Women in Multilateral Peace Operations in 2026: What is the State of Play?

Introduction

In 2000, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security (WPS) stressed the link between gender equality and international peace and security. The resolution underscored the importance of the full and equal participation of women in all efforts towards the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, including UN peace operations. Following the resolution, organizations and member states involved in multilateral peace operations affirmed their commitment to increase women’s participation in these activities. Increasing the number of uniformed and civilian women at all levels has since become a priority of the UN Secretariat. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretariat and, more recently, the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the European Union (EU) have followed suit and developed strategies establishing specific targets and deadlines to enhance women’s participation in their respective personnel. More than 25 years after the adoption of the resolution, some progress has been achieved in enhancing women’s representation in multilateral peace operations, but much remains to be done.

This overview of women’s representation in multilateral peace operations presents data on aggregate personnel trends, annual snapshots of data on women’s representation in leadership, and annual averages of women in the personnel of peace operations and in member state contributions. It looks at UN peace operations (i.e. both UN peacekeeping operations and UN special political missions), EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, and OSCE field operations. The objective is to support the efforts of multilateral organizations and their member states to increase the representation of women in multilateral peace operations.

The statistics presented here aim to inform and foster the debate on the future of the WPS agenda within the context of multilateral peace operations. They illustrate to what extent the organizations deploying multilateral peace operations and their member states are making progress towards increasing women’s representation in multilateral peace operations. Having a clearer picture of the status of women’s participation in multilateral peace operations and keeping track of progress also help in recognizing and targeting potential shortcomings. Moreover, this overview enhances the transparency of multilateral peace operations and provides insights into their recent trends and developments.

Women in the UN military

The UN’s 2018 Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy established the goal of reaching 25 per cent women among military experts and staff officers and 15 per cent among troops in UN peace operations by 2028. In 2025, the UN completed a review of the implementation of the strategy. The findings, including about the impact on and challenges for women’s participation in peace operations, should help to inform discussions on priority actions until 2028. The proportion of women among military experts and staff officers declined for the second consecutive year in 2026, after reaching 24 per cent in 2024. By June 2026, it had fallen to 21 per cent and was below the strategy’s intermediary target of 23 per cent for the first time since 2020. Among troops, women’s representation remained unchanged from the previous year at 8 per cent, below both the 2026 intermediary target of 13 per cent and the 2028 goal.

Leadership

Totals

While the proportion of women serving as troops in UN peace operations remained unchanged in 2026, the number fell by 26 per cent (–1098 personnel), the steepest year-on-year decline in the past decade. The number of women among military experts and staff officers also showed the largest annual decline over the same period, falling 43 per cent (–272 personnel). These reductions largely reflected overarching personnel cuts driven by the UN’s financial difficulties. However, the proportion of women serving as military experts and staff officers also declined, reaching 21 per cent in June 2026, down 2.7 percentage points from 2025. Overall, both the number and the proportion of women in the military personnel of UN peace operations decreased compared to the previous year.

Operations

UN peace operations with relatively high proportions of women in the military personnel tend to be relatively small in terms of total deployment. Two peace operations experienced increases in both the number and the proportion of women: UNTMIS and UNTSO.

Contributors

Eight of the top 10 contributors by total number of military personnel to UN peace operations also featured among the top 10 contributors by number of women to the military personnel of UN peace operations in 2026: Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda and Tanzania. As in the previous two years, Nepal was the top contributor of women to the military personnel of UN peace operations. Except for South Africa, which dropped out of the top 10, and India, which joined the list in 2026, the main contributors by number of women remained the same as in the previous year. Five of the top 10 contributors by number of women were sub-Saharan African countries and 5 were Asian. Only 2 of the top 10 contributors by number of women were also among the top 10 contributors in terms of proportion of women: Ghana and Zambia. Ghana was the only country that also ranked among the top 10 contributors of total military personnel. The limited overlap shows that the countries deploying the largest numbers of women do not tend to be those with the highest proportion of women among their personnel.

