India, one of the major contributors of troops to the UN peacekeeping effort, is sending a battalion of female peacekeepers to Abyei, making it the largest single contingent of female Blue Helmets sent by the nation since 2007. The action signaled India's intention to dramatically increase the proportion of women in peacekeeper delegations.
"In addition to our battalion, India is sending an all-female peacekeeping platoon to the Peacekeeping Force in Abyei UNISFA 1. The number of women peacekeepers deployed is at its highest level in recent years. Best wishes to the group!" Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India's permanent ambassador to the UN, tweeted a picture of the delegation on Thursday.
A platoon of Indian troops made up entirely of women will be sent to Abyei, an area with a unique administrative status that lies on the border between South Sudan and Sudan. Twenty-five other ranks and two officers make up the Indian contingent. They will function as both a platoon and prioritize community involvement in addition to performing a variety of security-related tasks. Since India sent its first force to Liberia in 2007, this will be the country's single largest force of female troops in the Peacekeeping force. The task of monitoring the sensitive northern-southern border and facilitating the delivery of emergency aid has been assigned to the operation. Using force to protect people and aid workers in Abyei is also permitted.
Additionally, the deployment will serve as a signal that India wants to see more women participating in peacekeeping missions. For the aim of maintaining peace, India has a long tradition of sending women on Peacekeeping missions. In peacekeeping deployments all over the world, women peacekeepers are highly regarded for their ability to communicate with and promote independent women and children, notably those who have endured molestation in crisis zones.
The Indian contingent, which has two captains and 25 intermediate ranks, will work as a platoon in an engagement and specialize in community outreach in addition to carrying out numerous security-related duties. It went on to say that "their presence would be especially appreciated in Abyei, where a recent uptick in violence has sparked a wave of difficult humanitarian intervention for women and children in the battle zone." India had 5887 soldiers and personnel deployed in 12 operations as of October 31, 2022, placing it second only to Bangladesh in terms of contributions to UN peacekeeping missions (7,017).
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