India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador P Harish condemned attacks against peacekeepers, asserting that accountability for these crimes is crucial not only for justice but also for the very foundation of UN Peace Operations globally.
“United Nations peacekeepers face tremendous obstacles while working in increasingly dangerous areas. But for the most part, these crimes continue to go unpunished. This lack of accountability severely undermines international peace efforts by giving assailants more confidence,” he said while speaking at a high-level meeting of the Group of Friends (GoF) for promoting accountability for crimes against peacekeepers held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
“Peacekeepers’ safety is directly improved by justice, allowing them to carry out their vital missions. It is our common duty to fulfil this obligation,” he added
He further elaborated on strategies to enhance international cooperation in bringing perpetrators to justice.
“It also underscored the critical imperative to combat impunity for attacks against peacekeepers, emphasising that accountability is not merely a matter of justice for individuals but a basis for the effectiveness, credibility, and future of UN Peace Operations worldwide,” Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York said in a statement.
“In a powerful demonstration of concerted international will, senior representatives from around 40 member states, senior UN officials and experts, including from field missions, deliberated on enhanced strategies, operational frameworks, and fostering greater international cooperation to bring perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers to justice,” it added.
The Group of Friends for Accountability of Crimes against Peacekeepers was launched in December 2022 during India’s Presidency of the Security Council, building upon the landmark UNSC Resolution 2589.
Since 1948, over 1,000 UN personnel have been killed as a result of malicious acts while serving in peacekeeping operations, with hundreds more injured.
He highlighted key outcomes of the discussions at today’s meeting, “Deepening Accountability Mechanisms, Reinforcing Legal Frameworks, Capacity Building and Technical Assistance, Leveraging Technology for Justice, Preventative Measures and Deterrence.”
He further said that “sustained commitment by member states, particularly the members of this Group and the UN will enable the pursuit of justice for peacekeepers with unwavering resolve”.
