Women, Peace and Security

Women in Multilateral Peace Operations in 2025: What is the State of Play?

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Reports, articles, briefs Public 2025

This infographic looks at the data on women's representation in multilateral peace operations (UN peace operations, EU CSDP missions and operations, and OSCE field operations) over the period December 2016 - June 2025. It aims to monitor progress and improve transparency in order to inform the debate on the future of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and refine strategies to address potential gaps.

For each organisation, the same indicators are presented: the percentage of women in leadership positions, the number and proportion of women in missions/operations in general, the number and proportion of women in each mission/operation and the top 10 contributing states by number and percentage of women.  

The updated 2024-2027 EEAS Strategy and Action Plan to Enhance Women’s Participation in Civilian CSDP Missions maintains the target of at least 40% women as international staff in civilian CSDP missions. The 2023 Compact has the same target of 40%, as a commitment by EU Member States (MS). Seven EU MS have reached 40% during the first six months of 2025 (calculated as a monthly average). The only civilian CSDP mission to reach 40% women among secondees is EUBAM Rafah. The number of women in CSDP missions and operations decreased over the past year, in part due to the closure of EUCAP Sahel Niger, although their overall proportions remained at 24%. Finally, 3 of the 12 heads of civilian CSDP missions were women, the same as in the previous year.

Reference: Pfeifer Cruz, C. & Ahmad, A. (2025). Women in multilateral peace operations in 2025: What is the state of play? Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

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