Lok Sabha Question No. 3481 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Women Peacekeepers at UN Missions
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan, Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Shri Khagen Murmu, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar, Shri Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3481

## ANSWERED ON- 21/03/2025

## WOMEN PEACEKEEPERS AT UN MISSIONS

## 3481 SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR

SHRI CHHATRAPAL SINGH GANGWAR

SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI

SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI

SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY

SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH

SHRI P C MOHAN: SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT: SHRI KHAGEN MURMU

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a)  whether a Conference on Women Peacekeepers from Global South was held in New Delhi recently;

(b)  if so,  the details  thereof  including  the  number  of   participating

countries and the number of women peacekeepers presently deployed in the UN missions;

(b)  the details of specific initiatives being taken by the Government to train and deploy more women peacekeepers in the UN missions and the steps being taken to ensure the effective implementation of lessons and recommendations that emerged from the Conference;

(c)  the roles likely to be played by the States including Maharashtra therein;

(d)  whether the Government plans to enhance collaboration with other Global   South   nations   in   peacekeeping   training   and   capacity-building programs and also to set up specialised training centres in collaboration with other nations to equip women peacekeepers with advance skills for modern peacekeeping challenges;

(e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Maharashtra; and

(f) the manner such conference is likely to be useful to our country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a   to   g)   A   conference   on   women   in   peacekeeping   titled   'Women   in Peacekeeping:   A   Global   South   Perspective'   was   held   from   24   -   25 February 2025 in New Delhi. It was organized by the Ministry of External

Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK).

The conference brought together women peacekeepers from 35 Troop Contributing Countries (including India) from the Global South. External Affairs Minister delivered the Keynote Address virtually. The Valedictory Address was delivered by Sh. Sanjay Seth, Minister of State for Defence. The   UN   was   represented   by   Mr.   Jean-Pierre   Lacroix,   UN   UnderSecretary-General, Department of Peace Operations, and Mr. Christian

Saunders, UN Special Coordinator.

The aim of the conference was to strengthen the role of women in UN peacekeeping by fostering dialogue, sharing experiences and improving collaboration   among   the   countries   from   the   Global   South.   The conference discussed issues of contemporary relevance to peacekeeping and the various challenges being faced by peacekeeping missions.

India is the first country to deploy an all-women Formed Police Unit to a peacekeeping mission - United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) from 2007 to 2016.  Since 2019, an all women Female Engagement Team (FET) comprising of twenty two women peacekeepers has been deployed in United   Nations   Organization   Stabilization   Mission   in   the   Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).   Since January 2023, an all women FET

comprising twenty seven women peace keepers has been deployed as part of  the Indian contingent in UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Sudan.  In July 2024, a 3 rd  Indian all women FET comprising of eleven women peacekeepers was deployed as part of UNMISS, South Sudan. Currently, there are around 150 Indian women peacekeepers deployed in six ongoing UN Missions.

The   Government   of   India   has   been   conducting   capacity   building programmes for peacekeepers from the Global South at the CUNPK in New   Delhi.   These   courses   are   open   for   both   male   and   female peacekeepers.  In 2023, the ASEAN Female Military Officers Course and the   ASEAN   Female   Military   Officers   Table   Top   Exercise   were   two courses   conducted   by   the   CUNPK   for   international   women peacekeepers.   Training   of women   peacekeepers   as   well   as enhancement of capacity building initiatives for women peacekeepers of the Global South will remain priorities.

The   Conference   reinforced   India   as   a   leading   stakeholder   in   UN peacekeeping.   It   reaffirmed   India's   longstanding   contribution   in promoting   inclusive   and   effective   peacekeeping   operations,   towards 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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