India re-elected to UN Peacebuilding Commission

Syllabus
GS Paper II – Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Context
India, whose current term on the UN Peacebuilding Commission was expiring on December 31, was re-elected for the 2025-2026 term.

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India re-elected to UN Peacebuilding Commission

Introduction

India’s re-election to the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for the 2025-2026 term underscores its commitment to global peace and stability. As its current term concludes on December 31, India is set to continue its significant role in fostering international peacebuilding efforts. This re-election not only highlights India’s dedication to multilateral diplomacy but also reinforces its position as a key player in addressing global conflicts and supporting post-conflict reconstruction. India’s ongoing involvement with the PBC aligns with its broader foreign policy goals of promoting peace, security, and sustainable development worldwide.

UN Peacekeeping: A Vital Tool for Global Stability

• United Nations Peacekeeping:
  • Established to help nations transition from conflict to peace.
• Blue Helmets/Blue Berets:
  • Nicknamed after the light blue color approved for the United Nations flag by General Assembly resolution 167 (II) in 1947.
• Guiding Principles:
  • Consent of the involved parties.
  • Impartiality in all actions.
  • Non-use of force unless in self-defense or to protect the mandate.
• Scope of Operations:
  • Extends beyond just maintaining peace and security.
  • Includes:
    • Facilitating political processes.
    • Protecting civilians.
    • Supporting disarmament and reintegration efforts.
    • Organizing elections.
    • Restoring human rights and the rule of law.
• Current Deployments:
  • 11 UN peacekeeping operations active across three continents.
• Nobel Peace Prize:
  • Awarded in 1988 for contributions to maintaining peace and preventing conflicts in various regions.

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers and Dag Hammarskjöld Medal

• International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers:
  • Commemorated every year on May 29.
  • Marks the day in 1948 when the first UN Peacekeeping Mission, the “UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO),” began its operations in Palestine.
  • 76th International Day of UN Peacekeepers Theme (2024): “Fit for the Future, Building Better Together.”
• Dag Hammarskjöld Medal:
  • A posthumous accolade awarded by the United Nations to military personnel, police, or civilians who die while serving in a UN peacekeeping mission.
  • Presented annually on Peacekeeper’s Day (May 29) to any Member State that has lost military or police peacekeepers, in a ceremony at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
  • In 2024, Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), was posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld medal.
• Peacebuilding Fund (PBF):
  • Established in 2006 as the UN’s primary financial tool for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
  • Collaborates with UN entities, governments, civil society, and multilateral partners to deliver comprehensive financial backing to peacebuilding projects.
  • Has invested over $1.9 billion to support peacebuilding efforts in more than 60 countries.

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers and Dag Hammarskjöld Medal

• International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers:
  • Commemorated every year on May 29.
  • Marks the day in 1948 when the first UN Peacekeeping Mission, the “UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO),” began its operations in Palestine.
  • 76th International Day of UN Peacekeepers Theme (2024): “Fit for the Future, Building Better Together.”
• Dag Hammarskjöld Medal:
  • A posthumous accolade awarded by the United Nations to military personnel, police, or civilians who die while serving in a UN peacekeeping mission.
  • Presented annually on Peacekeeper’s Day (May 29) to any Member State that has lost military or police peacekeepers, in a ceremony at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
  • In 2024, Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), was posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld medal.
• Peacebuilding Fund (PBF):
  • Established in 2006 as the UN’s primary financial tool for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
  • Collaborates with UN entities, governments, civil society, and multilateral partners to deliver comprehensive financial backing to peacebuilding projects.
  • Has invested over $1.9 billion to support peacebuilding efforts in more than 60 countries.

UN Peacebuilding Commission: A Cornerstone of Global Peace Efforts

• Establishment:
  • The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) was created jointly by the General Assembly and the Security Council in 2005.
• Role:
  • Serves as an intergovernmental advisory body of the United Nations, aiding peace efforts in countries affected by conflict.
  • Aims to enhance the global community’s capacity for peacebuilding within a broad peace agenda.
• Composition:
  • Consists of 31 Member States elected from the UN General Assembly, Security Council, and Economic and Social Council.
  • Includes major financial contributors and troop-contributing countries to the UN system.
• Key Objectives:
  • Brings together relevant stakeholders to gather resources for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery.
  • Provides advice on integrated strategies for reconstruction, institution-building, and sustainable development.
• Responsibilities:
  • Concentrates on recovery efforts following conflicts.
  • Promotes stable financing for early recovery activities.
  • Extends the global community’s focus on post-conflict recovery.
  • Offers recommendations and information to improve coordination among all stakeholders.
• Strategic Approach:
  • Advocates for a comprehensive, strategic, and coherent peacebuilding framework.
  • Highlights the connections between security, development, and human rights.
  • Acts as a bridge among UN bodies, providing advice on peacebuilding needs and priorities.
• Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO):
  • Manages the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).
  • Assists the UN Secretary-General in coordinating peacebuilding initiatives.

