UN Peacekeeping | International Day of Peacekeeping

• Context (PIB): The Indian Army commemorated the 76^th International Day of UN Peacekeepers at the National War Memorial, New Delhi.

UN Peacekeeping

• UN peacekeepers provide security, political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
• There are currently 11 UN peacekeeping operations deployed on three continents.

Credits: UN Peacekeeping

• The UN Peacekeeping forces were awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in the year 1988.
• Capstone Doctrine covers the basic principles and key concepts related to UN peacekeeping.

Role of Peacekeeping operations include

• Maintaining peace and security;
• Facilitate the political process, protect civilians;
• Assist in the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former combatants;
• Support the organisation of elections;
• Protect and promote human rights;
• Assist in restoring the rule of law.

Three basic principles of UN Peacekeeping

1. Consent of the parties;
2. Impartiality;
3. Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

International Day of Peacekeeping

• On this day in 1948, the first UN Peacekeeping Mission, the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), began operations in Palestine.
• Theme 2024: ‘Fit for the future, building better together’, towards creating an equitable, just, and sustainable world for all.
• On the same day, the Dag Hammarskjold Medal will be awarded posthumously to fallen peacekeepers.

India and Peacekeeping

UN Military Observer Group In India And Pakistan (UNMOGIP)

• Appointed by the UN Secretary-General based on the U.N. Security Council Resolution 39 of January 1948 that set up the U.N. Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP).
• Arrived on 24 January 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir, as permitted by the Karachi Agreement of July 1949.
• Following renewed hostilities of 1971, UNMOGIP has remained in the area to observe the ceasefire.
• HQ: Srinagar (May to October) and Islamabad (November to April)
• India officially maintains that the UNMOGIP’s role was “overtaken” by the Simla Agreement of 1972 that established the Line of Control(LoC).
• Pakistan continues to seek cooperation from the UNMOGIP.

India as contributor

• India is one of the largest contributors. Indian Armed Forces are deployed in nine peacekeeping missions: UNDOF, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNFICYP, MONUSCO, UNMISS, UNIFSA, MINUSCA, and MINURSO.
• The Indian Army has established a Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi to impart niche training in peacekeeping operations.
• In support of the UN’s gender parity drive and Nari Shakti initiative, India has deployed Female Engagement Teams (FETs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Abyei (the second-largest Indian women contingent after Liberia). India has also deployed women military police in Golan Heights.
• Recognising the contributions, Major Radhika Sen was awarded “Military Gender Advocate of the Year 2023” by the UN Headquarters.

  

  Credits: UN Peacekeeping