UN Peacekeepers Safety: Bangladesh calls for better preparedness

Bangladesh has called for greater preparedness for the safety and security of the UN peacekeepers.

"As the leading troop and police contributing country, with a large number of our troops deployed, ensuring the safety and security of our contingents is of paramount importance to us," Ambassador Rabab Fatima, permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN, said on Monday.

There are about 7,000 Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in various UN peace missions.

While addressing the Special Committee on the Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) at the General Assembly, Fatima paid tribute to the peacekeepers for fulfilling their mandates in the midst of the pandemic and providing important support to the host nation's pandemic response efforts.

She suggested embedding emergency preparedness in the mandate setting and prioritising peacekeepers for Covid-19 vaccines.

Referring to the increased multidimensional and multifaceted threats to international peace and security, Fatima said there is no alternative to stronger peacekeeping.

She acknowledged the continuous reform undertaken by the UN in this regard, including implementation of the Action for Peacekeeping agenda, and welcomed its review.

She also called for systematic efforts to incorporate the inputs coming from the peacekeepers on the ground in the major policy documents of the UN.

The Bangladesh ambassador condemned the attacks on peacekeepers and called for accountability for the crimes against the peacekeepers.

On the question of performance, Fatima stressed the need for ensuring conducive operational environmental coupled with required human and other resources.

"The mandates of the peacekeeping operations must remain clear, realistic, and achievable, commensurate to the capabilities, ground realities, and available resources," she added.

Fatima highlighted the importance of increased participation of women in peacekeeping and called for increased resource allocation for creating an enabling environment for women in peacekeeping, and for diversification of women's role through training and capacity building.

Referring to the National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security, she reiterated Bangladesh's readiness at all levels, including in command positions, and in diversified roles.