On 29th August, 2020 India co-sponsored United National Security Council Resolution for Greater Participation of women in peacekeeping forces. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution called on full, effective and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping operations.
The resolution was tabled by Indonesia has been seconded by India, which is the fifth largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. The resolution has been passed by a consensus.
Key Points:
i.According to 2019 data, only six percent of UN peacekeepers are women. In total, there are 86, 687 peacekeepers in the UN of which 5, 243 are female.
ii.The resolution mentions the development of “gender-sensitive working environments for women in peacekeeping operations” and to address any “threats and violence against them”.
iii.The bill also requested UN Secretary-General strengthen efforts to “prevent and address sexual harassment” within peacekeeping operations.
Contribution of India in peacekeeping Force:
i.India made history in 2007 by deploying the first all-women Police Unit in the UN mission in Liberia.
ii.Currently, India contributes more than 5, 400 military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping operations in Abyei, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, Western Sahara and also one expert to the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia.
iii.In May 2020, Indian Women Peacekeeper Major Suman Gawani won the UN Military Gender Advocate award. She served as a peacekeeper with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
India in UNSC:
i.In June 2020, India was elected non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2021.
ii.India will serve as President of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the month of August, 2021. It will again preside over the council for a month in 2022.
About UNSC:
Security Council President – Indonesia(August 2020); Niger (September 2020)
Headquarters – New York, United States.
