'Women are Key Agents of Social Change & Social Cohesion'

By: WE Staff | Friday, 27 October 2023

India at the UNSC highlighted the significant role of women in the current social scenario and the need for an integrated approach to societal improvement.

India's Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) to the United Nations, Yojana Patel, emphasized the importance of women in the social landscape and the need for an integrated approach to societal betterment in the debate "Women's Participation in International Peace and Security from Theory to Practice." She emphasized the role of women in social change and cohesion, emphasizing the need for sustainable peace.

She further said that gender equality and women's empowerment are crucial for international peace and security, necessitating a coherent approach involving security, development, human rights, and the rule of law.

UNSC Resolution 1325 links gender equality to international peace and security, recognizing women's participation in conflict resolution. India calls for overcoming the under-representation of women in peace processes and political dialogue. In addition to this, she highlighted the underrepresentation of women in peace processes and conflict prevention, stating that out of 95,000 peacekeepers, women make up only 4.8 per cent of military contingents and 10.9 per cent of formed police units. She emphasizes the need to increase female representation in UN peacekeeping operations for the sustainable and improved well-being of females in conflict-affected regions.

India's contribution to UN peacekeeping was by deploying the first Female Formed Police Unit (FPU) in Liberia in 2007 which is also the UN's fifth largest troop contributor. Indian female peacekeepers are mentoring to prevent conflict-related sexual violence. Major Suman Gawani was awarded the UN Military Gender Advocate in 2019. India became the first nation to contribute to the Secretary General's Trust Fund for Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) in 2017. India's Deputy permanent envoy to the UN emphasized the Women's Reservation Bill, which aims to reserve one-third of all Indian legislature seats for women. She continued, that this bill has granted women their reserved seats in National and State Legislatures, empowering them to participate in national, regional, and local events thereby fulfilling the vision of women-led development.