Dhaka committed to put women in the forefront of UN peacekeeping

Bangladesh has reiterated its unwavering commitment to put women in the forefront of United Nations peacekeeping operations in various troubled parts of the world.

Speaking at an event at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the global body, Ambassador Rabab Fatima, also noted that Bangladesh now features among the top countries in terms of its contribution of women peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping operations.

The permanent missions of Canada, Ghana and Zambia jointly organized the high-level virtual event, “Key to Peace, Key to Protection: Women Peacekeepers in Action,” to mark the International Day of Peacekeepers and the Protection of Civilians Week.

Envoy Fatima stressed the importance of ensuring meaningful, equal, and full participation of women in peacekeeping operations, said the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN, on Sunday.

“I salute women peacekeepers globally for their outstanding contribution to international peace and security,” she said.

 “As a tribute to UN peacekeepers, this year Bangladesh has issued a set of commemorative stamps with the UN Post, which includes a stamp featuring the first ever women fighter pilots from Bangladesh deployed in UN peace operations,” she added.

The representative highlighted Bangladesh’s historic involvement with the adoption of the landmark UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security (WPS), and the recent adoption of the National Action Plan to implement it.

Bangladesh led by example to become the first country in UN history to deploy a woman military contingent commander in Côte d’Ivoire in 2016, she said.

It was also one of the first countries to deploy an all-women police unit in Haiti in 2010, Fatima said.

Among other distinguished speakers and panelists, Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne spoke at the event.