India has reaffirmed its strong commitment to ensuring accountability for crimes committed against United Nations peacekeepers, calling it a “strategic necessity” for the success and integrity of global peacekeeping efforts.
Speaking at a high-level meeting of the Group of Friends (GoF) for Accountability of Crimes Against Peacekeepers at the UN Headquarters in New York, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador P Harish, stressed the urgent need for justice and deterrence.
“UN peacekeepers face tremendous obstacles while operating in increasingly dangerous environments. Yet, most crimes against them go unpunished. This lack of accountability emboldens attackers and weakens international peace efforts,” said Ambassador Harish.
He underscored that ensuring justice for peacekeepers is not only a legal obligation but a cornerstone for the credibility and effectiveness of peacekeeping missions. “Accountability is a strategic necessity. Justice for peacekeepers directly improves their safety and enables them to fulfill their critical roles on the ground,” he added.
The high-level meeting, co-chaired by India and other leading nations, brought together senior representatives from around 40 UN Member States, UN officials, field experts, and stakeholders. The gathering focused on enhancing global cooperation, operational frameworks, and legal mechanisms to end impunity for attacks on peacekeepers.
The Permanent Mission of India noted, “The meeting reaffirmed that accountability is not just about justice for individual victims but is essential to the future, credibility, and operational success of UN Peace Operations worldwide.”
Participants discussed the increasing threats faced by peacekeepers, the urgent need to address impunity, and the importance of both punitive and preventive measures backed by strong political will.
The Group of Friends for Accountability of Crimes against Peacekeepers was launched in December 2022 during India’s Presidency of the UN Security Council. It builds on Security Council Resolution 2589 (2021), which specifically called for action against perpetrators of crimes targeting peacekeepers.
As a co-chair of the GoF, India remains a leading advocate for peacekeeping accountability. With over 300,000 troops contributed over the past seven decades, India is the largest cumulative troop-contributing nation to UN peacekeeping missions. Notably, 182 Indian peacekeepers have laid down their lives in service of global peace under the UN flag.
India’s leadership at the UN continues to reflect its long-standing dedication to upholding international peace and justice for those who serve in the world’s most volatile regions.