THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE BUILDING COMMISSION (JOINTLY Established by UN SECURITY COUNCIL as well as UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY) INDIA STATEMENT In Peacebuilding Commission’s Ambassadorial-level Meeting on Women, Peace and Security held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA (10:00 am-1:00pm, 27 October 2025, ECOSOC Chamber) Delivered by P.Wilson, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Senior Advocate, India. Excellency Mr. Chair, Vanakkam

THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE BUILDING COMMISSION
(JOINTLY Established by UN SECURITY COUNCIL as well as UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY)
INDIA STATEMENT
In
Peacebuilding Commission’s Ambassadorial-level Meeting on
Women, Peace and Security held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA
(10:00 am-1:00pm, 27 October 2025, ECOSOC Chamber)
Delivered by P.Wilson, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Senior Advocate, India.
Excellency Mr. Chair,
Vanakkam
India commends Germany, the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, for convening today’s meeting commemorating the 25th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325. We also appreciate the Namibian Miniser for Gender Equality, Executive Director of UN Women and other briefers for their insightful remarks and valuable inputs to further the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
2. As one of the top troop-contributing countries to the UN’s peacekeeping operations, India underscores that building and sustaining peace cannot be achieved without the full and equal participation of women. Our commitment to peacekeeping and peacebuilding aligns with the principles of national ownership and WPS agenda.
Mr. Chair,
3. What sets India’s peacekeeping legacy apart is not only the scale of our contributions, but our early recognition of women as indispensable agents of sustainable peace. Long before Resolution 1325, Indian women medical officers served in the Congo in 1960s, marking one of the earliest instances of women serving in UN peacekeeping operations. This was not merely a symbolic gesture but a practical acknowledgement that women’s perspectives, skills, and presence are essential to effective peacekeeping and peacebuilding.
4. In 2007, India deployed the UN’s first all-female Formed Police Unit in Liberia. This pioneering initiative inspired local women to join their national police and security services. Today, Indian women peacekeepers serve with distinction in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Abyei and South Sudan, helping build trust with communities, addressing gender-based violence, and strengthening protection of civilians.
5. Through these deployments, India has demonstrated the profound positive contribution and impact that women bring to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. They build trust in communities and give hope to vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. Most critically, they help address gender-based violence and ensure that peace processes reflect the needs and perspectives of all segments of society. They inspire women in conflict zones through example that they, too, can be leaders and peacebuilders.
Mr. Chair,
6. At the national level, India’s journey from women’s development to women-led development has transformed every aspect of our society. Today, we have more than 1.4 million women elected representatives at the grassroots. Over 23 Indian States and Union Territories have reserved 50 per cent of local government seats for women, underscoring that inclusive governance and social cohesion go hand in hand.
7. India continues to invest in capacity-building for women, including peacekeepers from the Global South. The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in New Delhi has emerged as a global centre of excellence for gender-responsive training, conducting flagship courses for women peacekeepers, equipping them with essential skills in operational planning, protection of civilians, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and gender-sensitive leadership. Earlier this year, India hosted the first-of-its-kind of International Conference for Women Peacekeepers from the Global South.

Mr. Chair
8. As we look ahead, India remains unwavering in its commitment to the WPS agenda. We stand ready to share our expertise, training, and technology with partners, particularly those in the Global South, fostering collective solutions to shared challenges.
I Thank you. Nandri, Vanakkam.