INDIAN ARMY COMMEMORATES 76TH INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UN PEACEKEEPERS
- The Indian Army commemorated the 76th International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers, today, by paying homage to the fallen comrades by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi.
Highlights:
- In 1948 the first UN Peacekeeping Mission, “UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO)” began operations in Palestine.
- India has a rich legacy of contribution to UN Peacekeepers operations and is one of the largest contributors of troops.
- India has contributed services of approximately 2,87,000 troops to peacekeeping missions.
- It is noteworthy that 160 Indian Army soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice to ensure peace across the globe.
- Presently, Indian Armed Forces are deployed across nine countries in peacekeeping missions.
- India has been at the forefront of capacity development for the UN, host nations and partner nations.
- The Indian Army has established a Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi to impart niche training in peacekeeping operations.
- This Centre trains more than 12,000 troops every year.
- The Centre regularly dispatches Mobile Training Teams to Friendly Foreign Countries as part of capacity building in the field of UN peacekeeping training. The Institute has evolved in the last two decades as a Centre of Excellence and repository of experience and best practices.
- The UN has set out mandated targets to increase the participation of women peacekeepers as part of its gender parity drive
- In full support of the UN's noble initiative and in sync with Nari Shakti initiative, India has deployed Female Engagement Teams (FETs) in Democratic Republic of Congo and Abyei.
- India has also deployed women military police in Golan Heights and women Staff Officers/ Military Observers in various missions.
- During the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial held at Accra, Ghana on 05-06 December 2023, India reaffirmed its commitment towards future peacekeeping initiatives by the UN.
Prelims Takeaway
- Blue Helmets
- UN