Women peacekeepers play a crucial role in inspiring hope among vulnerable women in conflict areas, symbolizing female empowerment. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN highlighted the significance of over 160 women in UN missions, including Indian Army Major Abhilasha Barak, recently honored with the UN Peacekeeper’s Gender Advocate Award. The deployment of women in UN peacekeeping operations is a tangible aspect of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, fostering trust and empowerment in communities emerging from conflicts.
The presence of uniformed women in peacekeeping missions is vital for enhancing women’s participation post-conflict, according to India’s envoy to the UN. India’s pioneering deployment of an all-female unit in the UN Mission in Liberia has been instrumental in encouraging Liberian women to join their national police force. With more than 160 Indian women peacekeepers actively serving in various UN missions, their visibility as agents of peace and security is crucial in addressing gender-based violence and ensuring inclusive peace processes.
India’s efforts to empower women extend beyond peacekeeping, with initiatives like the Centre for UN Peacekeeping in Delhi training women military officers globally. However, true empowerment requires political, financial, and social empowerment for lasting impact, emphasized the Indian representative. India’s commitment to women’s empowerment is evident through constitutional provisions like reserving one-third of seats in local governing bodies for women and the Women’s Reservation Act of 2023, which extends this provision to Parliament.
