India, one of the largest contributors of troops to UN peacekeeping, is sending its largest single unit of female Blue Helmets in a UN mission (since 2007) to Abyei.
This was tweeted by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, Ruchira Kamboj, on January 5, along with a photo of the contingent. The statement confirmed that a platoon of women peacekeepers would be deployed to Abyei on January 6, 2023, as part of the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Security Force, Abyei (UNISFA).
Since deploying the first-ever all-female Contingent to Liberia in 2007, this will be the largest single unit of women Peacekeepers in a UN Mission from India. It will also signal India’s intention to increase the number of Indian women in Peacekeeping contingents dramatically, the statement stated.
With two officers and twenty-five other ranks, the Indian contingent will make up a battalion focusing on community outreach and extensive security-related activities. Their presence is needed in Abyei because a recent upsurge in violence has produced serious humanitarian problems for women and children in the conflict zone.
In a briefing to the Security Council on UN Peacekeeping Operations last September, Ms Kamboj emphasized the need for female peacekeepers.
While in Liberia in 2007, India sent its first-ever all-female peacekeeping detachment, and as a result, motivated an entire generation of Liberian women to participate in the country’s security sector. “We stand ready to contribute further to this regard,” she said.
As the Indian mission pointed out in their statement, female peacekeepers are “highly regarded” in UN missions worldwide due to their capacity to build relationships with local populations, particularly female victims of sexual violence in war zones.
The statement went on to say that Indian women notably have a great tradition in peacekeeping, citing the contributions of women like UN’s first Police Advisor Dr Kiran Bedi, 2019 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award recipient Major Suman Gawani, and Shakti Devi.
Devi, a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, was honoured in 2014 with the International Female Police Peacekeeper Award from the United Nations Police Division for her “exceptional achievements” while serving with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Her work with victims of sexual and gender-based violence earned her this honour.
The 125 women of the Indian Formed Police Unit, who are part of the UN mission in Liberia, have been praised for encouraging other Liberian women to pursue careers in law enforcement.
With 5,887 troops and personnel spread throughout 12 operations as of October 31, 2022, India is the second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, behind only Bangladesh (7,017).
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