Pakistan stands tall among the nations of the world for being one of the largest troops contributing countries in the UN peacekeeping efforts. The country has contributed 4000 all ranks in 10 out of 15 missions to UN peacekeeping missions across the world while 171 soldiers had sacrificed their lives to serve humanity globally. Our soldiers participated in 46 UN peacekeeping missions including some of the most challenging undertakings of the UN peacekeeping missions across the world. Pakistan has always been an ardent supporter of Peace and has always been working for ensuring peace across the world. Pakistan has deployed one of the largest peacekeeping contingents under the umbrella of the United Nations (UN).
Our Forces have proved their mettle by participating in the most competitive and complex missions under the United Nations and the World has recognized and acknowledged it. Our peacekeepers have a clear stance on ensuring global peace and our resolve is to guarantee conflict resolution through UN Resolutions. Moreover, Pakistan has the highest number of women in blue helmets in the world. These women are the real faces of Pakistan, our future, and represent womenfolk on an international forum like the United Nations with dignity and pride.
With the deployment of the first-ever female engagement team to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan has become a frontrunner in championing women peacekeepers now. In 2020, the first-ever Pakistani Female Engagement team in any United Nations (UN) mission around the world received UN medals for serving in The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The team of Pakistani women officers received major acknowledgment for being the first all-female group from Pakistan to serve in a UN peacekeeping mission.
The team of Pakistani womenfolk peacekeepers provides a range of resources to the South Asian region. Our Female peacekeepers are psychologists, stress counselors, vocational training officers, gender advisors, doctors, nurses, operations officers, information officers, and logistics officers. Since then, several additional Pakistani women officers joined Female Engagement Teams in Congo and United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.
In August 2020, The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution, calls on the United Nations and its member nations to step up action to increase the number of women in military and civilian positions at all levels in the UN’s peacekeeping operations. The resolution recognizes, “the requisite role of women in increasing the overall performance of United Nations peacekeeping operations, emphasizing that a better balance between men and women contributes to “greater credibility” of the UN missions among the people they are mandated to protect.
Pakistan’s Armed Forces, keeping in view the improved significance of women in peacekeeping missions have been deploying female officers on missions on a regular basis. UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) accentuates the imperative role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and calls for their equal participation in peacebuilding. Pakistani female officers serving at UN missions are putting up their efforts and expertise in increasing the effective participation of women in peacemaking and conflict prevention efforts are of immense importance. Our lady officers from multiple fields like IT, media, public relations, legal advice, Medical Officers (MOs), operations and planning officers, and as a part of female engagement teams, play a dynamic role. The main role of these female teams is community outreach and engagement, to plan and conduct all the activities with the local community.
Our female peacekeeping troops serve as influential mentors for women, girls, and children in post-conflict settings in the host community, setting examples for them to advocate for their own rights and pursue non-traditional careers. Our lady officers are serving far away from their homes, families, and children, enthusiastically working closely with communities across the globe. Pakistan is proud of our lady officers serving for the sake of our country and people.