Women in the UN police

The UN’s 2018 Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy established the target of 20 per cent women in formed police units and 30 per cent women among individual police officers by 2028. The A4P initiative reaffirmed the commitments of the UN and its member states. In 2021, the UN reached the 30 per cent goal for the proportion of women among individual police officers. In 2026, this proportion was 35 per cent, an increase of 4 percentage points in comparison to the previous year. The proportion of women in formed police units also increased in 2026, surpassing the year’s target of 17 per cent and reaching 19 per cent.

Leadership

Totals

The total number of women in the police personnel of UN peace operations decreased significantly in 2026 compared to the previous year, largely reflecting personnel reductions across operations driven by UN budget cuts. The decline affected both individual police officers and formed police units. However, the proportion of women increased in both categories, with a larger increase among individual police officers.

Operations

UN peace operations deploying smaller numbers of police personnel tend to record higher proportions of women in their police personnel. While the number of police personnel decreased in most peace operations, the proportion of women decreased in half of the operations and increased in the other half. MINURSO, which had the highest proportion of women in its police personnel in the previous year, had no women deployed in police roles in 2026. This reflected the mission’s very small police component, which averaged just one police officer during 2026.

Contributors

With the exception of the Republic of the Congo, 9 of the top 10 contributors by number of women to the police personnel of UN peace operations were also among the top contributors by total number of police personnel in 2026. Six of the top 10 contributors by number of women were sub-Saharan African countries: Cameroon, Djibouti, Ghana, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Senegal. The countries that ranked in the top 10 by proportion of women contributed with a much smaller total number of police personnel compared to those that ranked in the top 10 by number of women.

Women in UN civilian personnel

The UN’s 2017 System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity set targets for the equal representation of women and men in several areas, including among civilian personnel in UN peace operations. The strategy allows for variation within a 47–53 per cent range as an indication of such parity. The 2024 Policy on Gender-responsive UN Peacekeeping Operations issued by the Department of Peace Operations reaffirmed the commitment to promoting civilian and uniformed gender parity across all levels and roles, including by creating an enabling environment for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women deployed in peacekeeping operations. In 2026, UNFICYP, UNOWAS, UNSCOL and UNVMC had at least 47 per cent women in their civilian personnel. However, the goal of achieving gender parity in civilian personnel remains distant for most UN peace operations.

Leadership

Totals

The number of women in the civilian personnel of UN peace operations decreased in 2026, largely due to overall personnel reductions across operations. However, the proportion of women increased in both peacekeeping operations and special political missions. In special political missions, the proportion increased by 4.7 percentage points, the largest year-on-year increase in the past decade.

Operations

UN peacekeeping operations generally have a higher number of women civilian personnel compared to UN special political missions, primarily because they tend to deploy more civilian personnel on average. However, the proportion of women civilian personnel tends to be slightly higher among UN special political missions. In 2026, UNSCOL had the highest proportion of women in its civilian personnel among UN special political missions and across all operations, with 62 per cent. UNFICYP had the highest proportion of women in its civilian staff among UN peacekeeping operations and the second highest proportion across all operations, with 51 per cent. In addition to these two operations, UNOWAS and UNVMC achieved the goal of having between 47 and 53 per cent women in their civilian personnel.

Women in OSCE field operations

The OSCE Secretariat’s 2019 Gender Parity Strategy set the goal of gender parity across all staff categories by 2026, including in OSCE field operations, allowing for variation within a 45–55 per cent range. The ‘2025 Annual Progress Report on the implementation of the OSCE 2004 Action Plan on the Promotion of Gender Equality’ noted that the proportion of women in senior posts in field operations remained a challenge and reaffirmed that attracting qualified women to these posts was a priority for the organization. During the first half of 2026, the Gender Parity Strategy’s target year, 6 of the 12 OSCE field operations had at least 45 per cent women in their personnel.

Leadership

Totals

Up until its termination in March 2022, the SMM had been both the largest OSCE field operation and the one with the most women in its deployed personnel. It had shaped both the number and the proportion of women in OSCE operations. In 2026, the number of women decreased significantly in comparison to the previous year, reaching 82 in June. This was largely due to overall personnel reductions across several operations. The proportion of women also decreased, but more modestly, by 2.3 percentage points compared to the previous year. This partially reflected declines in three relatively small operations, where changes involving only a few personnel substantially affected the total proportion of women.