Role of the Security Council in Peacekeeping

• Security Council:
  • The United Nations Security Council was created under the UN Charter in 1945 and is one of the UN’s six main organs.
  • Composed of 15 members: five permanent members and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
  • The five permanent members are the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China, and the United Kingdom.
  • India has served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
• Primary Responsibility for Peace and Security:
  • The Security Council has the main duty of maintaining international peace and security as per the UN Charter.
  • In specific situations, the Security Council can impose sanctions or authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.
• Deployment of Peace Operations:
  • The Council decides when and where UN peace operations should be deployed, based on individual assessments.
• Factors Considered for New Peace Operations:
  • Status of ceasefire and commitment to a peace process for political settlement.
  • Existence of a clear political goal that can be included in the mandate.
  • Ability to formulate a precise mandate for a UN operation.
  • Ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel, with guarantees from the main parties involved.
• Establishment of Peace Operations:
  • The Security Council establishes a peace operation by adopting a Security Council resolution.
  • The resolution defines the mission’s mandate and size.
• Obligation of Member States:
  • According to Article 25 of the Charter, all UN members are required to accept and implement the decisions of the Security Council.
• Ongoing Monitoring:
  • The Council continuously monitors UN peace operations, using reports from the Secretary-General and holding sessions to review specific missions.
• Modification of Mission Mandates:
  • The Security Council has the power to extend, amend, or end mission mandates as needed.

India’s Contributions to UN Peacekeeping Efforts

• Founding Member:
  • India is a founding member of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).
• Advocacy for Sustainable Peacebuilding:
  • As a prominent contributor to UN Peacekeeping, India is dedicated to global peace and stability.
  • Focuses on the importance of inclusive development, capacity building, and local ownership in peacebuilding processes.
  • Advocates for South-South cooperation as an effective model for post-conflict recovery.
• Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to the UN:
  • India is among the largest contributors of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.
  • Over 200,000 Indians have participated in 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions since 1948.
  • Approximately 6,000 Indian military and police personnel are currently deployed in missions across various regions including Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
  • Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, the highest number from any troop-contributing country.
• Financial Contributions:
  • India has provided financial support to the Peacebuilding Fund, aiding countries transitioning from conflict to peace.
• Indian Women in UN Peacekeeping Initiatives:
  • India has a history of deploying women in UN peacekeeping missions.
  • In 2007, India was the first nation to send an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission.
  • Displays a strong commitment to gender parity by deploying Female Engagement Teams (FETs) and Female Formed Police Units (FFPUs) to countries such as Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Women military police from India have been deployed in the Golan Heights, and women Staff Officers/Military Observers are serving in various missions.
• Capacity Development of the UN:
  • India is at the forefront of capacity building for the UN, host nations, and partner nations.
  • Example: India supports host nation capacity development through training, infrastructure development, and Civil Military Coordination (CIMIC) activities.
• Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK):
  • The Indian Army established the Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi to provide specialized training in peacekeeping operations.
  • Trains over 12,000 troops annually.
  • CUNPK conducts various activities, from contingent training to national and international courses for prospective peacekeepers and trainers.
  • Hosts foreign delegations to share best practices.
  • Regularly dispatches Mobile Training Teams to Friendly Foreign Countries for capacity building in UN peacekeeping training.
• India’s Pledges:
  • At the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Accra, Ghana (05-06 December 2023), India pledged:
    • An Infantry Battalion Group and various sub-groups.
    • UN Pre-Deployment Training of Trainers Course and UN Military Observers Course for the next two years to fulfill UN requirements.

