Peacekeeping

More Than Just a Woman: Exploring Peacekeeping Operations Through a Multifaceted Lens

Overlapping structural barriers, including economic inequality, racism, and social inequalities, work to limit women’s agency, reinforcing problematic assumptions around gender and reasons for women’s inclusion. Contextual considerations to peacekeeping operations (eg. geography, history, culture) as well as overlapping factors that affect women’s experiences should be accounted for when determining responsibilities/mandates. Missions could benefit from incorporating an intersectional perspective, beyond just the gendered dimension; race, class, sexuality, and other social identities have organizational, institutional, and field-level effects in the conflict resolution process.

Women in Security

The Power of Women in Peacekeeping and its Promise for Security

It’s no secret that much of the scope of international relations, especially the security sector, is a world dominated by men. In high-level political forums, military zones, negotiation processes – women are still largely outnumbered by men in these spaces. However, the power of women in peacekeeping and peace operations cannot go understated. Women who Read More…

Society, Culture, and Security

U.N. ban on Sri Lanka’s peacekeepers led by alleged war criminal is the tip of the iceberg

The U.N. peacekeeping department last week banned the deployment of non-essential Sri Lankan army troops in U.N. peacekeeping missions, citing the country’s appointment of an alleged war criminal to a top military post. The appointment of Sri Lanka’s new army chief, Lt. General Shavendra Silva, was criticized by the U.N., the United States, and the Read More…

Canadian Armed Forces Sedrik Pocuch

The Fall of Canadian Peacekeeping: Should It Be Revived?

In April 1993, there were 3336 Canadian peacekeepers deployed on UN missions. As of July 31st 2019, there are only 150. What has led to this extreme decline of Canadian peacekeepers? Should the practice of Canadian peacekeeping be revived or completely abolished? In this special report, I look at the history and present situation of Read More…