Source: United States Department of State 
The issue of gender in peace-support operations took a front-row seat as dozens of representatives from across the African continent gathered in Kenya at the International Peace Support Training Center on January 20 for a week long conference. 

Forty students from 11 African nations attended the "Gender Perspective in Peace-Support Operations: A Comprehensive Approach" course, which equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote the application of gender perspectives in peacekeeping operations, U.S. Africa Command said in a January 28 press release.

"Relationship with the population requires respect, empathy and training as we do our best for them," said General Alberto Asarta of the Spanish army, who emphasized the importance of a diverse perspective in peacekeeping.
Also in attendance were the training center's director, Kenyan Brigadier General Robert Kabage; Spain's deputy ambassador to Kenya, Ricardo Losa; the Netherlands' deputy ambassador to Kenya, Mariëlle Geraedts; and Barbara Sotirin of U.S. Africa Command (Africom) in Stuttgart, Germany.

Throughout the conference, internationally renowned experts in peacekeeping, international humanitarian law, security-sector reform and protection of civilians shared their expertise and engaged in dialogue with the students, who shared their own experiences in African peacekeeping.

"The international security community is increasingly realizing that recognizing the complex gendered realities of armed conflict is essential for sustainable mission success and peace," said Ann Stieglitz, manager of Africom's Global Peace Operations Program.

"This trend is evidenced by several U.N. Security Council resolutions and an increasing number of National Action Plans that address gender concerns," Stieglitz said.

Tailored for the African audience, the course in Kenya is a partnership between Africom, the International Peace Support Training Center, the Netherlands and Spain.

"Comprehensiveness is all about building on diverse views," Geraedts said.

The students included men and women, military and civilians, government and nongovernment participants. The course was built on the work of the European Security and Defence College course developed by a bilateral initiative of the Netherlands and Spain and held twice annually in Madrid and Amsterdam.

Africom partnered with the Netherlands and Spanish governments and their militaries to develop and promote the course in Kenya. 

Dr. Shukria Dini speaks at the "Gender Perspective in Peace-Support Operations" course at the International Peace Support Training Center in Karen, Kenya.