At UNTCC conclave, Jaishankar emphasises India’s commitment to women in peacekeeping
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has highlighted India’s dedication to the United Nations’ Women, Peace, and Security agenda during a significant address at the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries Chiefs’ Conclave (UNTCC) in New Delhi on October 16, 2025. Jaishankar noted that India previously hosted the inaugural International Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South, reports 24brussels.
In his speech, Jaishankar asserted, “It is no longer a question of whether women can do peacekeeping. Rather, it is whether peacekeeping can succeed without women.” He emphasized the critical role women peacekeepers play in building trust within communities and providing hope to vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. India has made strides in this area, hosting notable events that underscore its commitment, including the February 2025 conference that convened women peacekeepers from 35 countries and the August event featuring the UN Women Military Officers Course with participants from 15 nations.
India made history by deploying the first all-female Formed Police Unit to a UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia in 2007. The Indian women officers demonstrated their capabilities through various responsibilities, including crowd control, guard duties, and community outreach. Currently, Indian women peacekeepers serve in multiple missions worldwide, including South Sudan (UNMISS), the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Lebanon (UNIFIL), and Syria (UNDOF), taking on roles such as military observers and medical officers.
The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, established by the UN Security Council in 2000, seeks to ensure women’s involvement in conflict prevention and resolution while safeguarding them against violence. The framework recognizes that effective peace requires women’s leadership and comprises four main pillars: participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery, supported by ten UN Security Council resolutions advocating for gender equality.
Jaishankar also articulated India’s philosophical approach toward peacekeeping, referencing the Indian concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one family), and reiterated that India’s participation in UN peacekeeping reflects this ethos. He called for greater international cooperation to tackle intertwined global challenges such as terrorism, economic instability, and climate change, stating that these issues transcend national borders.
“The global challenges we face – from pandemics to terrorism, and economic instability to climate change – these challenges are interconnected,” he remarked. He proposed that collaboration should begin at the United Nations, highlighting India’s commitment to multilateralism and international partnerships.
During his address, Jaishankar also shared insights from the 80th UN General Assembly, expressing concern that the UN does not reflect the geopolitical realities of 2025 despite drastic changes since 1945. He underlined the need for UN reforms to ensure it remains relevant and legitimate, emphasizing the importance of amplifying the voices of developing nations and the aspirations of the Global South.