LAUNCH OF  GROUP OF FRIENDS TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST PEACEKEEPERS

1.    India, along with Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco and Nepal, launched the ‘Group of Friends to promote Accountability for crimes against Peacekeepers’ on 15 December, 2022, at the UN HQ in New York. The External Affairs Minister of India, H.E. Dr S Jaishankar delivered the key note address for the event, while the United Nations was represented by  the Under Secretary General of the Department of Peace Operations, Mr Jean Pierre Lacroix. PR/ Ambassador of India Ruchira Kamboj was also present on the occasion. 

2.   The Group of Friends comes into being at a time when Peace Operations are becoming increasingly violent and risky for Peacekeepers, who  are being treated as legitimate targets by terrorists, Armed Groups and criminals. Perpetrators of crimes against Peacekeepers go largely unpunished, primarily due to absence of capable “rule of law” institutions in the states hosting Peace Operations .

3.  Holding such perpetrators accountable, and bringing them to justice, will significantly deter crimes against Peacekeepers. The Group of Friends has been established with the objective of helping promote accountability by harmonizing the efforts of various agencies involved in ensuring accountability.

4.   India is cumulatively the largest contributor of Peacekeepers to United Nations , and currently has more than 5800 troops deployed in Peace operations.  India   places high value on the safety and security of its personnel, and has been a significant driver behind the establishment of the Group of Friends, which has been joined by more than thirty countries.