Women peacekeepers are exposed to more threats - Col Seruiratu

The highest-ranked female officer in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Colonel Litea Seruiratu says for the female peacekeepers, there is a strong emotional and psychological challenge to make sure that there is mutual acceptance and understanding between the two main gender streams within the RFMF when they are deployed for peacekeeping operations.

Seruiratu highlighted this during a reflection on Fijian and global peacekeeping experience morning tea, hosted by the UN Resident Coordinator Sanaka Samarasinha and the Ambassador of France Jean-Francois Fitou.

She says the way forward is a strategic and command level to enhance female participation in the UN mandated peacekeeping operations.

Col Seruiratu who is also the Human Resources Management Director says, for this, the RFMF and its gender integration policy will need to include sustainable pathways and integrated supporting network to be established for women in the force.

She says this will also ensure that women are well equipped when they go out into peacekeeping duties.

Seruiratu says the RFMF has adopted a gender integration transition pathway in consideration for more servicewomen to be recruited into the RFMF over the last 19 years.

She says the main challenge that they face especially for women when they come back from missions is that they are exposed to the threats.

Seruiratu says the spiritual and psychosocial support networks is a capacity development that they have welcomed in the military which looks into the support for those that return from peacekeeping missions.

Seruiratu says when she first joined the RFMF, it took them 10 years to be allowed to join peacekeeping missions.

She says they are also working on meeting the UN threshold that they still have not reached which is to increase the number of women in peacekeeping missions by 15%.

She says this has to increase by 25% in 2025.

Seruiratu also thanked the former Commander of the RFMF, Sitiveni Rabuka for allowing the participation of women soldiers during his time.

Meanwhile Rabuka says that he came under a lot of criticism when he opened the gates of Queen Elizabeth Barracks for women soldiers.

He says that when he was the Prime Minister, he encouraged women to be part of peacekeeping missions.