A training session for women involved in UN peacekeeping military operations kicked off on Monday 04 August at the headquarters of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) Southern Zone in Agadir.
This three-week session brings together 23 female military personnel from 14 different countries, mainly from Africa, as well as from France, Germany, Switzerland, and Canada. It is part of a triangular partnership between Morocco, France, and the United Nations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the Southern Zone, stated that the training aims to empower female military personnel and prepare them to fully assume leadership roles within UN peacekeeping operations, while also strengthening the triangular cooperation to enhance female leadership in support of international peace and security.
This program, he added, reflects the Royal Armed Forces’ strong commitment to promoting an inclusive approach based on gender equality, encouraging the integration of female military personnel at all levels and in all branches of the FAR, in accordance with the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the FAR.
UN Women’s representative in Morocco, Myriem Ouchen Noussairi, expressed her deep appreciation to the FAR for hosting this training "a strategic initiative and for their "steadfast commitment to peace and security in Africa and beyond."
This training, held within the framework of multilateral cooperation, is proof of a strong partnership aimed at increasing women’s participation in peacekeeping operations and supporting the emergence of a new generation of women leaders in uniform, she added.
According to Noussairi, the year 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the UN "Women, Peace, and Security" agenda concerning women's rights, gender equality, and peacebuilding, fully aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the importance of women’s participation and gender perspectives in peace negotiations, peacekeeping missions, and post-conflict peacebuilding.
The participation of women in peacekeeping operations is essential to the success of this agenda and the missions themselves, she stressed.
In statements to MAP, female military participants from various countries highlighted the significance of this training session at the Southern Zone Headquarters in Agadir for strengthening their skills and leadership capacities to contribute to sustainable and inclusive peace.
This training program, which includes several modules, was developed jointly by UN Women, the UN Department of Peace Operations, and the Royal Armed Forces, with the participation of international experts.
(MAP: 05 August 2025)
