Gender Mainstreaming Policies and Women Participation in Peace Support Operations: A Case of Kenya’s Contingents in African Mission in Somalia, 2011-2020
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Date
2023
Authors
Kang’ung’u, Francisca Kitondo
Ichani, Xavier Francis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CEDRED
Abstract
Gender mainstreaming as means of widening women participation in peace support
operations is increasingly attracting scholarly attention. This study aimed at investigating the
influence of gender mainstreaming policies on women participation in peace support
missions using the case of Kenya’s contingents in the African Mission in Somalia from 2011
to 2020. Specific objectives were to analyze the UN rationale for women participation in
peace keeping operation in the context of Kenya, to assess enacted gender mainstreaming
policies for women participation and their influence on women participation in peace keeping
operations and to evaluate how inclusion of women in peace keeping operations influenced
the overall mission outcome of Kenya’s peacekeeping operations contingents in the African
Mission in Somalia between 2011 and 2020. Guided by the liberal feminist theory and
primary and secondary data gathered and analyzed using mixed approaches of qualitative and
quantitative research, this study found that despite the UN Security Council resolution 1325
expanding peace support operations by incorporating inclusion of women in its operations,
the proportion of women in peace support operation is still low. However, there is increased
involvement of the women in peace support operations in the Kenyan contingents in Somalia.
Secondly, Kenya has enacted gender mainstreaming policies including gender units and
gender coordinators, training programs, gender sensitivity programs and workshops. Thirdly,
deployment of women in the peace keeping contingents added value to the overall outcomes
of African Mission in Somalia by reinforcing skill sets, increasing acceptance by the host
country and reducing gender-based violence. Therefore, the study recommends increased
integration of women in peace support, increased awareness on the role of gender
mainstreaming policies in according women equal opportunities to participate in peace
support operations.
Description
Article
Keywords
Kenya, Somalia, Women Participation, Peace Support Operations, Gender Mainstreaming, Kenya Defence Forces
Citation
Kang’ung’u, F. K., & Ichani, X. F. (2023). Gender Mainstreaming Policies and Women Participation in Peace Support Operations: A Case of Kenya’s Contingents in African Mission in Somalia, 2011-2020. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies, 7(3), 34-60.