Female peacekeepers under the AMISOM contingent in Somalia gathered in Mogadishu on International Women’s Day to take stock of their contribution to global peace. AMISOM has 850 female peacekeepers of the 22,130-strong force operating in Somalia. The meeting was geared at charting new ways to bolster this contribution for the sake of the ordinary woman, understanding vividly that their struggle for peace is critical for the rights of women and girls, not just in Somalia, but in Africa and the world.
The women also discussed the policies and the role of decision-makers in the creating a world where gender equality and equity were the foundation of development as well as 50/50 representation and participation for both men and women by 2030.
The African Union Mission in Somalia is a clear example of the impact that women are capable of in peacekeeping and a model for women in peacekeeping for global policymakers. The largest and deadliest peacekeeping mission in the world, one would especially think its leadership would shy away from the involvement of women in such difficult and dangerous work as active combat, commonly believed to be better suited for men and restricted in many of the world’s armies.
