Sufficient funds needed for peacekeeping missions: Rabab Fatima

Bangladesh seeks adequate and sustained funding for the UN peacekeeping missions, allowing them to effectively carry out diverse mandates amid challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is imperative to ensure that the peacekeeping missions are sufficiently funded," said Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima while addressing the UN peacekeeping budget session in the UN headquarters, New York, on Monday.

Bangladesh is the top troops and police-contributing country in UN peacekeeping operations, with nearly 7,000 peacekeepers serving in 7 missions.

Rabab Fatima underscored the need for timely reimbursement to the troops and police-contributing countries for their personnel and equipment support.

She praised the peacekeepers for continued efforts to fulfill their mandates in maintaining peace, stability, and security in the conflict-prone countries and regions, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Highlighting Bangladesh's endeavors in the context of women's participation in peacekeeping, Ambassador Fatima said that increased participation of women in peacekeeping has been a key strategic objective of the National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security in Bangladesh.

She expressed concern about the low representation of women in peacekeeping operations, especially in senior leadership positions.

"We must continue to invest in our collective efforts towards full, effective, and meaningful participation of women at all peacekeeping levels and positions," she added.