Supporting inclusive environments for women in peace operations

This project aims to prevent and address sexual harassment and abuse within and by the personnel of 20 Troop and Police Contributing Countries (T and PCCs) in four regions: Africa Asia Latin America and Middle East North Africa (MENA). Red de Seguridad y Defensa de América Latina Internacional (RESDA L) seeks to implement this project over three years. Sexual harassment and abuse within security institutions of T and PCCs to United Nations Peace Operations (UNPO) is a barrier to the meaningful participation of women in peace operations. It also increases the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse of deployed personnel on mission. This can damage the image and reputation of UNPOs decrease their efficacy and risk prolonging or exacerbating the conflicts in the countries and regions of deployment. Through RESDAL the project aims to conduct research prepare cross-regional reports and select and present case studies. It also seeks to organize webinars to bring together the security forces of T and PCCs relevant and diverse civil society organizations and academic institutions and UN Department of Peace Operations representatives. The aim is to foster an interregional sharing of challenges and responses to sexual harassment and abuse.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased understanding of the impact of sexual harassment and abuse on women’s participation in the Security Sector Institutions; (2) increased capacity to prevent and address sexual harassment and abuse on women’s participation in Security Sector Institutions (SSI) and (3) increased meaningful women’s participation and motivation in SSIs in selected T and PCCs.