Data from un.org and Kristina Koch
WASHINGTON — The biggest obstacle to recruiting women for the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions as senior managers in the field is not sexism, it’s a lack of qualified female applicants U.N. recruiter Kristina Koch said Wednesday.
“We need to put ourselves out there and consider this line of work,” Koch said at a briefing for the Women’s Foreign Policy Group on Wednesday. “It’s the most rewarding work you can do. It’s addicting because you’re in an environment of extreme change.”
Only 30 percent of high-level jobs in conflict or post-conflict zones are held by women, while 70 percent are held by men, a proportion that hasn’t changed for several years, according to Koch.
She created the Female Talent Pipeline Initiative to encourage women to apply for such positions by providing support and individual attention to qualified women during the application process.
She said there are cultural impediments to women such as families advising against conflict work, fear of conflict zones and high turnover rates among women who don’t want to bring their husbands and children to unstable places.
“The more hardship involved, the fewer women there are,” Koch said.
But women are needed in these places, she said.
“Almost every [U.N.] mandate talks about protecting civilians,” she said. “How can we protect women without women? This is not a feminist agenda. We’re not doing our job without women.”
The application rates are so low right now, she said, that there is no way to close the gender gap without major change.
“U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been fundamental in promoting parity,” Koch said, “and has appointed many, many women to senior positions.”
