76th International Day of UN Peacekeepers

• 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.

Dag Hammarskjold Medal Established by the UN Secretary-General medal in 2000 as a posthumous award to members of peacekeeping operations who lost their lives during service under the United Nations. Medal is awarded to any Member State who has lost one or more military or police peacekeepers. Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal Established by the Security Council in 2014. To be awarded to military, police, civilian UN and associated personnel who demonstrated exceptional courage in the face of extreme danger.

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