UNSCR 1325 and the Ratio of Female Peacekeepers: Why Has Progress Stalled?

In recent years, members of the international community have come to recognize the importance of incorporating gender considerations into their work. The United Nations (UN) adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in the year 2000 with the aim of addressing the unique experiences of women and elevating their roles as peacekeepers and peacemakers in conflict settings. While the UN has made some progress in achieving the objectives of Resolution 1325, obstacles remain with respect to the goal of increasing the number of female peacekeepers in the UN’s forces. Four chief hurdles have contributed to this problem: 1) weak political will, 2) a lack of political commitment, 3) poor resource mobilization, and 4) the structural problem of a relatively small number of women in Troop Contributing Country (TCC) and Police Contributing Country (PCC) militaries and police forces. To solve this problem, policy solutions must be proposed and implemented by United Nation member states, including commitments to national action plans and a greater mobilization of resources. Additionally, the UN must prioritize programs that address gender norms, and support similar efforts within TCCs and PCCs.