More than 6,000 Indian nationals are currently serving in 10 UN Peacekeeping missions
The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission was the focus of a recent UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting where speakers stressed the need for more funding and advice from the commission.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj highlighted her country's role in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, pointing out that over 6,000 Indian nationals are deployed across 10 peacekeeping missions. At the same time, she also noted that 177 Indian soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice, the highest among all troop- and police-contributing countries.

Speaking at the UNGA on July 24, 2023, Kamboj emphasized the importance of the Peacebuilding Commission's role in building and sustaining peace.

The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) was jointly established by the UNGA and the UN Security Council in 2005 as a new intergovernmental advisory body of the United Nations that supported peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict. Its aim is to propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery, bring together all of the relevant actors, and marshal resources. The PBC is composed of 31 Member States, elected from the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Economic and Social Council.

Kamboj noted that India's developmental projects with low and middle-income nations of the Global South are now worth more than $40 billion, encompassing soft loans, grants, and capacity-building training programs, most of which have been undertaken in the last decade.

Kamboj also highlighted the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, established in 2017, as a testament to India's indisputable commitment to multilateralism and global welfare. In just five years, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund has supported 75 development projects in partnership with 56 developing countries, including 17 in Africa.

The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is a dedicated facility established in 2017 within UNFSSC. It is supported and led by the Government of the Republic of India, managed by UNOSSC, and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations system. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund supports Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing states. United Nations agencies implement the Funds projects in close collaboration with partnering governments.

The General Assembly also decided to proclaim 29 October as the International Day of Care and Support, inviting Member States, regional and subregional organizations, and other stakeholders to observe this day annually in an appropriate manner to raise awareness of care and support in achieving gender equality and sustainability. The Assembly invited the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to facilitate the observance of this day, while stressing that the costs of all relevant activities should be met from voluntary contributions and the private sector.

The International Day for Care and Support was initiated by trade unions to accelerate investment in the care economy. Unions will continue to campaign for increased investment, decent wages, and social dialogue to bring the International Day to life.

The General Assembly adopted two resolutions and one decision through consensus, reflecting, a collective stride towards attaining global peace and security. The delegates engaged in constructive debates concerning the annual report on the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund. The primary objective of these discussions was to foster sustainable peace worldwide, acknowledging and celebrating the successes achieved so far in this noble pursuit. In the spirit of ensuring the continued success of peacebuilding initiatives, the delegates underscored the need for sufficient funding.

Acknowledging that sustainable peace requires adequate financial support, the General Assembly pledged to mobilize resources to sustain the work of the Peacebuilding Fund effectively. By allocating the necessary financial backing, the international community aims to enable the implementation of essential peacebuilding projects in post-conflict areas and fragile regions.