India highlighted the role of its women peacekeepers and announced that two Indian officers will receive UN recognition for their work in preventing such violence…reports Asian Lite News Desk
India has strongly condemned conflict-related sexual violence, describing it as a tool of war, terrorism, torture and political repression, while calling for greater international action to tackle the growing problem.
Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador P Harish, said the latest report by the UN Secretary-General highlighted a sharp rise in verified cases during 2025 and demonstrated the need for a collective global response.
Harish said the findings showed the increasing scale and brutality of conflict-related sexual violence and stressed that such crimes continued to be committed with widespread impunity.
“Today’s open debate is on a subject that warrants collective deliberation by member states, particularly in the wake of findings of the UNSG’s report on conflict-related sexual violence that corroborates a sharp increase in verified cases in 2025 and the extreme brutality involved. Sexual violence continues to be used as a means of war, of terrorism, torture, and political repression to subjugate communities, suppress dissent, and inflict human suffering. This continues amid a thriving culture of impunity. We strongly condemn such heinous acts,” Ambassador Harish said.
The Indian envoy also highlighted the country’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations, particularly the deployment of women peacekeepers, which he said had made a significant difference in addressing conflict-related sexual violence.
Harish referred to India’s deployment of the first all-women formed police unit to Liberia in 2007, saying the mission had helped improve public safety, deter sexual and gender-based violence, and rebuild confidence among local communities.
“In India’s experience, deployment of women peacekeepers is a proven measure with transformative impact in addressing CRSV. The first-ever all-women formed police unit of the UN deployed by India to Liberia in 2007 was instrumental in creating an environment for addressing criminality, deterring sexual and gender-based violence, and in helping to rebuild safety and confidence among people. The unique perspective brought by female peacekeepers also strengthens systems to deter CRSV,” the Indian envoy noted.
Harish also announced that two Indian peacekeepers, Major Moiz Yassin and Major Sonia Devendra Navaskar, will receive the 2026 UN Secretary-General’s Military Gender Advocate of the Year Recognition Certificate for their work in preventing conflict-related sexual violence.
He said Major Moiz Yassin, serving as force ombudsperson and welfare officer in UNMIS, had established an accessible, confidential and victim-centred channel for informal grievance reporting. According to Harish, she conducted more than 40 tailored sessions involving troop and police-contributing countries and military observers, while also creating a force gender database to support evidence-based, gender-responsive planning.
“In this context, I’d like to highlight the contribution of Major Moiz Yassin, who as force ombudsperson and welfare officer in UNMIS built an accessible, confidential, and victim-centred channel for informal grievance reporting. She conducted over 40 tailored sessions across troop and police-contributing countries and military observers, and also established a force gender database for evidence-based gender-responsive planning,” Harish detailed.
He said Major Sonia Devendra Navaskar, who serves as the focal point for uniformed women and is a member of the UNMIS Gender Task Force, contributed to intelligence and planning functions aimed at preventing conflict-related sexual violence, developed best practice networks with UN Police personnel, and engaged with the host nation on gender issues.
“Another example is Major Sonia Devendra Navaskar, the focal point for uniformed women and a member of the UNMIS Gender Task Force. She worked actively towards the intelligence and planning functions for CRSV prevention, built UNPOL military best practice networks, and engaged the host nation on gender issues. I’m happy to report that both Major Moiz Yassin and Major Sonia are being awarded the 2026 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Recognition Certificate by the UN Secretary General for their remarkable efforts. They’re following the illustrious footsteps of peacekeepers from India, who have been similarly honoured in 2019, 2024, and 2025,” he added.
