UNSC Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security: Investing in Women in Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

(21 October 2021)

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Thank you, Madam President.

We thank Kenya for convening the Open Debate on this important issue. We thank the Secretary General for his insights. I also thank Executive Director Ms. Sima Bahous, AU Special Envoy Ms. Bineta Diop and Ms. Celia Velasco for their briefings.

Madam President,

2. One of the most important indicators for strengthening roots of democracy, pluralism and fundamental rights is the extent to which women are included in the institutions of governance. Greater involvement of women in higher echelons of decision making considerably strengthens governance, more so in post-conflict situations.

3. The very first woman to occupy the office of the President of the UN General Assembly, was from India – Dr. Vijayalakshmi Pandit. Along with her, several other Indian women leaders contributed immensely to the UN in its formative years, shaping the discourse on human rights and gender equality. These included Dr. Hansa Mehta, Begum Shareefa Hamid Ali, and Lakshmi Menon.

4. As India was in the process of institution-building at home, these women leaders brought their unique experience and perspective to the process of global norm-building at the United Nations. That tradition has continued to this day, with stellar contributions being made by Indian women to the UN.

5. It is also not a co-incidence that all the women Presidents of the General Assembly have been from developing world. In fact, the first woman Prime Minister in the world was from South Asia. Therefore, when we discuss women’s role in decision-making bodies, particularly in multilateral institutions, we should first understand that this is a global issue and not just a matter for the developing countries alone.

Madam President,

6. India has moved from women’s development to women-led development. The Constitution of India ensures participation of women in Local self-government by mandating 33% reservation of total seats for women. To ensure parity, twenty Indian States have made provisions for 50% reservation of total seats for women. Today, in India, more than 1.3 million elected women representatives lead in formulation and implementation of public policies at the grassroots level. We even have all-women Panchayats at grassroots leadership level.

7. We need to look at not only political empowerment of women, but also their socio-economic empowerment. This involves a complex set of governance related issues which need to be addressed in a holistic manner. For example, a growing digital divide can potentially alienate women from the mainstream.  Keeping this in mind, India has not only undertaken numerous citizen-centric digital initiatives but have also focussed these services towards women to minimize the gender divide in Digital India.  We have opened online bank accounts for 430 million people of which more than 55 percent account holders are women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative helped in direct benefit transfer to nearly 200 million women.

Madam President,

8. India has been an active participant in the deliberations on issues focusing on women empowerment and gender mainstreaming at various UN bodies. During the past two decades, the normative frameworks on Women, Peace and Security have been strengthened considerably including the "Declaration of Shared Commitments on UN Peacekeeping Operations” and the "Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy”.

9. India fully supports UN Secretary General’s zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. India was the first country to contribute to the Secretary-General's Trust Fund for Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and also signed the voluntary compact on SEA with the Secretary-General in 2017. Prime Minister of India had himself joined the "Circle of Leadership” on the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse in the United Nations operations.

10. In 2007, India created history by deploying the first ever all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) for UN Peacekeeping in Liberia. This unit served in Liberia for a decade and through their work served as an example of how the deployment of more female uniformed personnel can help the UN in its efforts to combat sexual exploitation and abuse. During the farewell of Indian FPU, the then President of Liberia underlined the contribution of the force in (Quote) "inspiring Liberian women, imparting in them the spirit of professionalism and encouraging them to join operations that protect the nation”.

11. Today a Female Engagement Team from India is deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the Rapidly Deployable Battalion in MONUSCO. We have also pledged a Women Formed Police Unit (FPU) under the Peacekeeping Readiness Capability System.

12. Indian peacekeepers are playing an important mentoring role to prevent conflict related sexual violence. Major Suman Gawani, an Indian woman peacekeeper, deployed earlier with UNMISS, mentored over 230 UN Military Observers and ensured the presence of women military observers in each of the Mission’s team sites. She also trained South Sudanese government forces and helped them launch their action plan to prevent conflict-related sexual violence. In recognition of her service, she was awarded the UN military gender advocate of the year-2019.

Madam President,

13. It is important that UN is actively focussed on issues related to the role of women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding. This is especially important in the context of Afghanistan. As affirmed in UNSCR 2593, we hope that women’s rights would be fully respected and their voice duly included in shaping Afghanistan’s future.

14. India stands ready to engage with all its partners to work towards ensuring the meaningful participation of women and mainstreaming of women, peace and security considerations for building inclusive, peaceful and resilient societies.

15. Allow me to conclude by quoting an eminent Philosopher of Swami Vivekananda: (Quote) “There is no chance of the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing”.

I thank you, Madam President

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