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Indian Women Security Officers to Train US Counterparts

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Indian Women Security Officers to Train US Counterparts

NEW DELHI | MAR 06, 2011

In a first, women officers of Indian security forces are soon expected to impart training lessons to their US counterparts in peacekeeping, marking recognition of their exceptional work in this field.

The officers, who commanded the world's only all-women Formed Police Unit (FPU) in peacekeeping in Liberia, have been invited by the US to train its officers in such operations besides sharing their experiences in the troubled African country, sources told PTI here today.

The 100-member strong women contingent of Indian peacekeepers, drawn from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been deployed in Liberia since 2006 as part of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and has earned immense praise from the UN.

The US invitation to the women commanders was one of the several outcomes of the meeting of the Indo-US Joint Working Group (JWG) on Peacekeeping held here during which the two sides decided to establish institutionalised arrangements and collaborate on peacekeeping missions.

At the JWG meeting, the Indian side was led by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Joint Secretary (UN-Political) in the External Affairs Ministry, and the US delegation was headed by Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organisations.

The two sides decided to intensify bilateral cooperation, consultation, and exchanges with a view to improve the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions.

They agreed to have close consultations on peacekeeping issues between their delegations in the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, and other fora, wherever possible.

India and the US will also develop closer consultation and cooperation on the matching of UN peacekeeping mission mandates with capacity and on ensuring political support for the success of UN peacekeeping missions.

This is significant considering that India was emphasising that it should be consulted on the UN peacekeeping mandates which is decided by only the Permanent five members of the UNSC.

Sources said the US agreed to consult India and the first one in this regard could be the UN Mission in Sudan.

The US also agreed to work with India in seeking reform of administrative and enabling support mechanisms for UN peacekeeping missions, including remuneration for contingent owned equipment, peacekeepers and police units, according to the 'Declaration of Principles'.

India, which is one of the topmost troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, wanted an upward revision of the reimbursements for personnel and equipment deployed as it is convinced that the present remuneration is not enough.

There are over 8,000 Indian security personnel working in various UN peacekeeping operations.

India and the US also decided to establish institutional arrangements between the Peacekeeping and Stability Operation Institute at the US Army War College and the Centre for UN Peacekeeping, New Delhi, and other institutions involved with UN peacekeeping training, for exchange of best practices, training opportunities and visits.

The two countries will also explore further the linkages between UN peacekeeping to peace-building, including consideration of policing and the rule of law and work together to support peacekeeping mission-wide strategies for the protection of civilians.

The JWG meeting also decided that the two countries would prepare civilian capacities with skills and experience relevant to peace-building.

India and the US agreed to collaborate on increasing the effectiveness and capability of the UN to source equipment, enabling units, and specialised requirement for UN peacekeeping missions.

They will also collaborate on training of UN peacekeepers with agreed principles to be worked out separately and explore collaboration on a potential high-level event to bring together supporters of UN peacekeeping.

The outcomes of the JWG meeting, which was held after two years in pursuance to the Joint Statement issued during President Barack Obama's visit here in November last, will form part of the Indo-US Strategic Dialogue to be held here next month.

news.outlookindia.com | Indian Women Security Officers to Train US Counterparts
 
They are trained in sophisticated combat tactics and weaponry, crowd and mob control, counter-insurgency. They patrol the streets of the Liberian capital, expected to keep the peace after years of war.

Most of them are also mothers and form an all-women unit from India, policing in a country where a 15-year conflict was characterized by sexual violence. Rape, according to the United Nations, remains the No. 1 crime reported to police in Liberia.

The Indian women were pioneers, the unit's experience in Liberia an experiment of sorts for the United Nations.

Clare Hutchinson, a gender affairs officer at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York, said it was hoped that the Indian women would win the trust of Liberian women and perhaps serve as role models.

"It's about empowerment," she said. "It's quite a success story for us."

