UNSC Open Debate

‘Peacekeeping Operations: Improving safety and security of peacekeepers’

INDIA STATEMENT

By

Ambassador K. Nagaraj Naidu

Deputy Permanent Representative

24 May 2021

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, I would like to thank you and your delegation for organizing this important debate on an issue of priority for my delegation and to other Troop and Police Contributing Countries. Later this week on 29 May, we will be observing the International Day of Peacekeepers. This open debate, is therefore, very timely. I also thank USG Jean-Pierre Lacroix, USG Dr. Atul Khare and USG Gilles Michaud for their valuable briefings.

2. India joins other delegations in paying tribute to the men and women who have served and continue to serve in peacekeeping operations for their professionalism, dedication and courage. We remember the 4089 peacekeepers who have lost their lives and the valour and bravery of India’s 175 peacekeepers who laid down their lives across various missions. India is proud of its long and rich tradition of contribution to UN peacekeeping operations.  We have contributed more than 250,000 troops in 49 Missions over the years, cumulatively the largest from any country. Even as speak today, an Indian peacekeepers brigade stationed in Goma (DRC) are saving lives of civilians stranded in the aftermath of the Mount Nayargongo eruption in DRC.

3. The Covid-19 pandemic has posed severe challenges to peacekeeping missions and peacekeepers. We are pleased to note that peacekeeping missions are putting in place a series of mitigation measures to promote the safety, security and health of all UN personnel while maintaining continuity of operations. Towards this end, during the pandemic, India readily answered the Secretary General’s call by upgrading its hospitals in UNMISS and MONUSCO. We have also delivered 200,000 doses of Made in India COVID-19 vaccines for vaccinating all uniformed personnel deployed in various field missions and are pleased to note that close to 140,000 field personnel have already been vaccinated using the same.

4. Mr. President, Peacekeeping is not a strategy in itself but rather a strategic tool. I take this opportunity to recall the cardinal principles of peacekeeping - consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self-defence and in defence of the mandate. These principles continue to be as relevant as ever.

5. UN peacekeepers operate in a complex security environment involving armed groups, non-state actors and terrorists. The ever-expanding mandates of peacekeeping missions with limited resources has only added to the challenges and complexities that peacekeepers face on the ground. The strategy of peacekeepers needing to do more with less, is setting us all up for a potential crisis. The fallout of such a strategy is glaringly evident in the increasing casualties over the years.

6. These challenges are compounded further by the increasing use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by terrorists and armed groups against peacekeepers. The blue helmets, who are currently operating in 13 peacekeeping missions, are under tremendous pressure. More than 260 peacekeepers have died due to malicious attacks since 2013. It is evident that “Protecting the Protectors” should be our primary objective.

7. In this context, I would like to make the following suggestions for the Council’s consideration:

i. The tendency of burdening peacekeepers with responsibilities which ought to primarily lie with the host state or other relevant international organisations, should stop. The Security Council needs to authorize carefully thought-out mandates to peacekeepers in close consultation with troop contributing countries since protection of peacekeepers is as important as protection of civilians. Peacekeeping missions cannot be a long-term response to what are fundamentally political problems. It is for the Council to address these issues rather than burden peacekeeping missions beyond their mandate.

ii. While a number of initiatives have been taken to incorporate Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) measures in the field, we are of the view that this problem needs more attention. Missions facing IED threats should have dedicated resources to counter this particular threat. The training of UN personnel on IED threats, both in-country and prior to deployment, needs to be more context specific. The advance patrol parties in affected areas along with the involvement of concerned host state security authorities should become the norm.

iii. There should also be concerted efforts to upgrade the security infrastructure of camps of UN peacekeepers as a number of casualties have been related to direct attacks on security camps. Timely and reliable medical evacuation and casualty evacuation, including the use of helicopters with night flight capability and night retrieval operations, is essential. Force Commanders should be given the direct authority for commanding such air assets to respond in a timely manner to crisis situations or accidents.

iv. Peacekeepers need to be provided full access to medical facilities, in accordance with the golden hour principle, throughout the mission area. Medical capabilities in all missions need to be reviewed to identify gaps that currently exist.  India has also pledged a helicopter unit for MINUSMA. We have also upgraded our medical facilities at MONUSCO (Goma) and UNMISS (Juba).

v. We believe that infusion of appropriate technology can play significant role in improving the safety and security of the peacekeepers. Use of field-focused, reliable and cost-effective new technologies in peacekeeping operations that are driven by practical needs of end users on the ground is the need of the hour. In this regard, I am happy to inform the Council that India in partnership with UNDPKO Department of Operational Support has been has working towards development of mobile tech platform – UNITE AWARE – that helps increase situational awareness and provides terrain related information to peacekeepers.

We have contributed US$ 1.64 million towards this project, and hope to launch it under our August Presidency later this year.

vi. Our peacekeepers are deployed in increasingly complex and often hostile environments. Training is an essential and strategic investment in peacekeeping and is a shared responsibility between Member States and the UN Secretariat. India’s Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) set up in 2000 has a rich tradition of imparting not only pre-deployment training but also developing curriculum for emerging TCCs and delivering targeted training capsules including for women peacekeepers. India’s CUNPK is looking forward to signing an MOU and partnering with the C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (UNCAP) to prepare training modules on a range of capabilities.

viii. India appreciates the Secretary-General’s call for Action for Peacekeeping or A4P, under which close attention is given to improving the safety and security of UN peacekeeping personnel. We also welcome the launch of the A4P plus initiative which has further strengthened our commitment for safety and security as well as accountability of the crimes against peacekeepers. We also support the work of the Implementation Support Team for Fatalities and the Working Group on Accountability for Serious Crimes against Peacekeepers.

7. Besides taking preventive measures to improve the safety and security of peacekeepers, it is also imperative to bring the perpetrators who committed heinous crimes against them, to justice. This needs collaboration and coordination between different stakeholders, including the UN and the host countries where the peacekeepers are deployed and extending assistance to countries who need help to frame these legislations.

8. In conclusion, Mr. President, the issue of safety and security of peacekeepers requires a comprehensive approach and concerted efforts by all stakeholders involved. We need to look at the issue both holistically and in a sustained manner. India, in keeping with its time tested credentials and commitment to UN Peacekeeping would never be found wanting in this regard.

I thank you Mr. President.

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