We must be proud of the significant increase in women peacekeepers that we have been working on for the last five years
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia will prioritize increasing women's participation in international peacekeeping forces, the Foreign Ministry's director general for multilateral cooperation, Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard, has revealed.

"We must be proud of the significant increase in women peacekeepers that we have been working on for the last five years," Ruddyard stated while sharing the results of research conducted on 'National Action for Peacekeeping Implementation' at an event broadcast on CSIS Indonesia's YouTube channel, observed from Jakarta on Friday.

As of September 2021, Indonesia has mobilized 179 women soldiers -- equivalent to 6.7 percent of the total troops -- for the national peacekeeping forces, an increase from 64 women personnel -- equivalent to 2.5 percent of the total troops -- who were mobilized in 2017, he noted.

Besides increasing women's involvement in the national peacekeeping forces, Indonesia is committed to ensuring a conducive and suitable working environment for women troops, the director general added.

"Involvement of women in peacekeeping forces would also enhance their military career and increase their chance for a rank promotion upon the conclusion of their assignment," Ruddyard said.

Indonesia is also committed to prioritizing the improvement of working competence and capability of its troops to ensure their best performance during their peacekeeping assignment, he confirmed.

"We will teach peacekeepers all the necessary capability for security protection, political process assistance, and establishment of peace in their assigned area," Ruddyard said.

The government will continue to enhance pre-deployment training to ensure Indonesian peacekeepers are capable of handling any challenge that they encounter during their mission, he informed.

"We will also prioritize training to enhance peacekeepers' competence by establishing a partnership with relevant institutions," Ruddyard noted.

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Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Nabil Ihsa
Editor: Sri Haryati
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