Today, UN Women, alongside the UN Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the UN Department of Peace Operations and the UN Development Programme’s Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office, formally announced the launch of the Elsie Initiative Fund. Canada is providing an initial contribution of $15 million toward the Fund...

“One central challenge for peacekeeping in the 21st century is the absence of women, whether as police officers, soldiers or leaders. Greater participation by women in the peacekeeping and peacebuilding processes will change the dynamics of these missions and pave the way for a more enduring peace. The financing announced today will enable the Elsie Initiative Fund to become a reality and build on our commitment to get more women involved in peacekeeping missions.”

- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

“As the Secretariat of the Elsie Initiative Fund, UN Women is committed to creating an enabling environment that allows and encourages uniformed women to serve in peace operations. The funds provided by Canada and other Member States will help to boost the number of women participating in decisions and actions relating to their own security, and that of their communities, and ensure that women’s unique perspective is included, whether they are in the field or at the peace table.”

- UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

“Women’s participation in UN peace operations is vital to achieving sustainable peace. As part of the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, our Canadian Armed Forces is pleased to be partnering with Ghana’s Armed Forces to develop innovative approaches to increase women’s participation in uniformed military roles.”

- Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence

• The Elsie Initiative is an innovative and multilateral project to help overcome barriers to women’s meaningful participation in UN peace operations.

• In February 2018, Canada held an international design workshop for the Elsie Initiative, ensuring that UN stakeholders, contact group members, women peacekeepers and civil society were able to contribute to the development of innovative implementation options for this pilot initiative.

• In 2015, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2242, which acknowledged the substantial link between women’s meaningful involvement in peace operations and the achievement of long-term, sustainable peace.

• The Elsie Initiative Fund is designed to accelerate the UN commitment to double women’s rate of participation in police and military units by 2020. Resolution 2242 set a specific target to double the numbers of women in military and police contingents of United Nations peace operations by 2020. Since 2015, the percentage of women deployed in these uniformed roles has only increased by 1.2%.

• Canada has established technical assistance and training partnerships with the Ghana Armed Forces and the Zambia Police Service.

• The fund is currently designed to have a lifespan of five years (from 2019 to 2024) before being reassessed for a potential extension.

• UN Women and Canada will co-chair the fund.

Associated links

• Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations
• Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations: Baseline Study
• Women, peace and security
• Peace and Stabilization Operations Program
• Action on Peacekeeping (A4P)

Adam Austen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adam.Austen@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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Todd Lane
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
613-996-3100
todd.lane@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
613-996-2353
mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca