The Incorporation of Women in Peace Operations: A Regional Perspective for Latin America and the Caribbean

Citation:

Donadio, Marcela. 2008. "The Incorporation of Women in Peace Operations: A Regional Perspective for Latin America and the Caribbean." The Pearson Papers 11 (2): 42-61. 

Author: Marcela Donadio

Abstract:

The participation of Latin American and Caribbean countries in peace operations has increased by 756 percent since the year 2000. However, peace operations continue to be seen as a military matter only. In Latin America and the Caribbean the participation of women in peace operations is directly linked to their incorporation into the military forces and the police and little has been done regionally to promote a discussion on the incorporation of women into these institutions. Given this context, this article examines the challenges to and opportunities for incorporating women in peace operations in general and within Latin American and Caribbean countries more specifically. The article argues that there exists a clear disposition among actors to address the challenges and to improve practices in all areas referring to peace operations, including the participation of women. The incorporation of women not only represents a sign of openness and democratisation ofLatin American and Caribbean institutions, but also suggests a much larger change in how Latin American and Caribbean countries view and understand peace operations. The incorporation of actors other than the military, including civilians, police and women, is emerging as the cultural and political undertaking of the future.

Topics: Democracy / Democratization, Gender, Women, Gender Balance, Justice, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militaries, Peacekeeping, Security Regions: Americas, Caribbean countries, Central America, South America

Year: 2008