Significance of India’s Re-Election to the UN Peacebuilding Commission

• Strategic Role in UN Peacekeeping:
  • India’s re-election underscores its continued active engagement in global peace and security endeavors, further establishing its status as a prominent actor in international diplomacy.
  • Additionally, this reinforces India’s soft power.
• Support for Local Initiatives:
  • India’s role in the PBC encourages the inclusion of local perspectives and solutions, ensuring that community-driven peacebuilding efforts are integrated with international strategies.
  • Example: India has advocated for enhanced local involvement in peacebuilding initiatives in South Sudan.
• Shaping Global Peacebuilding Policies:
  • India can utilize its membership to influence policies focusing on conflict prevention, economic reconstruction, and resilience-building in post-conflict societies.
• Advocacy for a Permanent Seat in the UN Security Council:
  • India’s re-election to the UNPBC bolsters its pursuit of a more prominent role in global governance, including a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Challenges of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture

• Resource Gaps and Funding Constraints:
  • One significant limitation is the insufficient and unpredictable funding for peacebuilding efforts.
  • The Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), though vital, often grapples with limited resources, hindering the timely and effective execution of peacebuilding programs.
• Neglect of Local Needs:
  • Local peacebuilding groups indicate that the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) tends to prioritize larger, high-visibility projects spearheaded by international NGOs and government partners.
  • This approach often overlooks the priorities and necessities of communities directly impacted by conflict.
• Insufficient Representation in the UNSC:
  • The effectiveness of the UN Security Council (UNSC) is hampered by inadequate representation, particularly the absence of African nations.
  • This underrepresentation limits the UNSC’s capability in addressing global peace and security concerns.
• Over-reliance on International Actors:
  • The peacebuilding process is frequently driven by large international organizations, resulting in minimal involvement of local actors.
  • Local stakeholders are often excluded from the design and implementation stages of initiatives.
• Operational Challenges:
  • The UN lacks a Permanent Military and Police Force.
  • Rapid mobilization of military and police personnel from member states for field missions remains a challenging task.
• Political Challenges:
  • The UN’s authority to act in conflict zones is sometimes constrained by geopolitical interests and local power dynamics, which can impede progress.
• Limited Impact on Systemic Issues:
  • While the UN’s peacebuilding framework emphasizes post-conflict recovery, it often struggles to address underlying systemic issues such as poverty, inequality, and governance deficits that contribute to recurring conflicts.

The Way Forward for Strengthening UN Peacebuilding

• Reforms in the UN Security Council:
  • Essential reforms are needed to enhance representation and effectiveness in tackling global issues.
  • Example: Increasing the number of permanent members in the UN Security Council.
• Strengthening Local Ownership and Participation:
  • Empower local communities by making peacebuilding initiatives community-driven and streamlining funding access for grassroots organizations.
  • Example: Enhancing collaboration with local NGOs.
• Improved Coordination Across UN Entities:
  • Encourage better cooperation among UN agencies to ensure a cohesive approach to peacebuilding, addressing security, development, and human rights.
  • Example: Training peacekeepers in hybrid warfare and non-traditional warfare tactics.
• Strengthening Conflict Prevention Mechanisms:
  • Example: Enhancing intelligence gathering and boosting diplomatic efforts by expanding the role of special envoys.
• Ensuring Adequate Funding:
  • Provide sufficient resources to the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the Department of Peace Operations (DPO).
• Ensuring Greater Political Will and Leadership:
  • Secure strong political support from national governments and international stakeholders to back peacebuilding initiatives.

Conclusion

India’s re-election to the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) comes at a critical juncture, amid escalating conflicts, terrorism, humanitarian crises, and emerging global threats. This re-election underscores India’s commitment to global peace and stability, reinforcing its role as a key player in international diplomacy. It highlights the need for a more robust and efficient UN peace and security system to address these challenges effectively. By advocating for inclusive development, local ownership, and sustainable peacebuilding, India can significantly contribute to shaping a resilient and responsive global peace architecture, ensuring a safer and more secure world for all.

Reference: IE

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Related PYQ

Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. [UPSC CSE – 2015 Mains]

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Practice Question

Discuss the significance of India’s re-election to the UN Peacebuilding Commission for the 2025-2026 term. How does this re-election align with India’s broader foreign policy objectives and contributions to global peacekeeping? [150 words]

Guidelines to Answer

• Introduction:
  • Briefly introduce the UN Peacebuilding Commission and India’s re-election.
  • Mention the current global context and challenges.
• Significance of India’s Re-election:
  • Highlight India’s role in global peace and security.
  • Discuss India’s contributions to peacebuilding and its advocacy for sustainable development and local ownership.
  • Emphasize India’s support for inclusive development and South-South cooperation.
• Alignment with India’s Foreign Policy Objectives:
  • Explain how this re-election supports India’s long-term foreign policy goals.
  • Mention India’s aspirations for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
  • Discuss India’s commitment to multilateralism and global governance.
• Conclusion:
  • Summarize the importance of India’s re-election to the UNPBC.
  • Reflect on how India can leverage this position to further global peace and security.

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