The Ethiopian government has vowed to enhance women’s participation in the military, police and the civilian services of the United Nations Peacekeeping.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day Preparatory Meeting on Women, Peace and Security with the Canada authorities and the United Nations (UN in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde suggested that any peacekeeping mission should give priority for the protection of women and other vulnerable groups.
She further said that the collaboration of the African Union (AU) and the UN should focus on ensuring the active participation of women and women’s groups in peace processes, conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding activity, and promotion of women’s human rights.
The State Minister of Defense, Ambassador Lela-Alem Gebreyohannes added that the country has deployed thousands of peacekeepers to the eight UN missions in which it had participated.
“This record reflects Ethiopia’s sustained commitment to supporting the idea that women truly make a difference in successful peacekeeping,” she said, adding that this was a clear testimony of an unwavering commitment to continue playing an active role in peacekeeping in the years and decades to come.
The Peace and Stabilization of Canada’s Global Affairs Director-General, Larisa Galadza, said Ethiopia is showing exceptional leadership at the United Nations.
“It is a leading troop contributor, and it is also the country that is deploying the highest number of women in uniform to peace operations,” said Galadza.
Currently, more than 7500 Ethiopian peacekeepers are serving under the UN Blue Helmets. The country is proud of being one of the leading contributors of female peacekeepers with more than 600 deployed under UN Peace Keeping Missions.
