“Indian women peacekeepers are redefining peacekeeping itself” says UN Peacekeeping Chief

Marking the important and revolutionary role of women in peacekeeping, a seminal conference titled “Women in Peacekeeping – A Global South Perspective’ was convened in New Delhi on 25-26 February. Organised by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK), the event brought together women peacekeepers from India and 50 other nations to discuss their evolving roles and strategies for enhancing their participation in peacekeeping missions.

Notable attendees at the 2 day conference included Under Secretary General for Peace Operations Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Indian Raksha Rajya Mantri (Minister of State for Defence) Shri Sanjay Seth, Vice Chief of Indian Army Staff Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani and senior military officers from various nations. The conference reaffirmed India’s leadership in promoting inclusive and effective peacekeeping operations, showcasing the vital role women play in global security and peace efforts.

Speaking to the Indian Press before and after the conference, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix the UN Peacekeeping Chief said ““India remains a cornerstone of UN peacekeeping” and that “Indian women peacekeepers are redefining peacekeeping itself.”

“India’s women peacekeepers have proven to be indispensable in UN peacekeeping, forging trust between our uniformed personnel and local communities in some of the world’s most challenging conflict zones.” he told the Press Trust of India.

He added “more women in peacekeeping means a more effective peacekeeping. India has long been a leader in advancing women, peace and security in peacekeeping missions —not only as a top troop and police contributor but also as a pioneer in advancing gender parity, its leadership in training and capacity building and its commitment to increasing women’s participation in missions is deeply appreciated.”

In 2024, India ranked among the top contributors to UN peacekeeping missions with 5,384 personnel across 10 missions. The country had deployed the first all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) to Liberia in 2007, setting a “global precedent” and today the India continues this legacy, with 20.45 percent of its deployed military observers and staff officers being women. Additionally, India’s Engagement Platoons in the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) exemplify the impact of women in peacekeeping.

The significant peacekeeping conference underscored India’s commitment to strengthening gender inclusivity in peacekeeping missions —particularly from the perspective of the Global South and provided the opportunity to reflect on the challenges UN peacekeeping faces and how best to address them, ahead of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Berlin in May.

Later in the day, the UN Peacekeeping Chief addressed a press conference at UN House in New Delhi, where in response to a question posed by the Express he said that “the deployment of UN Peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, including Indian troops, under a probable ceasefire was currently a hypothetical scenario.”

In another question posed by the Express on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), he reflected that “Indian peacekeepers have stood the ground in DRC, and we [the UN] have made sure they are safe.”

Speaking on the changing nature of warfare itself, he stressed that investing in advanced technologies and training is key to adapting to modern threats.

“AI-driven systems, data analytics, and cyber tools can enhance intelligence gathering, improve mission performance, and strengthen protection in hostile environments” he said, also emphasising that “stronger intelligence-sharing and deeper engagement with local communities can provide early warnings and reduce risks.”

From New Delhi, the UN Peacekeeping chief travels to Congo next, as the situation in the DRC becomes increasingly difficult in face of a mounting armed conflict.