Women leaders from 17 countries on Monday, December 4, began a course that aims at increasing the representation, and meaningful participation of women in leadership roles in United Nations peace operations in French-speaking countries.

The five-day course being held at the Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) in Musanze District, is organised in partnership with UN’s Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Senior Women Talent Pipeline and the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF).

The participants are 19 senior women leaders with expertise in political affairs, civil affairs, rule of law and security, public information, and mission support. They come from countries from all continents.

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The course was opened by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Valentine Uwamariya, who presented Rwanda’s gains in terms of women empowerment and representation and urged the participants to strive for the promotion of women, especially in UN missions.

"We must first understand the various challenges that prevent women from occupying leadership positions, especially in UN field missions. Occupying these leadership positions is a matter of good leadership, and we must therefore recognize other issues such as culture, knowledge, language barriers or the inability to interact in a diverse cultural context,” Uwamariya said.

The Rwandan government&039;s commitment to gender and women's empowerment is demonstrated by facts, figures, policies and strategies, she said. Rwandan women occupy various leadership positions at all levels. Women constitute more than 40 per cent of the cabinet and 61 per cent of the lower house of deputies.

"Improving the profiles and leadership capabilities of senior women will therefore go a long way in filling these gaps. This will enable women to successfully compete for UN leadership positions. This is the very essence of this training,” Uwamariya said.

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RPA Director Col (Rtd) Jill Rutaremara said the course is organised in the context of UN gender promotion efforts, especially in its endeavour to have more women taking senior leadership positions in UN missions.

"The participants will deliberate ways in which women can prepare themselves and have the confidence to take up those senior leadership positions. Notably, some of the trainers hold senior positions, and therefore they will share experiences, discuss the existing challenges and possible solutions,” Rutaremara said.

One of the course organisers is the Senior Women Talent Pipeline, a UN programme aimed at promoting gender parity at the senior level through a pool of qualified women preparing to apply for leadership positions in peace operations. The course will be closed on Friday, December 8.