VOA常速英语:For Peace to Last, Women Peacekeepers Needed

Women and girls living in conflict areas are frequently the targets of specific forms of violence and abuse. Thus women develop a unique perspective on the causes and effects of conflict on the population. Yet they are severely under-represented during efforts to resolve hostilities and on missions devoted to peacekeeping.

The United States helps address this gap through the Global Peace Operations Initiative, or GPOI, which was founded in 2004. This U.S.-funded security assistance program works with 53 partner governments to help stabilize countries in conflict, and helps support United Nations and regional peace operations.