Ulaanbaatar, May 22, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces and the European Union jointly implemented the "Mongolian Peacekeepers as Agents for Gender Equality" Project.

The Project, which was jointly implemented for the first time by the Armed Forces of Mongolia and the European Union commemorating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the European Union, is aimed at ensuring gender equality and began in October 2024 with the signing of a cooperation protocol by the two sides. As a result, 22 military personnel of the Mongolian Armed Forces participated in a specialized gender mainstreaming training in the Republic of Slovenia from November 18-28, 2024. The Project aimed at deepening the gender knowledge of peacekeepers of the Mongolian Armed Forces, equipping them with practical expertise in integrating gender sensitivity into peacekeeping operations, and empowering them as advocates for gender equality and human rights.

“Mongolian peacekeepers have strengthened their position to be an influential and responsible participant in the UN and international peacekeeping operations, and are recognized as exemplary forces capable of implementing gender equality,” emphasized Chief of the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces, Major General Ganbyamba Sunrev and noted that the Project has raised the international reputation of the Armed Forces of Mongolia as well as the country.

Ambassador of the European Union to Mongolia Ina Marciulionyte said, “The Project supports gender-sensitive policy planning in Mongolia, and it also serves as an important step in fortifying the reputation of Mongolian peacekeepers on the international stage and in recognizing their professional skills and leadership in the world. Mongolian peacekeepers are capable of contributing valuably not only to peacekeeping but also to sustainable social development and gender equality. I am confident that their role, leadership, and voice will bring positive change on the international stage and also in their home country.”

With the involvement of military personnel, who participated in the Project, a methodological meeting "Gender-sensitive Armed Forces" was organized for more than 80 officers responsible for gender in the Armed Forces, as well as a forum "Leading Together, Developing Together", gender training for disaster and health sector employees, and gender policy and planning training for more than 200 officers at the leadership level of the Armed Forces were organized.

Mongolia first sent two colonels to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and one lieutenant general to Western Sahara in 2002. After that, a contingent of military personnel of the Mongolian Armed Forces was deployed to post-war reconstruction and international humanitarian operations in Iraq in 2003, and since then, Mongolia has sent 23,000 troops to UN peacekeeping operations.