India currently ranks as the eleventh largest contributor of women military peacekeepers
India's leadership in advancing the role of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations has been a significant contribution to global peace efforts. The country has not only been a leading contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping missions but has also taken pioneering steps in integrating women into these critical roles.
 
Now, India is set to host the first-ever UN Peacekeeping for Women Officers of the Global South Conference in the first half of 2025.
 
The initiative was announced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar after the India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue held in New Delhi on August 20, 2024. Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defence Minister Kihara Minoru represented Japan at this meeting; Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and EAM Jaishankar participated from the Indian side.
 
In his press statement after the talks, EAM Jaishankar highlighted India's historic role in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the importance of women in peace and security.
 
He stated that India would host the first-ever UN Peacekeeping for Women Officers of the Global South Conference in the first half of 2025 and extended a special invitation to Japan to join this significant initiative.
 
“I appreciate Minister Kamikawa’s determined effort to highlight the role of women for peace and security. India is the very first country to operationalize the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. I am happy to announce that we will be holding a first-ever UN Peacekeeping for Women Officers of the Global South Conference in the first half of 2025. Given Foreign Minister Kamikawa’s leadership on this matter, I extended a special invitation to Japan to join this Conference,” EAM Jaishankar said.
 
India at the Forefront of Deploying Women in UN Peacekeeping
India's commitment to involving women in peacekeeping was first demonstrated in 2007 when it became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia. This deployment had a profound impact, inspiring local women to participate more actively in their country's security sector. The contingent's success highlighted the effectiveness of women in roles traditionally dominated by men, particularly in engaging with local communities and addressing issues of sexual and gender-based violence.
 
In recent years, India has continued to expand the role of women in peacekeeping. In January 2023, India deployed its largest contingent of female peacekeepers since 2007, sending a platoon to Abyei, South Sudan. This unit, consisting of two officers and 25 other ranks, was tasked with community outreach and security operations in a region plagued by violence and humanitarian challenges. The presence of these women peacekeepers has been especially impactful in addressing the needs of women and children affected by the conflict.
 
India's women peacekeepers have also been recognized for their individual contributions. Major Radhika Sen, who served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2023 to April 2024, was awarded the 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
 
Major Sen's work in the DRC involved leading mixed-gender patrols, establishing community alert networks, and fostering trust within conflict-affected communities, particularly among women and children. Her efforts in promoting gender-sensitive peacekeeping have been lauded as exemplary and a model for others to follow.
 
India currently ranks as the eleventh largest contributor of women military peacekeepers, with 124 women deployed in various missions. The country's ongoing commitment to gender parity in peacekeeping is not only helping to protect vulnerable populations in conflict zones but also setting a global standard for the integration of women in peace and security roles.