India Seeks Crucial Reforms of UN Security Institutions

UNITED NATIONS:  India, which has contributed 1.7 lakh peacekeepers to UN missions, has told the UN Security Council that it wants crucial reforms of security institutions to facilitate peacebuilding in the conflict-hit nations.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asoke Mukerji said in a UN Security Council debate on 'Security Sector Reform: Challenges and Opportunities' that security sector reform is an "important element of post-conflict peacebuilding" and should be part of the internal political process of a nation emerging from conflict.

"It was only a few days ago that two Indian Peacekeepers donning the blue helmet were injured while protecting civilians at the UNMISS base at Bor in the South Sudan.

"This attack is another example of unresolved political issues in South Sudan which also reflects the importance of understanding the complex political environment of these peacekeeping missions, where security sector reform has to take root as part of the internal political process of the concerned member state," Ambassador Mukerji said.

Ambassador Mukerji said India has experience relevant to reform of a country's security sector, having played an active role in 43 UN peacekeeping missions in which almost 170,000 Indian peacekeepers have participated so far.

Six peacekeeping operations and eight Special Political Missions have been mandated to do SSR. He said in many of these peacekeeping operations, troops from India are directly involved.

Outlining a few principles that must guide security sector reform, he said the most sustainable way for effective reforms is by ensuring national ownership of the process.

Also Read:
World's 5 Countries with the Strongest Militaries
India's Shame: Marginalized Children Still Deprive of Education