April 22, 2019: Despite greater participation of women in building and sustaining peace and recognition from all quarters for the value they bring, the number of women taking part in peacekeeping operations remains low.

According to the United Nations, women represent about 4% of the military peacekeepers and 10% of the police. The lack of women participation was the main subject of discussion at the high-level meeting for the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Focal Points.

At least, 150 delegates from AU(African Union) and UN member states, regional and international organisations attended the two-day meeting of the network in Windhoek, Namibia recently to discuss the role of women in the global peace processes.

Namibia is one of the few countries that made progress in women peacekeeping efforts. Over the years, Namibia has increased the number of women taking part in peacekeeping missions both at military and police level.

The head of Namibia Defence Force Public Relations Division, Lt-Colonel Petrus Shilumbu, has reported that Namibia has achieved the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operation target of 15% of women participation in peacekeeping missions in 2018.

Read more: Women Still Underrepresented in International Peacekeeping Missions (southerntimesafrica.com)

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