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Context: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed pride as Indian Army deploys its largest contingent of women peacekeepers in United Nation mission at Abyei, UNISFA. Shri Modi also said that India has a tradition of active participation in UN peacekeeping missions.

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India and UN peacekeepers:

For the first time in the history of UN peacekeeping, India sent an all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU)to be deployed in Liberia in 2007 after a civil war ravaged the African nation.
According to the UN, of around 95,000 peacekeepers in 2020, women comprised 4.8% of military contingents and about 34% of personnel in peacekeeping missions were women.
India is the third highest contributor of personnel to UN peacekeeping, with 5,481 troops serving in 12 UN missions worldwide.

United Nations Peacekeeping Force:

It helps countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace.
Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries in navigating the difficult path from conflict to peace.
UN peacekeepers provide security and political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
UN peacekeepers (often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets) can include soldiers, police officers, and civilian personnel.
UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:
- Consent of the parties;
- Impartiality;
- Non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate.