Margarita Robles moderates meeting on the role of women in peacekeeping missions

Margarita Robles, who began by thanking the experts invited to the event for coming, continued by praising the spirit of sacrifice demonstrated by Spanish military personnel for their work in Spain and overseas over the last 30 years.

The Minister for Defence stressed that the effectiveness of that excellent work is because "our Armed Forces are brave, generous, heroic, and capable of sacrificing lives without asking for anything in return, simply because they have values and beliefs".

Ministerio de DefensaFurther on, Margarita Robles compared the importance currently given to many lesser issues over qualities that underline people's bravery, such as "commitment, sacrifice and dedication"; which is why her ministerial department wished to pay this tribute.

As regards the role of women in conflict resolution, Margarita Robles used the attendance at this event by the Army Chief of Staff to announce the creation and selection of a group of women for Special Operations, who will be given special training for the future missions they carry out.

Ending her speech, the Minister for Defence emotionally remembered the families of those military servicemen and women who gave their lives while taking part in peacekeeping missions.

During the subsequent Q&A session, the invited experts gave personal accounts of their experiences on this type of mission, with interesting and often ignored details about the day-to-day workings of an international mission.

Regarding the missions in which the two generals invited to the event took part (one from the Air Force and another from the Army), they both recalled first-hand experiences about their first missions, highlighting the inherent difficulties of first including the Spanish Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions, such as the use of material outside of Spain, its correct maintenance and the precarious nature of living conditions for those first military personnel overseas, issues which they said were resolved with ingenuity and daring, as well as the warm welcome with which Spanish military personnel were received in the areas they were deployed.

Especially moving was the speech given by the Malian lieutenant colonel who spoke about the dramatic situation the population of her country is currently going through and the problems faced by women and girls who are often treated as war trophies. She also made special mention of the empathy shown by Spanish soldiers with the local population and their contribution to peace.

Finally, Alicia Cebada spoke about the implementation of United Nations Resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security", presenting the difficulties posed by this resolution given the context in which it is developed. However, she gave a positive message of hope about the benefits that its future development in conflict zones will bring to the populations in which it is implemented.

Non official translation