India to deploy single largest platoon of women peacekeepers in Abyei

India on Friday introduced that it has deployed an all-women platoon in Abyei on the border between South Sudan and Sudan. It’s India’s largest single unit of feminine Blue Helmets in a UN mission since 2007. The nation is among the many largest troop-contributing international locations to UN peacekeeping missions.

“India is deploying an all #ladies’s platoon of peacekeepers as a part of our battalion to the UN mission in #Abyei @UNISFA_1. That is the only largest deployment of girls #peacekeepers in recent times. Good needs to the staff!” India’s everlasting consultant to the UN Ruchira Kamboj tweeted Thursday. She additionally added a photograph of the contingent.

India is deploying an all #women’s platoon of peacekeepers as a part of our battalion to the UN Mission in #Abyei @UNISFA_1

That is the only largest deployment of girls #peacekeepers in recent times. Good needs to the staff!

Textual content Hyperlink https://t.co/QCoIPjQr9Q pic.twitter.com/KfdJa3TKw5

— Ruchira Kamboj (@ruchirakamboj) January 6, 2023

She mentioned that it is part of the Indian battalion within the United Nations Interim Safety Power, Abyei (UNISFA), and has been deployed from January 6, 2023.

That is India’s largest single unit of girls peacekeepers in a UN Mission because it deployed the first-ever all-women’s contingent in Liberia in 2007.

The Indian contingent, comprising two officers and 25 different ranks, will type a part of an engagement platoon and concentrate on neighborhood outreach, and will probably be performing intensive security-related duties as nicely. Their presence will probably be particularly welcome in Abyei, the place a current spurt in violence has triggered a spate of difficult humanitarian considerations for girls and youngsters within the battle zone, it added.

In September final yr, Kamboj had mentioned in a Safety Council briefing on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations that the function of girls peacekeepers can’t be over-emphasised ineffective peacekeeping.

She had underlined that India took pleasure in having deployed the first-ever all-women peacekeeping contingent in Liberia in 2007, which impressed a complete technology of Liberian ladies to participate within the nation’s safety sector. We stand able to contribute additional on this regard.

The Indian mission famous within the assertion that ladies peacekeepers are extremely regarded in UN missions all through the world for his or her capability to succeed in out and join with ladies and youngsters in native populations, particularly victims of sexual violence in battle zones.

Indian ladies notably have a wealthy custom in peacekeeping, the assertion mentioned including that UN’s first Police Adviser Dr Kiran Bedi, United Nations Army Gender Advocate of the 12 months Award 2019 honoree Main Suman Gawani and Shakti Devi have made a mark for themselves in UN Peacekeeping.

In 2014, Devi, Officer, Jammu and Kashmir Police, who was deployed within the UN Help Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), was named the recipient of the Worldwide Feminine Police Peacekeeper Award by the UN’s Police Division for her distinctive achievements with the mission, together with her efforts in the direction of serving to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

Our groups within the Congo and South Sudan have additionally executed sterling work in mainstreaming ladies and youngsters into neighborhood and social developmental initiatives on the grassroots stage, the Indian mission mentioned.

The function of the 125-strong ladies peacekeepers of the Indian Shaped Police Unit deployed with the UN mission in Liberia has been lauded for uplifting ladies within the West African nation to develop into cops. Then UN Secretary-Normal Ban Ki-moon had hailed India’s ladies’s peacekeeping unit in Liberia as an inspiration for all, saying their conduct served for instance of how ladies might help the world physique in its efforts to fight sexual exploitation and abuse.

As of October 31, 2022, India is the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions with 5,887 troops and personnel deployed throughout 12 missions, after Bangladesh (7,017).

(With company inputs)