UNITE Aware
- August 19, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
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:
- United States (27.89%).
- China (15.21%).
- Japan (8.56%).
- Germany (6.09%).
- United Kingdom (5.79%).