India seeks more women peacemakers in UN

United Nations, Oct 6: India on Monday, Oct 5 called for more representation of women in high decision-making position in the UN.

It also said that greater participation of women in areas of conflict prevention was particularly necessary for lasting peace and security.

Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative of India to UN said, "India attaches very high importance to ensuring concrete action in this area."

"India has consistently held that greater participation of women in areas of conflict prevention, peace negotiations, peace keeping and post conflict reconstruction is the sine qua non for lasting peace and security," he said

Seeing that Women comprise only eight percent of UN police officers and about two percent of the military personnel deployed in UN peacekeeping operations, Puri said given the critical role of the UN, the world body must lead by example.

"Precisely for these reasons, India has contributed a female peacekeeping unit of 100 personnel, which is presently deployed in Liberia," he said noting, "This mission in Liberia stands out as the only one of its kind among the ongoing UN peacekeeping operations."

Hoping that mainstreaming the gender perspective in the UN recruitment process would be institutionalised at the earliest he said, "There is also much need for ensuring greater representation of women in high decision-making positions at the UN."

OneIndia News