UNITE Aware

  • August 19, 2021
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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UNITE Aware

Subject – IR

Context – Tech to help protect UN peacekeepers: Jaishankar.

Concept –

  • External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar announced the rollout of a technological platform in partnership with the UN — ‘UNITE Aware’ — to help enhance the safety of UN peacekeepers.
  • 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.
  • This project aims to demonstrate the impact of modern surveillance technology on the detection of asymmetric threats.
  • Situational Awareness Software Programme: It utilises modern surveillance technology for real time threat assessments to peacekeepers in maintaining security.
  • India has developed the technology platform in partnership with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Operational Support.
  • Deployment: The platform will be deployed initially in four UN Peacekeeping Missions: MINUSMA (Mali), UNMISS (South Sudan), UNFICYP (Cyprus) and AMISOM (Somalia).
  • India’s Contribution: India has contributed USD 1.64 million for this project.

UN Peacekeeping:
Joint Effort: It is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support.

  • It deploys troops and police from around the world, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to address a range of mandates set by the UN Security Council (UNSC)and the General Assembly.
  • Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the Security Council.
  • Financial Contribution: The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping operations are the collective responsibility of UN Member States.
  • According to the UN Charter, every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share for peacekeeping.
  • India’s Contribution – India is a major contributing nation to UN peacekeeping activities.
    • Currently, there are 5506 troops and police from India who have been deployed to nine different UN peacekeeping missions, the second highest amongst troop-contributing countries.
    • India has a long tradition of sending women on UN peacekeeping missions.
    • In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission.
  • The top 5 providers of assessed contributions to United Nations Peacekeeping operations for 2020-2021 are:
  1. United States (27.89%).
  2. China (15.21%).
  3. Japan (8.56%).
  4. Germany (6.09%).
  5. United Kingdom (5.79%).
IR UNITE Aware