Indian policewomen first arrived in Liberia in 2007, and a fresh batch arrived a few days ago in Monrovia as part of the rotation. Annie Abraham, commander of the outgoing Indian unit, said she is proud of the Indian women's performance.

The message that the Indians brought was clear: You can trust us. And you can do anything a man can do. Even better.

"In a post-conflict society, women are much more traumatized," Abraham said. "They are much more open to us. With men, there is some kind of skepticism."

Not only did Abraham's unit provide security and leadership, it was able to embrace Liberian women, mentoring them in health care and family practices. Many were teenage mothers.

The Indians pioneered a new way of peacekeeping. But sometimes, it was heartbreaking.

"We'd hear a woman say: "I have been raped. My daughter has been raped,'" Abraham said.

All they could do was sympathize and provide the kind of comfort a male counterpart could not.

The problems were new to Abraham, who grew up a tomboy enamored with police regalia. She became a police officer because she didn't want a job that was stereotyped as a woman's.

Ironically, it was her gender that landed her in Liberia.

"We performed duties that were different than men," she said. "It was just the presence of women that made a difference."

They even organized summer camp classes on self-defense and Indian classical dance

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who visited the Indian peacekeepers in Liberia, said they had motivated Liberian women to take steps to guard against rampant gender violence. "They have set an example that must be repeated in U.N. peacekeeping missions all over the world," she told the U.N. Security Council last year.

The idea of women peacekeepers is fairly new to the United Nations.

Resolution 1325, passed in 2000, recognized that women's experience in armed conflict is different and often more severe than men's. As such, the United Nations vowed to increase the number of women in its peacekeeping forces. Women make up only 8 percent of the U.N. police and 2 percent of its military personnel.

"By including female police among our ranks, we foster a safe environment for victims to get the help they need and deserve," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.

Liberia, with a history of sexual violence, was a perfect candidate for women peacekeepers.

Research by human rights group Amnesty International found that many Liberian women do not have access to adequate medical care. They are often widowed or abandoned, and find themselves taking on heavy burdens with little support, few skills and no job or education.

The United Nations' Hutchinson said the world body has made a good start with the Indian female police units -- both for women in Liberia and for promoting gender equality within U.N. agencies.

"We know, for instance, that more numbers of Liberian women are joining the police. We think there is cause and effect," she said about the Indian policewomen.

Change on gender issues in Liberia is slow but gradual, Abraham said. The west African nation has the continent's only female head of state -- Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf -- and a Senate that is now about 17 percent women.

As she headed home last week, Abraham said she felt good knowing that her policewomen had helped inspire Liberian women to stand up on their own. And that she had played a role in turning tears into smiles.

Indian women peacekeepers hailed in Liberia - CNN
 
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Maybe India should post post there women in Kashmir might help in soothing the public..

USA should post their women officers in Iraq & Afghanistan, might help in soothing the public.

And above all, Indian Americans(of your types who were born in USA) should learn more about situation in J&K, before passing insensitive remarks on Indians.
 
Maybe India should post post there women in Kashmir might help in soothing the public..
that's rude....
i wish you must be posted in india pakistan border..terrorists will teach you a lesson...
next time mind your tongue
@shaktimaan misterme is not a indian american..
he is american
 
USA should post their women officers in Iraq & Afghanistan, might help in soothing the public.

And above all, Indian Americans(of your types who were born in USA) should learn more about situation in J&K, before passing insensitive remarks on Indians.

:lol: from 10 years US men couldn't shake taliban...
better get training from our proud women
 
this looks like a desperate PR excercise because having met american service women in gulf all i can say is that the need is other way around..!
 
this looks like a desperate PR excercise because having met american service women in gulf all i can say is that the need is other way around..!

Have you met American peace-keepers???This is about maintaining peace by brave Indian women in one of the most hostile countries on Earth!!!!Also,India does not permit women army officers to participate in front line duty.If you have met women peace-keepers from America serving in Liberia then you can comment about who is more trained/experienced.
 

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