Why is it in the news?

• The India-led Group of Friends (GOF) is an initiative launched in 2022 during India’s presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC), aiming to strengthen legal frameworks against perpetrators of malicious acts targeting peacekeepers.

More about the news

• It represents the ‘political will’ of member states, particularly troop and police contributing countries, to champion the implementation of provisions of UNSC Resolution 2589.
• The GOF comprises 40 member states, with India, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco, and Nepal serving as co-chairs.
• Objectives and functions of the GOF include promoting accountability for all acts of violence against UN peacekeepers, providing capacity building and technical assistance to host state authorities, and serving as an informal platform at the UN for information exchange, sharing best practices, and resource mobilization.
• It monitors progress on bringing accountability for crimes against peacekeepers and convenes two member meetings annually, along with organizing one event per year involving Permanent Missions and other stakeholders to advance the plan and enhance safety and security for peacekeepers.
• India’s role in UN peacekeeping is significant, with a history of being one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations since 1950, when it first committed troops in Korea.
• Indian troops have demonstrated professional excellence in supervising complex peace operations, with over 250,000 Indian troops serving in 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions to date.
• Currently, India stands as the second-largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping, with 5,506 personnel deployed in nine missions, showcasing its continued commitment to global peace and security efforts.