A Women Peace and Security seminar organised by the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the Chilean Joint Peacekeeping Operations Center (CECOPAC) was recently held in Santiago, Chile.  Participants discussed how gender integration in the armed and security forces in the fields of education, recruitment and promotion, could be improved.

Referring to the valuable contribution made by the 299 Chilean women who have participated in peacekeeping operations, Chile’s Minister of Defence, Maya Fernández Allende, highlighted the importance of the WPS agenda.

Among the 50 attendees was Paraguayan Vice Minister of Defence, Gladys Ruiz de Pecci, who said the seminar had “helped promote women’s empowerment so that military institutions understand the role they play within their armed forces.”

The seminar was closed by US Army General and SOUTHCOM commander, Laura J Richardson  who said “Women, Peace,and Security isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ program, or an ‘add on’ to our military business as usual. Women, Peace, and Security is a core principle to making our armed forces more ready, more resilient, and more effective at keeping our citizens safe.”  

SecurityWomen welcomes these seminars which encourage states to increase the numbers of women serving in their armed forces and peacekeeping operations.

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