancement that have historically been more accessible to men.

Accountability measures are highlighted as essential to achieving gender parity. The report calls on member states to set concrete goals for gender integration, track progress, and adopt policies to enforce equal opportunity at every level. Suggested actions include revising institutional policies, conducting gender-sensitivity training, and establishing reporting channels to address gender-related grievances.

The report aligns with the UN’s longstanding Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, which champions women’s involvement in all aspects of peace and security. According to the UN, the inclusion of women in defense roles builds trust with communities and broadens defense sectors’ capacities to address complex security challenges.

In addition, the report underscores the role of civil society and international organizations in supporting gender equality efforts. Through partnerships and advocacy, these groups can play a key role in holding defense institutions accountable and ensuring that women’s perspectives are valued in security strategies.

The UN’s report concludes that gender equality in defense is vital to global peace and security. By fostering inclusivity, defense sectors can benefit from diverse perspectives and expertise, which strengthen their ability to protect and serve communities worldwide.

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To read the full report, see here