India urges greater women’s representation in armed forces at UN

India has stressed the need to increase women’s representation in the armed forces, saying their greater involvement can help improve the safety of women and girls who face heightened risks in conflict zones.
Addressing the United Nations Security Council’s open debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) on Wednesday (local time), India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, said greater participation of women in the military could significantly advance the WPS agenda.Highlighting the growing risks faced by women and girls in conflict zones, Harish referred to reports by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten.

More women in armed forces can lead to greater protection for females in conflict areas: India at UN . India has said that more women in the armed forces can lead to greater protection for women who are disproportionately impacted by conflicts ????https://t.co/LChtxOhKRb

— IANS (@ians_india) October 29, 2026

Citing Patten’s report, he said sexual violence had become a political weapon amid rising global conflicts. He also referred to Guterres’ report, which found that nearly 750 million women and girls live within 50 kilometres of conflict zones.“Verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence have more than doubled in a year,” Harish said, stressing the need to strengthen women’s protection and participation in peacekeeping operations.
Highlighting India’s contribution to UN peacekeeping, Harish cited the work of two Indian Army officers who developed initiatives to improve the safety and welfare of women, including civilians and peacekeepers,according to agency reports.Major Mouiz Yaseen, serving as Force Ombudsperson and Welfare Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), established an accessible, confidential and victim-centred grievance-reporting mechanism using technology.She also trained peacekeepers and observers and developed a force gender database to support evidence-based, gender-responsive planning. Yaseen received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025.
Harish also highlighted the contributions of Major Sonia Devendra Nevaskar, who served as a focal point for uniformed women and a member of the UNMISS Gender Task Force. She established the UN Police and Military Best Practice Networks to strengthen the implementation of the WPS agenda.He said the Centre for UN Peacekeeping in New Delhi regularly conducts training programmes for women peacekeepers to improve their operational capabilities and participation in UN missions.
Emphasising India’s efforts to promote gender equality in defence services, Harish said the country had systematically restructured its armed forces to expand opportunities for women. Women officers are now eligible for permanent commissions and have also been inducted into combat roles.“This commitment has opened doors for women, from fighter pilots to military diplomats, and has increased the number of Indian women serving as UN peacekeepers,” he said.
Highlighting women’s role in conflict resolution, Harish said they play a crucial part in understanding local grievances, building consensus and addressing broader development priorities.“Women understand local grievances, build common ground and set priorities that go beyond ending conflict to include safety, health, education and other factors of development,” he said.
He added that women’s empowerment remained essential to achieving sustainable peace and finding long-term solutions in conflict-affected regions.Referring to Guterres’ report, Harish stressed that women’s representation in political leadership and decision-making positions was critical to advancing the WPS agenda. He said legislated gender quotas could make a significant difference.“We attest to its potency,” he said, citing India’s Women’s Reservation Act of 2023, which provides for reserving one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, building on the existing reservation framework in local government bodies.