The deployment of an all-female police contingent from India for peacekeeping mission in Liberia early this year was cited by a top UN official for triggering an enthusiastic response from women in the strife torn state to seek police jobs.
UN Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno said a month after an all-female police contingent from India arrived in Liberia earlier this year the Liberian national police received three times the usual number of female applicants.
Guehenno was speaking at a special meeting of the UN Security Council, which along with Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon wanted among other things more women to be appointed to decision-making bodies dealing with peace, reconstruction and rebuilding of societies.
The meeting was convened for implementation of a resolution adopted in 2000 that demanded that women be included in decision-making positions at every level of peacemaking and peacebuilding. The resolution had also called for the prosecution of crimes against women and increased protection of women and girls during war.
Guehenno also noted that the number of women serving in senior civilian positions in UN peacekeeping missions has increased by almost 40 percent since February this year.
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