UN officials stress danger of withdrawing peacekeepers — Global Issues

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Womenwho is committed to gender equality worldwide, told ambassadors in the Security Council that some governments are implementing austerity measures despite increased conflict and insecurity.

“It is paradoxical that, in the face of unprecedented levels of conflict and violence, the number of peacekeepers deployed has fallen by almost half from 121,000 in 2016 to approximately 71,000 in 2024.”

She highlighted the growing misogyny and violence against women and girls, saying wars are being waged with a clear disregard for their lives, rights, well-being and autonomy.

Hasty transitions amid volatility

Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa at the Department of Peacebuilding Affairs, also warned of the consequences of rushing through a transition process amid tense political climate, persistent security threats, protection concerns and unprepared national stakeholders.

“Unless transitions are well structured, adequately resourced and gender sensitive, women and girls will be at risk of setbacks,” she said.

Examples include loss of access to essential services, exclusion from decision-making and vulnerability to further violence.

Alarm goes off in Haiti

Ms Bahous of UN Women cited the case of Haiti, where calls were made shortly after the departure of the UN peacekeeping mission to protect gains in gender equality. MINUSTAHAlarm has been raised over the increase in kidnappings, rapes and other violence against women and girls by criminal gangs.

“That was in April 2019. Ten months later the peacekeepers had left“…four and a half years ago,” she said.

“In 2023, nearly 5,000 cases of rape were reported to case managers and service providers in Haiti, while murders, kidnappings and sexual violence continue to rise each year with no signs of slowing down,” she added.

Gains in Mali reversed

Mrs. Pobee noted the situation in Mali, where the UN peacekeeping force MINUSMA closed in December 2023 at the insistence of the transitional government.

Before the accelerated departure, the country had undergone “transformative” progress that strengthened women’s political participation.

“However, MINUSMA’s withdrawal has had a negative impact on peacebuilding programmes targeting women and girls and on the preservation of gains made in the political sphere,” said Ms Pobee.

Fear of DR Congo, Sudan

She also expressed concern about the recent withdrawal of missions from key trouble spots in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has led to a security vacuum and increased vulnerability for women and girls.

The withdrawals have severely diminished the UN’s capacity to support national partners in addressing conflict-related sexual violence in the areas of investigation, reporting and assistance to survivors.

Other challenges relate to limited funding and the capacity to implement existing national action plans on women, peace and security.

Close the holes

Ms Bahous urged significant steps to fill the gaps left by the accelerated withdrawal of UN missions.

The Security Council must ensure that transitions continue to safeguard gender equality and the participation of women, through routine decisions and interactions with host governments and organizations, she said.

In addition, there should be regular consultations with women from civil society to map the impact on the ground, while monitoring by the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security.

Funding for women’s peace and security work should also be prioritised, working with financial institutions and ensuring that sufficient resources are allocated when missions are wound down.

“We fear a future of increasing atrocities against women, increasing marginalization of their decision-making and ultimately a failure of the international community.,” she said,

“That prospect should be unacceptable to all of us, and I am convinced that it is.”