IANS
United Nations, Aug 23: The United Nations all-female Indian police unit in Liberia, the first such unit deployed in peacekeeping missions, has won praise from the top UN envoy to the West African country.
The Indian unit not only demonstrates gender equality but also serves as an encouragement for Liberian women to become police officers themselves, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Alan Doss said.
Awarding medals to members of the Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU) in Liberia’s capital Monrovia, he congratulated the women for their work in responding to emergency situations, crime prevention and the support given to Liberia’s National Police (LNP).
“Though a new beginning for gender equality in peacekeeping, this deployment is a continuation of India’s consistent commitment to peacekeeping operations,” said Doss.
The all-female FPU arrived in Liberia in January this year to join UN efforts in helping to rebuild the country after a devastating 14-year civil war. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is currently assisting the LNP in attracting more women into the police.
Out of more than 3,500 new police officers who have so far received training, only 203 are women, well below an agreed target of 20 per cent. India is the third largest troop contributing country to the UN, with police and military peacekeepers deployed worldwide. UNMIL currently has more than 1,5300 uniformed personnel.
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