Written by Elana Lazarou, Ionel Zamfir and Rosamund Shreeves.
In a context of international turbulence, rising armed conflict and other evolving threats, the debate on the participation and role of women in foreign affairs and international security is a timely and relevant one. In particular, growing attention is being paid to imbalances in the representation of women in leadership and other key positions in the area of foreign and security policy, and to the growing body of evidence regarding the positive effect of including women and a gender perspective in several key areas. While gaps persist, women’s representation in foreign affairs and security has increased both in the European Union (EU) and at United Nations (UN) level.
Women’s role in peacekeeping is receiving particular attention, as research has consistently shown that gender equality contributes to peace and higher security, and that peace negotiations involving women have a better chance of being sustainable and effective. This year marks the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which established the ‘women, peace and security’ (WPS) agenda. Since then, more WPS-related resolutions have been adopted, widening the scope and breadth of gendered peace and security. These resolutions have been instrumental in changing the philosophy and rhetoric around conflict and gender equality, thereby challenging the international community to do more. Initiatives are being implemented at EU level, including through the 2018 EU strategic approach to WPS. However, critics underline that a lot remains to be done, as women and gender perspectives continue to be under-represented in the field of foreign and security policy across the world.
This is a further update of anEPRS briefing originally published in September 2019.
Read the complete briefing on ‘Women in foreign affairs and international security: An increasingly salient debate‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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