The Paraguayan Army has made a historic stride in gender equality by allowing female enlistment for the first time in the Centro de Instrucción Militar para Estudiantes y Formación de Oficiales de Reserva (CIMEFOR), an institution that trains reserve officers. Notably, out of 1,920 applicants, 1,045 were women, representing an overwhelming 54.43% of total applicants, demonstrating significant interest from women.

On January 2nd, the new female recruits officially began their military service, receiving their uniforms amidst blessings from their families. Colonel Ángel Baruja, Commander of CIMEFOR, stated, "Today, we begin a new era, marking a significant milestone in the history of the Paraguayan Army. According to Article 46 of the Paraguayan Constitution, all citizens are equal in dignity and rights, and discrimination is not tolerated. Female recruits will undergo the same training program as male recruits."

The training program includes physical conditioning, civic education, first aid, weapons handling, marksmanship, and basic combat training. Upon successful completion, female recruits will be commissioned as reserve second lieutenants or reserve naval second lieutenants.

Continued Efforts to Expand Female Participation

While Paraguay has produced female soldiers for decades, it was not until 2003 that women began joining combat units. Juan Belikow, a defense expert from the University of Buenos Aires, assessed, "The permission for female enlistment in CIMEFOR is a significant advancement in this context."

CIMEFOR, established in 1944, had been a male-only institution until November 2024, when Paraguayan President Santiago Peña approved voluntary female enlistment. Defense Minister Óscar González emphasized, "Statistics and the outstanding performance of women in military academies supported this decision. Over the past 30 years, women have accounted for 26% of the top five graduates from military academies. Women can play a significant role in national defense."

Belikow stated that the high number of female applicants for this CIMEFOR recruitment was an anticipated outcome. "Many women who could not join the military due to past restrictions are now fulfilling their dreams through this opportunity. When the Argentine Army Women's Auxiliary School was established in 1981, it also saw a surge in applicants. Over time, the number of applicants will stabilize," he predicted.

Peacekeeping Deployment and International Cooperation

Meanwhile, Naval Lieutenant Colonel Francisca Pérez Salinas led a contingent of Paraguayan soldiers deployed to Cyprus for peacekeeping duties in January. This contingent, consisting of 12 Paraguayan soldiers, will operate under the command of the United Nations. At the deployment ceremony, Minister González stated, "The Cyprus mission is challenging, but the Paraguayan military will overcome all difficulties with its unique professionalism."

Paraguay's efforts in gender equality demonstrate its firm commitment to the 'Women, Peace, and Security (WPS)' program, sponsored by the U.S. Southern Command. WPS recognizes that women are a crucial element in achieving sustainable international peace and security. The Inter-American Defense Board (JID) praised Paraguay's efforts on the WPS agenda at the 7th Joint Staff Leadership Symposium on Women, Peace, and Security, co-hosted by the U.S. Southern Command and the Peruvian Joint Command in Lima, Peru, in August 2024.

The JID stated, "Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Mexico shared their knowledge, skills, and capabilities gained from the implementation and execution of their respective national action plans on Women, Peace, and Security, providing valuable lessons to countries still developing their national action plans."

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