India unveils database to track crimes against UN peacekeepers

India’s UN representative, Ruchira Kamboj, revealed Thursday the launch of a new database aimed at documenting crimes against UN peacekeepers and tracking advancements in holding perpetrators responsible.

Kamboj emphasised India’s commitment to promoting accountability and highlighted its leadership role in the ‘Group of Friends’ (GOF) dedicated to this cause.

The announcement of the database’s launch was made during a high-level meeting of the India-led GOF on Tuesday. Kamboj stated, “Delighted to announce the launch of a new database designed to record crimes against Peacekeepers & monitor progress in holding perpetrators accountable. India is at the forefront of advocating for accountability, leading the Group of Friends dedicated to this cause,” in a post on social media platform X.

The database is designed to serve as an online repository, empowering the Secretariat, Missions, and member states to monitor and address cases of malicious acts against peacekeepers, a press release by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN said.

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“This database, sponsored by India, is hosted on the Unite Aware platform and is poised to facilitate comprehensive analysis and drive effective strategies for promoting accountability,” it said.

During the meeting, Kamboj highlighted the GOF’s progress over the past year, emphasising the insights gained into challenges surrounding accountability, particularly in strengthening the rule of law within Mission areas.

She expressed confidence in leveraging these insights to enact impactful measures advancing accountability for crimes against peacekeepers.

The GOF was launched by India in 2022 to promote accountability for crimes against the Blue Helmets during its presidency of the UN Security Council.

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India, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco and Nepal are co-chairs of the GOF, which comprises 40 member states.

The GOF’s second meeting on Tuesday was focused on strategies to strengthen legal frameworks against perpetrators of malicious acts targeting peacekeepers, focusing on supporting measures for ensuring accountability.

The meeting’s agenda also featured a substantive discussion on providing legal frameworks to support the concept of accountability for crimes against peacekeepers.

Professor Bimal Patel, a distinguished member of the International Law Commission and Vice Chancellor of the Rashtriya Raksha University, shared expert insights on the topic.

Member states engaged in fruitful deliberations on practical approaches to assist host state rule of law institutions in prosecuting perpetrators, ensuring justice for peacekeepers.

“The high-level meeting of the GOF serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment of member states, spearheaded by India, towards promoting accountability and upholding the safety and dignity of peacekeepers worldwide,” the press release said.

With inputs from PTI