The United Nations top peace establishment officer has said that India is a very important supporter of peace establishment, including playing a leading role in efforts to ensure accountability for crimes against peace establishment.
Under General Secretary Jean-Pierre Lakroex’s remarks for peace operations came during a press conference on Thursday on the occasion of International Day of United Nations Peace Sainiks. He came to New Delhi to attend the first conference of women’s peace soldiers organized by India on 24-25 February.
In response to a question asked by PTI about the conference and its assessment about it, “Yes, I really wanted to go to New Delhi and that conference.”
Lacrox said, “First, because India is a very important contribution country of Army and Police. It is also a very important supporter of peace establishment, in addition to the significant contribution of men and women of India, in terms of supporting various efforts. I am especially thinking, but there are many other examples of India’s leadership on accountability for crime against peace soldiers.”
The Delhi Conference organized on the subject of ‘Women in Peace Establishment: A Global South Perspective’ was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and United Nations Peace Establishment Center (CUNPK).
In this, women’s peace soldiers of 35 military contributions from global South were brought together to discuss the emerging challenges in the peace establishment and the important role of women in advancing peace and security.
Lacrox said that there are two dimensions of women’s issue in peace installation.
He said, “The greater participation of women in peace installation will be more effective, and more empowerment of women through peace installation, in terms of women’s role in political processes, they will be empowered, and will ensure that they are integral to all efforts to build peace and peace.”
The United Nations Peace establishment head said that “there is no ideological thing” and said that “it is just a realism that women need to fully involve and participate in all these efforts, and that is why we are continuing our efforts to involve more women in peace installation.”
Lacrox, who was present with Major General Cheryl Peirs, Acting Major General Cherryl Pearce in briefing, said the world organization “is doing a good job in terms of the number of women’s peace soldiers” although we still have a lot to do.
He said that the United Nations peace establishment is still facing challenges in the context of military units formed, as member countries do not have so much resources. Referring to the Peeries, he said, “In addition, in the context of the senior woman General, however, thankfully we have an excellent example of this.”
He said, “But yes, we want more senior women generals to apply for the posts of Force Commander and Deputy Force Commander. This work is in progress.”
India is the fourth largest contributor of uniformed workers in United Nations Peace Campaign. It currently deploys more than 5,300 military and police personnel in the United Nations Peace Campaign in Abei, Central African Republic, Congo Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Somalia, South Sudan and Western Sahara.
India was the first country to deploy a full women’s police unit in Liberia in 2007. In January 2023, India also deployed a full female platoon of peace soldiers as part of its battalion in the United Nations Mission in Abei, which is the largest deployment of women’s peace soldiers in recent years.
In December 2022, India started a ‘Mitra Group’ to promote accountability for crimes against peace soldiers during its presiding United Nations Security Council. India had also announced the launch of a new database designed to monitor the progress in recording crimes against peace soldiers and to make criminals accountable.
