§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK Government are taking to encourage the equal representation of women at all levels in diplomatic, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. [30427]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 5 February 2002]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has set targets to increase the proportion of women where they are underrepresented in the diplomatic service. These targets and progress towards them are published in the FC0's annual report. A gender diversity adviser was appointed in 2000 to support this activity—the FCO is the only Whitehall Department to create such a role.
The UK makes very effort to put forward skilled female candidates for humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, and will continue to do so. Female military and police officers are routinely deployed into the UN missions.