This past 5-6 July in Vienna, Austria, the UN Women Training Centre participated in the Women Higher Education for Peace Forum, organized by the DNP Education Partnership and coordinated by UNODA.

The United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 recognizes that it is critical for women to participate in decision-making processes in the international peace and security arena. However, between 1992 and 2011, only 9 per cent of negotiators at peace tables were women. Unfortunately, there is still a clear gender gap in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation and indeed, the number of women working in this area is very small.

Around the world, UN Women acts to build women’s participation and influence in decision-making to prevent and resolve conflicts. UN Women supports women’s engagement in all aspects of peacebuilding, towards more inclusive, egalitarian societies that can end gender discrimination and resolve conflicts without violence.

Training on women, peace and security

One of those aspects is the training on women, peace and security. As expressed by Ms. Clemencia Muñoz Tamayo –Chief of the UN Women Training Centre- “training is a long term process in order for it to be transformative for gender equality issues”.

The UN Women Training Centre, has developed a specific training on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 in three different geographic regions together with the Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI). And also offers a toolkit and training for security personnel in peacekeeping missions, available in different languages.

Working at UN Women

The highlight of the Forum was a Job Fair that brought together employers and young professionals and focused on new opportunities in the fields of disarmament, non-proliferation and development.

Ms. Muñoz Tamayo presented UN Women´s ambitious planet 50/50 goal by 2030 for the SDG agenda, while inviting assistants to join the entity for gender equality to achieve a healthier and more peaceful planet where men and women will be equal.

As Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, has noted “if there is something like a right moment, this is the right moment. Join us in our journey towards substantive gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls everywhere. This is a mission that we can accomplish together”.