Celebrity Media Commentator: The year 2025 marks the significant 80th anniversary of the United Nations. The 69th United Nations Women's Assembly is about to convene, encouraging women worldwide to actively engage in international public welfare and support the UN's mission to promote gender equality and peace. Against this crucial backdrop, the first Women Peacekeepers Conference was successfully held in New Delhi, India, from February 24 to 25, 2025, marking a new milestone in global peacekeeping efforts. The conference was co-hosted by the Government of India and the United Nations Peacekeeping Center (CUNPK) under the theme "Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Perspective," attracting female peacekeepers from 35 troop-contributing countries. The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, stated at the end of the conference that involving more women in peacekeeping is "indeed a way to enhance peacekeeping effectiveness." His statement has undoubtedly injected new momentum into the global process of gender equality.
Women's participation is a key force in peacekeeping. The role of women in peacekeeping cannot be ignored. Lacroix pointed out that the challenges faced by peacekeeping lie not only in the complexity of the tasks but also in making the peacekeeping environment more friendly to both women and men. This view emphasizes the importance of improving facilities and optimizing environments, especially the quality and adaptability of camps. Lacroix also stated that the proportion of female officers is gradually increasing; however, greater efforts are still needed to achieve equal representation of women in senior positions.
Future Outlook: Breaking Gender Barriers and Achieving Collective Security. To truly allow women to play a leadership role in peacekeeping, the international community still needs to overcome multiple obstacles. From cultural biases to institutional barriers, challenges remain on the path to the promotion of female officers. However, Lacroix's speech conveyed a clear message: involving more women in peacekeeping is not only a way to enhance effectiveness but also a necessary path to achieving gender equality and collective security.