Operations

Given the small size of most OSCE field operations, small variations in the number of women can have a large impact on the proportion of women in the personnel of a field operation. In 2026, 6 field operations had at least 45 per cent women, meeting the target of the Secretariat’s 2019 Gender Parity Strategy. OMIK, which remains the largest OSCE operation by number of personnel, had both a relatively high number and a relatively high proportion of women personnel deployed.

Contributors

With the exception of Canada, the countries that contributed the highest number of women personnel to OSCE field operations also contributed the highest total number of personnel to these operations in 2026. Canada, France and Georgia were among both the top 10 contributors by number of women personnel and the top 10 contributors by proportion of women personnel to OSCE field operations. Among the top 10 contributors by number of women personnel, women made up 45 per cent or more in the contributions of 5 countries: Canada, France, Georgia, Italy and the United States. While some of the top contributors by proportion of women continued to be countries deploying only women, their overall personnel numbers remained very small, ranging from 1 to 3 individuals.

Women in EU CSDP missions and operations

In 2023, EU member states renewed the Civilian CSDP Compact to strengthen the EU’s civilian crisis management missions, committing among other things to increasing women’s representation in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The renewal set the objective of reaching at least 40 per cent women in EU CSDP missions by 2025, with a longer-term goal of parity at all levels—something the previous compact lacked. To support implementation, the EEAS updated the 2021 Strategy and Action Plan, completing the process at the end of 2024. The Strategy and Action Plan to Enhance Women’s Participation in Civilian CSDP Missions 2024–27 is now in place. Nevertheless, progress has been slow and during the first half of 2026, no mission or operation had an average of at least 40 per cent women among their personnel.

Leadership

Totals

Over the past year, both the number and the proportion of women in civilian EU CSDP missions have increased modestly. In comparison, the increase in the number of women in military EU CSDP missions and operations was considerably more significant for the period December 2024 to December 2025 (the latest year for which data is available). This increase was primarily due to the expansion of EUMAM Ukraine, in line with its conception as a scalable, modular and flexible mission. The proportion of women in military EU CSDP missions and operations also increased, reaching 10 per cent in December 2025.

Operations

The proportion of women in EU CSDP missions and operations has been consistently higher for civilian missions than for military missions and operations. However, some military missions and operations have the largest absolute numbers of women because they deploy the largest overall personnel numbers. While both the number and the proportion increased in most of the missions and operations, none of them had at least 40 per cent women, the aim for civilian CSDP missions, in their international personnel.

Contributors

In 2026, 9 of the top 10 contributors by total number of personnel to EU CSDP civilian missions were also among the top 10 contributors by number of women personnel, with Czechia as the only exception among the latter. Three countries featured in both the top 10 contributors by number of women personnel and the top 10 contributors by proportion of women personnel: Belgium, Finland and Sweden. Out of 29 contributing countries, 9 had at least 40 per cent women among their seconded personnel. While Norway had the highest proportion of women among personnel seconded to EU CSDP civilian missions, its contribution averaged just one person in 2026.

Concluding remarks

Since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security in 2000, organizations and member states have made commitments and set targets to increase women’s representation in peace operations. The past year showed uneven progress, with increases in women’s representation in some categories and decreases in others. While the proportion of women increased among UN police and civilian personnel and in civilian and military EU CSDP missions and operations, it decreased among UN military personnel and in OSCE field operations. Moreover, gains in the proportion did not necessarily reflect in higher numbers of deployed women, as overall personnel numbers declined in UN and OSCE operations. Many targets remained distant and changes in leadership meant that earlier gains were not always maintained.

Sustained progress depends partly on national recruitment systems and the nomination of women for deployment, particularly to senior positions. Limited national pools and low nomination rates of women remain obstacles. In some cases, the increase in women’s representation is concentrated among a few contributor countries, making it vulnerable to reductions in their contributions. These developments are taking place in a difficult political and financial environment for the implementation of the WPS agenda. In this context, the challenge is both to advance women’s participation in peace operations and to maintain the progress made so far.

