Ahead of renewal of mandate of certain UN Peacekeeping missions, the US today batted for improved consultations between contributing countries and the Security Council even as it reaffirmed its support to India's permanent membership in the elite club.
US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said it strongly advocated efforts to institute periodic assessment of troops deployment in UN peacekeeping missions.
Reaffirming support to the UN peacekeeping missions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Summit on Peace Operations in September had announced that India would contribute an additional battalion of 850 troops for UN peacekeeping operations but had also raised concern that troop contributing countries have no role in decision-making.
He also announced India's commitment to provide critical enablers, deployment of technical personnel in UN missions, and additional training for peacekeepers at facilities in India and in the field.
"The UN must demonstrate leadership in strengthening, monitoring and evaluation of troops. We strongly support UN's efforts to institute the system of periodic assessment of troops. The Security Council must do better at according those countries a meaningful opportunity to provide their views and to share the experiences of their personnel on the ground.
"My team has already started calling meetings of leading contributor countries well in advance of mandate renewals of certain peacekeeping missions. But this cannot substitute for improved consultations between the Security Council and contributing countries, which the United States will enthusiastically welcome," Power said.
She was delivering a lecture on 'Towards More Effective Peacekeeping in 21st Century' at the Indian Council of World Affairs.
At present, there are 16 peacekeeping missions active across the world, majority of which are in Africa. India is a leading contributor in the UN Peacekeeping Missions and has participated in 48 of 71 missions until now.
The mandates are being renewed at regular intervals depending upon the need. In July, the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for six months, until 31 January 2016.
Reiterating support for India's quest to enter the elite club, she said, "Let me affirm that we support a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member.
Power also rued the fact that Europe and North American,
which contributed to 50 per cent of the peacekeeping troops once, have now come down to seven per cent.
Raising concerns over sexual abuses by peacekeeping missions, she said according to a report released by UN's Oversight body, one-third case of reported sexual abuse by peacekeepers between 2008-2014 were on children.
"The irony is those trusted with being protectors becoming perpetrators," she said.
Commending UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's efforts of having zero-tolerance and pledging to support immediate response team to deal with such cases, she said it was also upon the contributing states to show more accountability by dealing sternly with such cases.
"Accountability is essential. The government whose troops allegedly commit the crime must carry out an impartial probe as soon as the allegation come to light and deal with it appropriately. Any country that lacks the mechanism to do so the United States is ready to provide them with support and help build them that capacity.
"Governments also must report back to United Nations on the investigation. We cannot implement a zero tolerance policy unless we know about the status of the investigation," she said.
Responding to a question on how would have Nehru viewed current international order, Power said the first Indian Premier would have been very vocal about India's position considering its contributions it makes.
"If Nehru was around today he would have been very vocal on the international scene, around the security council reforms and around India having its rightful place to be taken because of its peacekeeping contribution, because it has so much to offer," Power said.
