Empowering Women in Peacekeeping: WOC’s Training at the RSCE
The United Nations C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (UNCAP) concluded the 11th edition of the Women’s Outreach Course (WOC) at the Regional Service Centre Entebbe which ran from 11 to the 22 September 2023.
The 11th edition, supported by the Canadian government, upskilled trainees from 12 member states, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cote D’Ivoire, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, and Uganda.
The Women’s Outreach Course (WOC) is a specialized training program aimed at preparing female uniformed personnel for deployment in UN peacekeeping operations.
The course was led by a team of eight dedicated trainers from Ghana, Belgium, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), the Integrated Training Service (ITS), and RSCE.
By Uchechukwu Patricia Emodi, RFTS, RSCE
This initiative is a direct response to Security Council Resolution 2122 (2013), which encourages troop and police contributing countries to increase the representation of women in military and police roles within UN missions and address gender imbalances. The academy has meticulously designed this training program to empower female uniformed military and police officers with essential knowledge and skills related to Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4), and Information, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations (C4ISR). This comprehensive training also encompasses planning systems, relevant UN policies, regulations, and standard operating procedures. These elements collectively provide participants with the foundational background required to prepare for deployment in UN peacekeeping and political missions.
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Trainers shared their extensive expertise in United Nations-Owned Equipment (UNOE), C4ISR domain, and experience in various peacekeeping missions, ensuring the delivery of top-quality content and the effective transfer of knowledge to the participants. The course’s closing ceremony was chaired by Mr. Paulin Djomo, the Director of RSCE, Brigadier General David R. Gonyi the Chief of Staff Air Force, Ugandan People’s Defence Force, as the guest of honour and Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Wood the Deputy Canadian Defence Advisor to High Commission of Canada, Kenya.
The international collaboration on this important issue only highlights the global commitment to promoting gender inclusivity and technological advancement in peace operations.
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