India deploys a platoon of women peacekeepers to the UN Mission in Sudan

Tags: International News

India deployed a platoon of women peacekeepers in the Abyei region of Sudan on 6 January as part of the Indian battalion in the United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA).

An overview of the news

• It is India's largest single contingent of women peacekeepers in a UN mission since it deployed its first all-women contingent to Liberia in 2007.

• In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an entirely women contingent for a UN peacekeeping mission.

• Police units formed in Liberia provided 24-hour guard duty, night patrols in the capital Monrovia, and helped increase the capacity of the Liberian Police.

• The Indian contingent, comprising two officers and 25 other ranks, will form part of an engagement platoon and specialise in community outreach; they will also undertake extensive security work.

United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA)

• The United Nations Security Council responded immediately to the deteriorating situation in the Abyei region of Sudan by establishing UNISFA by its resolution 1990 of 27 June 2011.

• The UN Security Council was deeply concerned by the violence, rising tensions and population displacement.

• UNISFA was established after the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) reached an agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

About UN Peacekeeping

• UN peacekeeping began in 1948 when the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of UN military observers in the Middle East.

• It helps to bring countries from conflict to a difficult path of peace.

• It deploys soldiers and police from all over the world for peacekeeping.

• India is one of the largest military and police contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.

• There are currently more than 5,700 Indian peacekeepers deployed in nine of the 12 UN peacekeeping missions.