This report argues that the UN is unlikely to reach its gender goals because it is not fully implementing its own two-pronged approach of increasing the number of women in peacekeeping operations and integrating a gender perspective within its missions.

Three issues have hindered the achievement of these goals: a lack of understanding among member states about Resolution 1325 and UN policy on gender equality in peace operations; a gap in data and analysis about women’s participation in national security institutions; and, most importantly, the prevalence of social norms and biases that perpetuate gender inequality within the security sector.

The author offers six recommendations for a more strategic vision on gender equality and more coherent efforts in the field, at UN headquarters, and within key member states

This is the fourth paper in IPI’s Providing for Peacekeeping series, which is coordinated in partnership with Griffith University and the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

The three other reports in this series are:
Broadening the Base of United Nations Troop-and Police-Contributing Countries
Rethinking Force Generation: Filling Capability Gaps in UN Peacekeeping
Trends in Uniformed Contributions to UN Peacekeeping: A New Dataset, 1991–2012