In all categories of UN personnel (military, police and civilian), the number of women decreased, largely reflecting overall personnel reductions following the organization’s budget cuts in late 2025. Among military personnel, this was the largest year-on-year decrease recorded in the past decade. The proportion of women among UN troops remained unchanged compared to the previous year, making it a challenge to reach the target of 15 per cent by 2028. The proportion among military experts and staff officers fell below the intermediary target, slowing progress towards the 2028 goal of 25 per cent.

Women’s representation in UN police surpassed the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy’s 2028 target for individual police officers and its 2026 intermediary target for formed police units. Among individual police officers, women’s proportion reached the 2028 target of at least 30 per cent in 2021 and achieved 35 per cent in 2026, up from 31 per cent in the previous year. The proportion also increased in formed police units.

In 2026, the proportion of women in UN civilian personnel increased in both peacekeeping operations and special political missions. Four operations achieved gender parity among civilian personnel, defined in the UN’s 2017 System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity as women’s representation within a 47–53 per cent range. However, most of the UN peace operations are still far from achieving gender parity.

Six of the 12 OSCE field operations met or exceeded the target range of 45–55 per cent women among their personnel in 2026: OMBIH, OMIK, OM Moldova, OM Serbia, OM Skopje and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. As the 2019 Gender Parity Strategy reached its target year, progress across the remaining operations was uneven. Overall, the proportion and the number of women personnel in OSCE field operations decreased slightly.

In the latest reporting periods, both the number and the proportion of women increased in civilian EU CSDP missions (to June 2026) and military EU CSDP missions and operations (to December 2025). The increase in the numbers was more prominent in military missions and operations, largely due to the expansion of EUMAM Ukraine. Increases in the proportion of women were modest in both categories. No civilian mission met the renewed Civilian CSDP Compact’s target of at least 40 per cent women among international personnel. However, 9 contributing countries met or exceeded this target among their seconded personnel: Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.

Women’s representation in leadership positions in peace operations varied across organizations and personnel categories in 2026. Women’s representation among UN force commanders remained unchanged. The largest increase was among UN chief police officers, rising by 40 percentage points to 60 per cent, the highest proportion across the leadership categories. In EU CSDP missions and operations, women’s representation in leadership also increased. It fell among heads of UN peace operations and OSCE field operations.

This annual overview of women’s representation in peace operations contributes to assessments of the progress towards the commitments and targets set by organizations deploying peace operations. However, while numbers are important to foster discussions on women’s participation, a narrow focus on headcounts can encourage compliance with targets without addressing key constraints in recruitment, retention, promotion, training and workplace safety that inhibit women’s participation in peace operations. Moreover, it can create situations where women are represented but without equal opportunities or influence.

In addition to tracking representation, organizations need indicators that capture women’s influence and the quality of their participation, as well as institutional measures that enable meaningful and equitable participation. These efforts should advance together with the other WPS pillars of prevention, protection, and relief and recovery as mutually reinforcing elements of the WPS agenda’s implementation.

Source: SIPRI Multilateral Peace Operations Database, accessed Oct. 2026.

The SIPRI Multilateral Peace Operations Database is the only database on multilateral peace operations in the world that combines sex-disaggregated data on UN and non-UN peace operations.

Endnotes

1. 1 This number includes field offices that are not considered multilateral peace operations according to SIPRI’s definition, namely UNOAU, UNOCA, UNOWAS, UNSCO and UNSCOL.
2. 2 This number includes field operations that are not considered multilateral peace operations according to SIPRI’s definition, namely OM Montenegro, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, PO Astana, PO Bishkek and PO Dushanbe.
3. 3 This number includes field operations that are not considered multilateral peace operations according to SIPRI’s definition, namely EUCAP Somalia, EUMAM Ukraine, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and EUNAVFOR SOM ATALANTA.

Abbreviations