Canada misses UN -target for the number of female soldiers about peace missions

Canada’s Decline in Female Peacekeeping Contributions Raises Concerns

Canada’s commitment to promoting women in peace enforcement has come under scrutiny as recent statistics show a significant decline in the number of female Canadian armed forces participating in United Nations peace missions.

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had pledged to make Canada a leader in promoting women’s participation in peace enforcement back in 2017. However, the latest data reveals that only two women from the Canadian army are currently involved in UN peace missions, marking a troubling low point.

According to the most recent UN statistics released in May, out of the 29 Canadians deployed in the 11 ongoing UN peace missions, none of the military staff officers are women, and only three out of the six police officers are female.

Walter Dorn, a professor of defense studies at the Royal Military College of Canada, expressed concern over the dwindling numbers, stating that Canada’s failure to meet UN gender representation goals could damage its reputation on the global stage.

“It’s embarrassing for Canada to fall short of the UN goals we have endorsed,” Dorn remarked. He added that the government appears to have deprioritized its commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts, risking Canada’s standing in the international community.

In response to inquiries about the low female representation in UN peace missions, the Ministry of National Defense acknowledged the fluctuation in numbers over time and pointed out that there are currently six women deployed, including four police officers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and two military personnel in the Middle and South Sudan.

The Trudeau government had initiated several initiatives to boost female participation in peace operations, such as the Elsie initiative aimed at increasing women’s involvement in UN peace missions. However, the recent decline in female representation raises questions about Canada’s commitment to these efforts.

Despite the challenges, Jane Boulden, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen’s University, emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong presence in UN peace missions. She noted that the current geopolitical landscape, marked by global conflicts and shifting alliances, underscores the need for Canada to uphold its commitments to international peacekeeping efforts.

As Canada grapples with its declining participation in UN peace missions, the government faces mounting pressure to prioritize gender equality and diversity in its military deployments. The fate of Canada’s reputation as a champion of women’s rights in peace enforcement hangs in the balance as the country navigates the evolving dynamics of global security challenges.