Executive Summary:
The Ministry of External Affairs addressed the role of India in UN Peacekeeping, including training, gender parity, and promoting women's participation. India's Center for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) provides training to peacekeepers and India organized the Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South in February 2025. The UN's Gender Parity Strategy aims to achieve 15% female military personnel and 25% female staff officers/observers by 2028.
Key Points / Main Content:
Training of Peacekeepers:
* CUNPK, a UN-certified institute in New Delhi established in 2000, trains military personnel from India and friendly foreign countries for UN peacekeeping missions.
* CUNPK has trained nearly 10,000 Indian and 2,000 foreign peacekeepers from 96 countries.
* Training includes pre-deployment courses, contingent commander courses, and military observer courses.
Gender Parity and Women's Participation:
* The UN Gender Parity Strategy aims for 15% female military personnel and 25% female staff officers/observers by 2028.
* India has achieved 22% female deployment in staff officer/observer roles.
* India was the first UN Member State to deploy an all-women Formed Police Unit (FPU) to Liberia (2007-2016).
* Currently, 154 Indian women peacekeepers are deployed in 6 UN Peacekeeping Missions.
* CUNPK conducts tailored courses to encourage women's participation in peacekeeping.
Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South (February 2025):
* India organized a conference in New Delhi for women peacekeepers from 35 countries of the Global South.
* The conference aimed to enhance the role of women in UN peacekeeping through dialogue, experience sharing, and collaboration.
* Discussions included enhancing the role of women, training, addressing sexual exploitation and abuse, regional cooperation, and technology use.
Impact Analysis:
India:
* Impact: India's role as a leading stakeholder in UN peacekeeping is reinforced and its commitment to gender equality and the Global South is underscored.
* Action Required: Continue supporting CUNPK, promote women's participation, and collaborate with the Global South.
UN Peacekeeping Missions:
* Impact: Enhanced participation and effectiveness through better-trained peacekeepers and a focus on gender equality.
* Action Required: Implement strategies to meet gender parity targets and leverage the expertise of women peacekeepers.
Global South Countries:
* Impact: Increased collaboration and shared learning in peacekeeping efforts, with a focus on the role of women.
* Action Required: Engage in dialogue and collaboration with India and other Global South countries to enhance peacekeeping capabilities.
CUNPK:
* Impact: Continued recognition as a key training provider for UN peacekeeping missions.
* Action Required: Continue providing high-quality training, especially tailored courses for women peacekeepers.
Key Entities Referenced
United Nations Peacekeeping: A series of operations undertaken by the United Nations to help maintain peace and security in conflict areas.
UN Gender Parity Strategy: A United Nations initiative aiming to achieve gender balance within the organization, including peacekeeping missions, by specific target dates.
Center for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK): A UN-certified training institute in New Delhi, India, that provides training to peacekeepers from India and friendly foreign countries.
Armed Forces Medical Services: The medical services branch of the Indian Armed Forces, which deployed women peacekeepers to Congo in the 1960s.
Formed Police Unit (FPU): An all-women police unit deployed by India to Liberia from 2007 to 2016 as part of UN peacekeeping operations.
Liberia: A country in West Africa where India deployed an all-women Formed Police Unit (FPU) as part of UN peacekeeping operations.
Global South: A term referring to countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, often characterized by developing economies and shared historical experiences. The Conference for Women Peacekeepers from the Global South was held in New Delhi.
New Delhi: The capital of India, where the Center for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) is located and where the Conference for Women Peacekeepers from the Global South was held.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 929
ANSWERED ON - 25/07/2025
ROLE OF INDIA IN UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION
929. DR. BHOLA SINGH
SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL
SMT. HIMADRI SINGH
SHRI P P CHAUDHARY
SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI
SHRI JUGAL KISHORE
DR. HEMANG JOSHI
SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the role and contributions of the India for United Nations
Peacekeeping in training peacekeepers;
(b) the measures being taken to meet the UN’s Gender Parity
Strategy targets by 2028;
1(c) the steps being taken to promote the participation of Indian
women in UN Peacekeeping missions; and
(d) the objectives and outcomes of the Conference on Women
Peacekeepers from the Global South held in February 2025?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) India’s Center for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) is a UN-certified
training institute established in 2000 in New Delhi. It provides
integrated training to military contingents, military observers, and
staff officers nominated for being deployed to UN peacekeeping
missions from India and from friendly foreign countries.
Since its establishment, CUNPK has imparted training and capacity
building to nearly 10000 Indian peacekeepers and 2000 foreign
peacekeepers from 96 countries. It regularly conducts pre-deployment
training courses, peacekeeping contingent commander courses,
military observers courses etc. CUNPK is also a repository of India's
extensive experience in peacekeeping.
2(b & c) The UN Gender Parity Strategy stipulates the following that
by 2028, 15% of military personnel in troop contingents and 25% of
staff officers/observers need to be women. Currently, India has
achieved 22% in the deployment of staff officers/observers.
India is a pioneer in deploying women peacekeepers to UN Missions. In
the 1960s, women peacekeepers belonging to the Armed Forces
Medical Services were deployed in the peace operations in Congo. In
2007, India became the first UN Member State to deploy an all-women
Formed Police Unit (FPU) to Liberia. The FPU was deployed from 2007 –
2016. Their professionalism and conduct was commended by the host
government and community.
Currently, 154 Indian women peacekeepers are deployed in 6 UN
Peacekeeping Missions.
CUNPK regularly conducts tailor-made courses and capsules for
women peacekeepers to encourage greater participation of women in
peacekeeping operations.
(d) India organized the Conference for Women Peacekeepers from
the Global South, bringing together women peacekeepers from 35
countries of the Global South on 24 – 25 February 2025 in New Delhi.
3The aim of the Conference was to enhance the role of women in UN
peacekeeping by fostering dialogue, sharing experiences and
improving collaboration among the countries from the Global South.
The Conference broached upon issues of contemporary relevance to
peacekeeping and the various challenges being faced by
peacekeeping missions. Some of the themes discussed during the
conference were on enhancing the role of women in peacekeeping,
training and capacity building for peacekeepers, addressing sexual
exploitation and abuse, regional cooperation in peacekeeping and how
to enhance the use of technology in peacekeeping.
The Conference reinforced India as a leading stakeholder in UN
peacekeeping. It reaffirmed India’s role in promoting inclusive and
effective peacekeeping operations, underscoring our commitment to
gender equality and the vital role women play in global security and
peace efforts. It further underscored India’s commitment to work
closely in UN peacekeeping with the Global South.
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