WOMEN IN UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS: DRIVERS AND BARRIERS FOR BANGLADESH

This article examines the participation of women from Bangladesh in United Nations peacekeeping operations, analyzing the key drivers and the persistent barriers. It highlights the growing international recognition, codified in UN Security Council Resolution 1325, of the crucial importance of women's participation in all aspects of peace and security. The study then explores the specific case of Bangladesh, a major troop-contributing country. The research analyzes the key drivers for increasing the deployment of female peacekeepers, including the operational benefits they bring, particularly in engaging with local women and children in conflict-affected societies. The paper also provides an in-depth analysis of the significant institutional and cultural barriers that continue to limit the full and meaningful participation of women in the Bangladesh armed forces and police, and consequently, in peacekeeping missions. The analysis concludes by proposing a set of policy recommendations to overcome these barriers and to enhance the role of Bangladeshi women in global peace operations.

The United Nations has made the increased participation of women in peacekeeping a major global priority. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the drivers and barriers to this agenda in the specific context of a leading troop-contributing country, Bangladesh. The first part of the study is an examination of the powerful drivers for change. It reviews the international normative framework, particularly UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and discusses the growing body of evidence that shows that the inclusion of female peacekeepers enhances the operational effectiveness of missions, particularly in tasks related to the protection of civilians. The core of the article is a candid assessment of the significant barriers that exist within the Bangladeshi context. It explores the institutional barriers within the armed forces and the police, which have traditionally been male-dominated institutions. The paper also delves into the broader societal and cultural barriers, rooted in patriarchal norms, that can discourage women from pursuing a career in the security sector. The findings reveal a significant gap between the international demand for female peacekeepers and the domestic supply. The paper concludes with a set of concrete and actionable recommendations for Bangladesh to overcome these barriers. This includes a call for more proactive recruitment and promotion policies for women in the security services, the development of specialized pre-deployment training for female peacekeepers, and a broader societal effort to challenge the gender stereotypes that limit women's participation in the security sector.