UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
News: All-woman team from India to keep
peace at Abyei on Sudan-South Sudan border
What's
in the news?
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India is set to deploy an all-woman
platoon of peacekeepers as part of a battalion to the United Nations Interim
Security Force in Abyei (on the border
between South Sudan and Sudan).
Key
takeaways:
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It will be India’s largest single unit of women peacekeepers in a U.N. mission.
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In 2007, India became the first country to
deploy an all-women contingent to a U.N. Peacekeeping mission.
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The team will provide relief and assistance to women and children in one of the
most challenging terrain conditions under the U.N. flag.
Importance
of Women Peacekeepers:
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Ability to reach out and connect with
women and children in local populations, especially victims of sexual violence in conflict zones.
Go
back to basics:
United
Nations Peacekeeping:
●
Since 1948, UN Peacekeepers have
undertaken 71 Field Missions.
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They are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of
their light blue berets or helmets.
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The UN Peacekeeping Force won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988.
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India is one of the largest
troop-contributing nations to the U.N. peacekeeping missions.
Principles:
The three basic
principles that guide U.N.’s Peacekeeping missions are:
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Consent of the parties
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Impartiality
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Non-use of force except in self-defence
and defence of the mandate.
Control:
●
Every peacekeeping mission is authorized
by the UN Security Council.
Peacekeeping
forces:
●
Member states contribute their manpower
for Peacekeeping forces on a voluntary
basis.
Funding:
●
The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping
operations are the collective
responsibility of UN Member States.
●
Every Member State is legally obligated to
pay their respective share for peacekeeping.
Responsibilities
of U.N. military personnel:
●
Protecting civilians and other U.N.
personnel.
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Monitoring disputed borders.
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Observing peace processes in post-conflict
areas.
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Providing security in conflict zones.
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Providing security during elections.
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Assisting in-country military personnel
with training and support.
●
Assisting ex-combatants in implementing
the peace agreements.
India's
Contribution to UN peacekeeping force:
Backdrop:
●
India contributed more than 2,60,000
troops and personnels over six decades.
●
India remains one of the largest troops
and police contributing countries providing more than 5,700 Indian Peacekeepers
deployed in 9 out of 12 UN Peacekeeping Missions at present.
●
177 Indian Peacekeepers have made the
supreme sacrifice while serving in UN Peacekeeping Missions, the highest from
any troop-contributing country.
1.
Contributes Most number of missions: India has a long history
of service in UN Peacekeeping missions. To date, more than 2,53,000 Indians
have served in 49 of the 71 UN Peacekeeping missions established around the
world since 1948.
2.
Third Largest troop contribution: Currently, there are
around 5,500 troops and police from India who have been deployed to UN
Peacekeeping missions, the third highest amongst troop-contributing countries.
3. India has also
provided, and continues to provide, eminent
Force Commanders for UN Missions.
4. India also served as Chair of the three international
commissions for supervision and control for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
established by the 1954 Geneva Accords on Indochina.
5. In 2007, India became
the first country to deploy an all-women
contingent to a UN Peacekeeping Mission.
6. In addition to their
security role, the members of the Indian Formed Police Unit also organized medical camps for Liberians, many of
whom have limited access to health care services. Medical care is among the
many services Indian Peacekeepers provide to the communities in which they
serve on behalf of the Organization. They also perform specialized tasks such
as veterinary support and engineering services.
7. Indian veterinarians serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan
(UNMISS), stepped up to help cattle herders who were losing much of their stock
to malnutrition and disease in the war-torn nation.
8. India has suffered the
highest fatalities in the UN
Peacekeeping Forces. 177 Indian Peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice
while serving in UN Peacekeeping Missions, the highest from any
troop-contributing country.