UNSC adopts resolution to promote women's role in Peacekeeping; India congratulates Council

The United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to promote women's participation in peacekeeping operations, reported news agency Xinhua.

Resolution 2538 calls on UN member states, the UN Secretariat, and regional orgsations to strengthen their collective efforts to promote the "full, effective, and mengful participation" of uniformed and civilian women in peacekeeping operations at all levels and in all positions, including in senior leadership positions, Xinhua reported.

India's Permanent Mission to the UN congratulated the United Nations Security Council on Friday (local time) for passing a resolution that calls for "full, effective, and mengful participation" of women personnel in peacekeeping operations.

"As a co-sponsor of the Resolution, and with a proud tradition of deploying women peacekeepers who have served as role models, India congratulates the Security Council for adopting Resolution 2538 today on 'Women in Peacekeeping'," the Indian Mission in UN tweeted.

The women in peacekeeping resolution were initiated by Indonesia.

India has a long tradition of deploying women peacekeepers. As early as 1960, India sent women in the Armed Forces Medical Services to serve in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Republic of Congo.

In 2007, India was the first country to send an all-women Formed Police Unit to Liberia. They were hailed as "role models" by the then President of Liberia, as well as former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

This year, Major Suman Gaw won the UN Military Gender Advocate award. She is deployed in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

( With inputs from ANI )