Tue Feb 25 00:20:00 UTC 2025: **President Murmu Advocates for Increased Women’s Role in UN Peacekeeping Missions**
New Delhi, February 25, 2025 – President Droupadi Murmu on Monday urged for greater inclusion of women in United Nations peacekeeping missions, highlighting their unique capabilities in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Addressing a group of Indian women peacekeepers at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Murmu emphasized that women peacekeepers are better equipped to address gender-based violence, build trust within communities, and foster dialogue, leading to more effective and inclusive missions.
The President cited studies showing that peacekeeping missions with a higher percentage of female personnel achieve greater success in reducing violence and establishing lasting peace agreements. She proudly recalled India’s significant contribution to UN peacekeeping, with over 290,000 peacekeepers having served in more than 50 missions. Currently, over 5,000 Indian peacekeepers, including over 154 women, are deployed in nine active missions.
President Murmu commended the professionalism and dedication of Indian women peacekeepers, citing their service in missions dating back to the 1960s in Congo and as recently as 2007 in Liberia.
The visiting women peacekeepers are in New Delhi to participate in a conference on “Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Perspective,” organized by India’s External Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the Defence Ministry and the Centre for UN Peacekeeping. The conference aims to address contemporary challenges in peacekeeping and foster collaboration among women officials from the Global South.
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