Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi stated UN Missions play an vital function in bringing peace. (File)
United Nations:
India, which is among the many largest troop contributing international locations to UN peacekeeping, on Wednesday stated that drawdown of peacekeeping missions shouldn’t be pushed by the temptation for austerity, cautioning that the price of relapsing is at all times a lot greater than the short-term financial savings.
Addressing the UN Safety Council open debate on UN Peacekeeping Operations – Transitions, held beneath Eire’s present Presidency of the 15-nation Council, Union Minister of State for Exterior Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi stated the drawdown of a UN Peacekeeping Operation and its reconfiguration right into a minimal modified UN presence represents a crucial section for the success of a UN Peacekeeping Mission.
“For the host nation, on one hand this alerts progress in direction of political stability and new improvement alternatives; however then again, it additionally presents an actual danger of the nation relapsing into battle,” she stated throughout the occasion.
“UN Peacekeeping Missions have been taking part in an vital function in bringing about peace and stability in international locations of deployment, regardless of quite a few operational challenges. One of many main operational challenges that proceed to hamper Peacekeeping operations has been the transition section from peacekeeping to peacebuilding,” she added.
India is the most important troop contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations in cumulative phrases since their inception, having deployed greater than 250,000 peacekeepers throughout 49 UN missions.
Ms Lekhi additionally referred to as for nicely deliberate transitions of those missions. She underscored that it is crucial that mission transitions are nicely deliberate, considering the target evaluation of varied elements within the host nation.
“The drawdown of a peacekeeping mission shouldn’t be pushed by the temptation for austerity. The price of relapsing is at all times a lot greater than the short-term financial savings,” she stated, including that on this regard, India welcomes the vital advisory, bridging and convening roles of the Peacebuilding Fee, particularly when the Council is discussing mandates of Peacekeeping Missions.
Underlining that peacekeeping and peacebuilding aren’t mutually unique, Lekhi stated you will need to actively assist the post-conflict peacebuilding and restoration initiatives of the host States and the efforts of the UN in Peacebuilding needs to be strengthened, by offering it enough monetary sources.
She emphasised that the first duty to guard civilians throughout its territory lies with the host State.
The Safety Council ought to encourage and assist the efforts of the host State in direction of the efficient implementation of a nationwide plan for civilian safety.
Noting that full respect for the sovereignty of a rustic can by no means be over-emphasised, she stated the transition methods ought to recognise the primacy of nationwide governments and nationwide possession in figuring out and driving priorities.
“The efforts of the host States in direction of safety sector reforms, capability constructing of police, justice and correction, and promotion of rule of legislation and good governance have to be supported and supplemented,” she stated.
She additionally highlighted that the political answer of the battle is paramount for attaining stability and sustainable peace.
Reconfigured peacekeeping operations have a vital function in fostering a constructive atmosphere and inspiring collaboration amongst all related events, she stated.
Ms Lekhi informed the Council, which additionally heard from UN Secretary Common Antonio Guterres, that the transition of peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding depend upon a number of elements, together with the best way such transitions are envisaged, deliberate and executed by the UN.
“To achieve success, this crucial section wants the lively collaboration of all stakeholders,” she stated, citing the instance of the latest transition of the UN-AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) into the UN Built-in Transition Help Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).
She burdened that efficient mandate supply of the UN peacekeeping missions is crucial to realize the benchmarks for transition.The peacekeeping missions needs to be given clear, centered, sequenced, prioritized and virtually achievable mandates, and most significantly, these needs to be matched by enough sources.
India is the most important troop contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations in cumulative phrases since their inception, having deployed greater than 250,000 peacekeepers throughout 49 UN missions.
“This bears testimony to India’s dedication in direction of contributing a dependable, well-trained and extremely skilled peacekeeping pressure,” Ms Lekhi stated.
As of at the moment, practically 5,500 Indian peacekeepers are deployed throughout 9 UN Missions and 174 peacekeepers from the nation made the final word sacrifice within the line of responsibility.
India “was additionally pleased to donate” COVID-19 vaccines for all UN peacekeepers and improve two hospitals for peacekeeping to fight the pandemic.
Ms Lekhi additionally highlighted that the first-ever all ladies peacekeeping contingent was from India and stationed in Liberia. India’s Feminine Engagement Staff (FET) can also be taking part in an vital function in MONUSCO, she stated.
India, which had organised a signature occasion on peacekeeping throughout its Presidency of the Council final month, stated expertise, particularly digital expertise can play a vital function in submit battle peace constructing, to enhance public providers, promote transparency in governance, improve the attain of democracy, promote human rights and gender sensitivity.
She burdened that India is satisfied that human-centric, gender delicate and technologically primed options and the sturdy functioning of democratic establishments of governance that give all stakeholders a say in creating a greater future is the largest assure for the success of peacebuilding and for sustaining peace.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
