NEW DELHI: Women play a key role in conflict resolution, community engagement, and peacebuilding. They often connect better with local populations, especially women and children. Their presence helps prevent sexual violence, builds trust within communities, and promotes inclusive and lasting peace. Yet, despite these benefits, their numbers in peacekeeping missions remain low.
Women make up less than 10% of the UNโs 70,000 uniformed peacekeepers, including military personnel, police officers, and observers. To address this, the UN aims to increase womenโs participation to 15% in military units and 25% in police units by 2028 under its Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy.
The push for gender inclusion began on 31st October 2000, with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. This resolution recognized the critical role of women in preventing conflicts, negotiating peace, and rebuilding post-conflict societies.
Later Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Resolutionsโ1820, 1888, 1889, 2122, and 2242โfurther reinforced the need for womenโs leadership in peace efforts.
In 2022, women made up 7.9% of all uniformed personnel in field missions, rising from just 1% in 1993. This included 5.9% in military units, 14.4% in police forces, and 43% in justice and corrections roles.
Among civilian staff, 30% were women, with growing representation in leadership positions.
Why Women Peacekeepers Matter
- Stronger Peacekeeping: Diverse teams improve peace operations, ensuring better civilian protection and peacebuilding.
- Better Community Engagement: Women peacekeepers build trust and expand outreach, especially with women and children.
- Diverse Leadership: Gender-balanced teams bring broader perspectives, making decisions more inclusive.
- Inspiring Change: Women peacekeepers challenge norms and empower women and girls to advocate for their rights.
- Advancing Gender Equality: Gender inclusion aligns with UN Peacekeepingโs core principles and promotes fairness.
Increasing womenโs numbers in peacekeeping is about making missions more effective, inclusive, and sustainable.
Indian Women in UN Peacekeeping
Indian women peacekeepers play key roles in protecting civilians, fostering dialogue, and engaging with communities. As the largest troop-contributing nation, India has led the way in integrating women into peacekeeping operations.
Indiaโs journey began in the 1960s when women medical officers were sent to the Congo. In 2007, India deployed the first all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) to Liberia.
As of February 2025, over 150 Indian women peacekeepers serve in key missions across the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, Golan Heights, Western Sahara, and Abyei.
Major Radhika Sen received the โMilitary Gender Advocate of the Year 2023โ award from the UN for her contributions to peacekeeping.
Despite their achievements, Indian women peacekeepers face challenges such as gender biases, security risks, and logistical issues. Addressing these concerns requires strong policies and support systems. However, their impact remains transformative. They help prevent gender-based violence, build trust, and break stereotypes in conflict zones.
Training and Capacity Building
Indiaโs Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi trains over 12,000 troops annually. It offers specialized courses for peacekeepers and trainers and sends Mobile Training Teams to friendly nations. Recognized as a Centre of Excellence, CUNPK has shared its best practices globally. In February 2025, it hosted the โConference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global Southโ at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The event gathered women peacekeepers from 35 countries to discuss ways to enhance their participation.
#IndianArmy, through the Centre for #UnitedNations Peacekeeping (#CUNPK), India, is hosting a two-day conference titled โConference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global Southโ at the Manekshaw Centre, #NewDelhi.
๐น This conference, being organised by the Ministry of Externalโฆ pic.twitter.com/jNUH3Gw5yA
โ Defence Production India (@DefProdnIndia) February 24, 2025
Indiaโs deep commitment to peacekeeping aligns with its values of non-violence, dialogue, and cooperation. As one of the largest contributors to UN missions, India provides leadership, essential services, and a strong push for gender balance in peacekeeping. Indian peacekeepers have served in tough environments, risking their lives to protect civilians. Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice for global peace.
Beyond deployments, India strengthens UN missions through training, capacity-building, and technology support. By leading in the deployment of women peacekeepers, India promotes a more inclusive approach to conflict resolution. With continued efforts, India is helping build a safer, more peaceful world, inspiring the global community with its dedication.
