Ethiopia urges female peacekeeping

President Sahle-Work Zewde has emphasized that Ethiopia will continue its commitment to enhance the participation of women in the military, police and civilian services of United Nations peacekeeping missions.

She noted that more than 7,500 Ethiopian peacekeepers are serving under the UN Blue Helmets, and Ethiopia was proud of the fact it was one of the leading contributors of female peacekeepers with more than 600 deployed.

She added that the AU-UN collaboration should focus on ensuring the active participation of women and women’s groups in peace processes, conflict prevention, resolution, and peace building activity, as well as promotion of women’s human rights.

Equally, Ethiopia State Minister of Defense, Ambassador Lelaalem Gebreyohannes, said that women and children were predominantly the direct victims in contemporary conflicts, hence the need for the expanded role of women in peace operations to be reflective of this new reality.