India collaborates with UN launches tech platform for peacekeepers
- Category
International Relations
- Published
25th Aug, 2021
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Context
India, in collaboration with the United Nation (UN), launched ‘UNITE Aware’, a technology platform to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers who are operating in increasingly complex and risky environments across the world.
About
About UNITE Aware:
- UNITE Aware is a situational awareness software programme that will utilise modern surveillance technology for real time threat assessments to peacekeepers.
- India has contributed USD 1.64 million for the project.
- India has developed the technology platform in partnership with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Operational Support.
Objectives of the mission
- To demonstrate the impact of modern surveillance technology on the detection of asymmetric threats.
- To improve camp security for UN peacekeepers, the overall security situation, and the quality of situational awareness.
UN Peacekeeping missions (for initial launch)
- The UNITE Aware platform will be initially launched in four UN Peacekeeping Missions:
- MINUSMA (Mali)
- UNMISS (South Sudan)
- UNFICYP (Cyprus)
- AMISOM (Somalia)
The launch of the UNITE AWARE platform came as India assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of August.
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What is UN Peacekeeping?
- UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:
- Consent of the parties
- Impartiality
- Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate
- UN peacekeepers provide security and the political and peace building support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
India, a major contributing nation to UN peacekeeping activities
- In 2017, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission in 2017.
- At present, there are 5506 troops and police from India who have been deployed to nine different UN peacekeeping missions.
- It is the second highest amongst troop-contributing countries.
- More than 200,000 Indians have served in 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions established around the world, since 1948.
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