WPS and Protection of Civilians

Protection of civilians has become a core feature of UN peacekeeping. A normative shift in the 1990s led to new mandates and priorities in peacekeeping operations. This has occurred in parallel to the policy shift toward emphasizing the security of women. This chapter asks whether these two goals—protection of civilians and the security of women—go hand in hand or if there are tensions in the way they are pursued. Expectations formulated by the Security Council are examined as well as the operational activities and priorities on the ground. This chapter suggests that as UN actors move away from a singular focus on the weapon of war narrative, the protection of civilians discourse will evolve and thus create space for greater consideration of the WPS agenda. It also argues that peace support operations that tackle values and attitudes through training may address gender hierarchies and relations, while also securing the safety of women through patrols and escorts.