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More female Indonesian peacekeepers, please
The number of female Indonesian peacekeepers has grown marginally, from only 1 percent of the total number of personnel in 2009 to 3 percent in 2017.
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Foreign Minister Retno LP Minister speaks before members of the Indonesian Peacekeeper's Mission Force. ( Courtesy of the Foreign Ministry/File)
T
he recent visit of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to Lebanon to meet the Indonesian United Nations peacekeepers stationed in the Middle Eastern country has highlighted the government’s appreciation of female peacekeepers, who, Retno said, had raised Indonesia’s image. Recognition of women’s equal and full participation in upholding peace and security is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 adopted in 2000.
However, the number of female Indonesian peacekeepers has grown marginally, from only 1 percent of the total number of personnel in 2009 to 3 percent in 2017, quite a shame for a country with a relatively equal male to female population ratio.
Former chief of the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) Peacekeeping Center (PMPP), I Gede Sumertha KY, said in an opinion piece published by The Jakarta Post in 2011 that the number of women peacekeepers was low because of their “minimal English skills”. Although the lack of English proficiency is something one needs to take account of, my research conducted between 2014 and 2017 through in-depth interviews with around 20 personnel involved in UN peacekeeping deployment, found that the primary problem lies in the entrenched masculine culture within defense and security institutions.
The research findings, which will be published in mid-year in the Centre for Strategic and International Studies’ Analisis CSIS Journal, indicate at least four obstacles standing between Indonesian female soldiers and UN peacekeeping missions.
