United Nations, October 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India has called for greater representation of women in armed forces, saying their participation can strengthen the protection of women and girls in conflict zones and advance the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
Speaking at an open debate of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, India’s Permanent Representative P. Harish highlighted the disproportionate risks faced by women and girls during conflicts, including conflict-related sexual violence.
Citing reports by UN officials, Harish said sexual violence was increasingly being used as a weapon in conflict and that 750 million women and girls lived within 50 kilometres of conflict zones. He also pointed to a reported more-than-twofold increase in verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence in a year.
Harish cited the work of two Indian Army majors serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) as examples of how women peacekeepers can strengthen security and support systems.
Major Mouiz Yaseen, the mission’s Force Ombudsperson and Welfare Officer, established an accessible and confidential channel for informal grievance reporting, while developing a gender database to support evidence-based planning. She received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award in 2025.
Major Sonia Devendra Nevaskar, who served as a focal point for uniformed women and was part of the UNMISS Gender Task Force, helped establish best-practice networks involving UN police and military personnel to advance the WPS agenda.
Harish said India had also expanded opportunities for women within its armed forces, including permanent commissions and induction into combat streams. He noted that women were serving in roles ranging from fighter pilots to military diplomats, alongside increasing participation in UN peacekeeping missions.
He stressed that women’s involvement in security and decision-making helped address local grievances and brought wider priorities, including safety, healthcare and education, into peacebuilding efforts.
Harish also highlighted India’s Women’s Reservation Act of 2023, which provides for one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, alongside existing reservations in local government bodies.
He said women’s representation in political leadership and decision-making was critical to advancing sustainable peace and security.
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