The background paper “Women and Peacekeeping in ASEAN Countries”, initiated by UNDP Vietnam and the International Cooperation Division of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, offers analysis to support the goal of increasing the full and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping deployments from ASEAN countries.

This paper provides an overview of the policies that have shaped the current demands with respect to women and peacekeeping. This includes the UN’s recent move to use financial incentives, and mandatory quotas to increase the numbers of female peacekeepers. Possible implications of the Covid-19 crisis that has emerged during the writing of this report are also considered. The current deployments of female peacekeepers from each ASEAN country are assessed, trends over time are examined, and barriers in the region to the full and equitable participation of women are considered. It also puts forward seven recommendations for promoting women’s participation in UN Peacekeeping from ASEAN countries.”