New York: India is set to deploy a platoon of Women Peacekeepers in Sudan's Abyei region today as part of the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA).
This will be India's largest single unit of women Peacekeepers in a UN Mission since it deployed the first-ever all-women contingent in Liberia in 2007, stated the Permanent Mission of India to the UN press release.
"India is deploying an all women platoon of peacekeepers as part of our battalion to UN Mission in Abyei in Sudan. This is single largest deployment of women peacekeepers in recent years. Good wishes to the team," tweets Ruchira Kamboj, Ambassador of India to the United Nations pic.twitter.com/kds0rQC7em
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) January 6, 2023
In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission. The Formed Police Unit in Liberia provided 24-hour guard duty, conducted night patrols in the capital Monrovia, and helped to build the capacity of the Liberian police.
The Indian contingent, comprising two officers and 25 Other Ranks, will form part of an Engagement platoon and specialize in Community outreach, though they will be performing extensive security-related tasks as well, added the release.
Their presence will be especially welcome in Abyei, where a recent spurt in violence has triggered a spate of challenging humanitarian concerns for women and children in the conflict zone. The deployment in Abyei will also herald India's intent of increasing significantly the number of Indian women in Peacekeeping contingents, added the release.
More than 200,000 Indians have served in 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions established around the world since 1948. India has a long tradition of sending women on UN peacekeeping missions. In 1960, women serving in the Indian Armed Forces Medical Services were interviewed by UN Radio before being deployed to the Republic of the Congo.
Indian women have a rich tradition in Peacekeeping. Dr Kiran Bedi, UN's first Police Adviser, Major Suman Gawani and Shakti Devi have made a mark for themselves in UN Peacekeeping. Veterinary doctors are also sometimes deployed as part of the peacebuilding process. (with ANI inputs)
