Hello Readers!
In this blog we will talk about the technological platform ‘UNITE Aware’. External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar announced the rollout of a technological platform in partnership with the U.N.
To know about the UNITE Aware, its importance and other facts read our blog.
What is UNITE Aware?
i. It is a unique platform aimed at improving the security and safety of peacekeepers.
ii. It aids in situational awareness and provides peacekeepers with real-time terrain-related information.
iii.Through this platform, entire peacekeeping operations can be visualised, coordinated, and monitored, as well as early warnings delivered to peacekeepers.
iv. Initially, the UNITE AWARE platform will be used by four peacekeeping missions: MINUSMA (Mali), UNMISS (South Sudan), UNFICYP (Cyprus), and AMISOM (Somalia).
Key facts
The launch of the UNITE AWARE platform came as India assumed the 15-nation UN Security Council Presidency for the month of August.
Aim: This project aims to demonstrate the impact of modern surveillance technology on the detection of asymmetric threats.
India’s Contribution: India has allocated 1.64 million for the Platform’s implementation.
Partnership: India has developed the technology platform in partnership with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Operational Support.
4-point framework: Minister proposed a four-point framework to lay out a potential architecture for securing UN peacekeepers in order to meet modern threats. The UN Security Council has passed a Resolution on Accountability for Crimes Against UN Peacekeepers, as well as a Presidential Statement on Peacekeeping Technology.
India-UN MoU: A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India and the United Nations to support the Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping initiative and the UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations.
India’s Contribution
India’s contributions to UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOS) have been underscored by the experience and professionalism of India’s armed forces.
India today is one of the largest contributors of troops to UNPKOS. More than 200,000 Indian troops have served in 49 of the 71 UNPKOS deployed so far.
India is a major contributor of troops to the UN’s peacekeeping forces. It has contributed over 250,000 troops to 49 UN peacekeeping missions, with 175 of its peacekeepers dying in action.
India has a long history of sending women to UN peacekeeping missions.
India was the first country to send an all-female contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission in 2007.
UN Peacekeeping
UN Peacekeeping is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support.
Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries to navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace.
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.
There are currently 13 UN peacekeeping operations deployed on three continents.
Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the Security Council.
According to the UN Charter, every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share for peacekeeping.
Important takeaways:
Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations: Jean-Pierre Lacroix;
Department of Peacekeeping Operations Founded: March 1992;
Department of Peacekeeping Operations Headquarters: New York, United States.
With this we come to the end of this blog. We covered all the relevant points related to the UNITE Aware platform and its significance. We also mention UN Peacekeeping and India’s contribution to it.
