China
23:07, 30-Jun-2017
UN peacekeeping training course for women wraps up in Beijing
[]
Share
Copied
By CGTN's Sun Ye & Zhu Ziming
A highly selective course that prepares international women officers to become world peacekeepers wrapped up on Friday in Beijing. And according to participating officers, they're more than ready to go on their next assignments.
The training course in the Chinese capital, co-hosted by the United Nations and China's Ministry of Defense, is now in its second year.
40 female officers from 26 countries gathered over the past two weeks to learn about peacekeeping operations, from dealing with conflicts to handling survivors. And like any graduate, they want to put what they have learnt to use.
UN female military officers' course comes to a close in Beijing. /CGTN Photo
UN female military officers' course comes to a close in Beijing. /CGTN Photo
Jean Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for UN peacekeeping told CGTN that, “The more women, the more efficient, but we have a long way to go.”
Now, UN missions only have less than 5 percent women military personnel. And they're the forces that world peace needs.
The venue of the UN female military officers' course in Beijing. /CGTN Photo
The venue of the UN female military officers' course in Beijing. /CGTN Photo
La Croix also said that, “China is very dedicated to increasing women's presence in world peacekeeping and we're grateful for its participation. We count on China.”
Major Mpho Finger from South Africa told CGTN that, “People in peacekeeping areas need us. From giving orders to handling survivors, we are capable. And we want to be deployed.”
Yang Li, a Chinese peacekeeper who just returned from her deployment in Mali, said that women officers play a special role.
Yang, a lieutenant colonel said, “Women soldiers are generally more understanding and people in distress open up to them easier. I believe China will play a bigger part in peacekeeping in the future, and I am always ready for new assignments.”
1km