Resume
Impact of Women on the Effectivness of UN Peacekeeping Missions
JUDr. Sylvia Tiryaki, PhD., Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, Faculty Member
Abstract
This paper explores the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions, focusing on the role of women in enhancing it. It begins by examining discourses on the role of women in UN peacekeeping. While the prevailing view is that female peacekeepers do increase the overall effectiveness of missions, this paper argues that many arguments rely on gender stereotypes, oversimplifying the importance of women in peacekeeping. Using the latest data from the United Nations and a literature review on measuring effectiveness of peacekeeping, the paper presents a twofold argument: First, despite numerous claims that women contribute to the overall effectiveness of peacekeeping missions, these contributions cannot be objectively measured at present. Second, arguments supporting women’s effectiveness based mainly on gender stereotypes devalue their multifaceted roles as equally capable and trained armed officers. Additionally, the paper addresses common barriers faced by women in peacekeeping, such as discrimination, limited leadership access and insufficient recognition of their contributions. By highlighting these challenges, the paper underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of women’s roles in peacekeeping. The study uses Slovakia’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions as an example of a smaller country achieving moderate success in meeting the goals set by the United Nations.
Keywords: women, peacekeeping missions, United Nations, gender, equality.