Group of Friends (GoF) at the UN Headquarters:
India reiterated its strong commitment to ensuring justice for crimes against UN peacekeepers at a high-level meeting of the Group of Friends (GoF) at the UN Headquarters, calling accountability a strategic necessity.
- It is An informal platform of UN member states committed to advancing justice for crimes against UN peacekeepers and strengthening global peacekeeping norms.
- Launched In december 2022, during India’s Presidency of the UN Security Council.
- It Includes around 40 UN member states, co-chaired by India and like-minded countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
- Objectives:
- Promote legal and policy frameworks to prosecute crimes against peacekeepers.
- Ensure deterrence by addressing impunity.
- Uphold credibility and integrity of UN Peacekeeping Operations.
- Key Functions:
- Facilitate dialogue among states, UN bodies, and experts.
- Support investigation mechanisms and legal reforms.
- Track implementation of UNSC Resolution 2589 (2021) which mandates accountability for attacks on peacekeepers.
- Advocate for reports from the UN Secretary-General on progress made.
