India to train ASEAN women in United Nations Peacekeeping operations

Q. Why in News/Context -

·    Following Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s proposal last year for an initiative on ‘women in United Nations Peacekeeping (UNPK) operations’ as part of expanding India-ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) defence cooperation, India is set to conduct two initiatives for women personnel from South East Asia later this year.

·       Mr. Singh had made these proposals among others at the inaugural India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in November 2022 at Siem Reap, Cambodia, to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of India-ASEAN relations.

Q. What is the U.N. Peacekeeping mission?

·   The U.N. Peacekeeping mission is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support, and aims to assist host countries to transition from situations of conflict to peace.

·  The U.N. began its Peacekeeping efforts in 1948 when it deployed military observers to West Asia. The Peacekeeping mission’s role was to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbours.

·   U.N. Peacekeepers provide security as well as political and peace building support to conflict-ridden countries.

The three basic principles that guide U.N.’s Peacekeeping missions are:

ü  Consent of the parties

ü  Impartiality

ü  Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate

Q. Who are the ‘Blue Helmets’?

·      Blue Helmets are the military personnel of the U.N. that work alongside the U.N. Police and civilian colleagues to promote “stability, security, and peace processes”. The personnel get the name from the iconic blue helmets or berets they wear.

·       All military personnel under Blue Helmets are members of their national armies first who are seconded to work under the U.N. command.

·      Currently, there are more than 70,000 military personnel enlisted as Blue Helmets. African and Asian countries outnumber their western counterparts in contributing soldiers to Blue Helmets.

Q. What are the responsibilities of U.N. military personnel?

U.N. military personal can be tasked with:

·         Protecting civilians and other U.N. personnel

·         Monitoring disputed borders

·         Observing peace processes in post-conflict areas

·         Providing security in conflict zones

·         Providing security during elections

·         Assisting in-country military personnel with training and support

·         Assisting ex-combatants in implementing the peace agreements

Challenges:

·         Peacekeeping continued to face the performance issue.

·         Peacekeepers often go where no one else is prepared to go and they put their life at risk every day.

·         Difficulty in coping with changing nature of armed conflicts.

·         Operations to be carried out in different terrains.

Q. What is India's contribution towards United Nations Peacekeeping forces?

·    India has contributed approximately 2,75,000 troops to peacekeeping missions so far and 159 Indian Army soldiers have lost their lives across the globe.

·   In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a U.N. Peacekeeping mission.

·    India has deployed Female Engagement Teams in United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, which is the second largest women contingent after Liberia. India has also deployed Women Military Police in United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and women staff officers and military observers in various missions.

·      Despite its presence in several countries as part of the Peacekeeping missions, India has routinely expressed its displeasure at a similar mission headquartered in Srinagar and Islamabad.