India, U.S. Will Jointly Train African Peacekeepers

[Vikrant]

This has potential to promote peace and stability in Africa.

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WASHINGTON—

The United States and India on Tuesday agreed to train troops in six African countries before they are deployed to U.N. peacekeeping missions, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said.

He spoke after meetings at the State Department with his Indian counterpart, Shushma Swaraj, on economic and security issues.

"We agreed on a joint initiative to train troops in six African countries before they deploy to U.N. peacekeeping missions," Kerry told reporters without specifying which African countries would be involved.

"This responds to a growing need for effective, professional, international peacekeeping in regions of conflict," he said at the end of a two-day U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.

He said progress was also made on energy security and climate change. India is the world's third-largest carbon emitter despite its low per capita emissions, giving it a crucial role in U.N. climate talks in Paris in December. The Paris summit will seek agreement on halting damaging greenhouse gas emissions.

"Both of our governments are firmly committed to reaching a truly meaningful, truly comprehensive, and truly ambitious climate agreement in Paris later this year," Kerry said. "That is absolutely critical."

He said the United States was launching a Fulbright climate fellowship program to help with the exchange of research information.

Swaraj said India recognized that climate change is "one of the most pressing challenges of our times."

US, India Will Jointly Train African Peacekeepers

 

[waltky]

The blue beret or the blue helmet is supposed to represent hope...

Fresh allegations of sexual abuse made against UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic
Tuesday 5th January, 2016 -- The United Nations is investigating new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse and other misconduct by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR), this time by forces under the world body"s flag, the top UN official there said today, as further steps are being put in place to combat the scourge.

"The blue beret or the blue helmet you wear represents hope for the vulnerable population of the CAR," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon"s Special Representative Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said, laying out new measures to help identify perpetrators and deter new cases, as well as renewing his commitment to protect whistle-blowers. The allegations are the latest to have been made against UN peacekeeping missions in recent years. Mr. Onanga-Anyanga met in Bangui, the capital, with the military and police components of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA), which he heads, stressing that there will be no complacency for perpetrators or accomplices of such crimes which tarnish the UN flag, the peacekeepers" identity and their country"s honour.

Today"s meeting follows Mr. Ban"s pledge last month to urgently review recommendations of an independent panel which found that the UN did not act with the "speed, care or sensitivity required," when it uncovered information about crimes committed against children by soldiers who were not under UN command. In the spring of 2014, allegations came to light that international troops serving as peacekeepers had sexually abused a number of young children in exchange for food or money. The alleged perpetrators were largely from a French military force known as Sangaris, which was operating under authorization of the Security Council but not under UN command.

Reaffirming his commitment to Mr. Ban"s policy of "zero tolerance," Mr. Onanga-Anyanga stressed that all international personnel and units will be held accountable to the highest standards of behaviour and conduct. "There is no place in UN peacekeeping for those who betray the trust of the people we are here to help," he said. He announced on-going discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to carry out joint actions as part of the reinforcement of MINUSCA's ability to combat sexual exploitation and abuse.

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