India has strongly condemned the use of sexual violence as a tool of war, terrorism, torture and political repression, warning that such crimes continue to be committed amid a widespread culture of impunity.

Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) on Thursday, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador P Harish, called for collective international action following a sharp increase in verified cases in 2025. He also highlighted the role of Indian women peacekeepers in preventing sexual violence and announced that two Indian officers would receive a UN recognition certificate for their efforts.

India Calls For Collective Action Against Sexual Violence

Ambassador Harish said the findings of the UN Secretary-General’s report on conflict-related sexual violence demonstrated the urgent need for member states to collectively address the issue.

“Today’s open debate is on a subject that warrants collective deliberation by member states, particularly in the wake of findings of the UNSG’s report on conflict-related sexual violence that corroborates a sharp increase in verified cases in 2025 and the extreme brutality involved,” Harish said.

He said sexual violence continued to be used to target communities, silence dissent and inflict suffering during conflicts.

“Sexual violence continues to be used as a means of war, of terrorism, torture, and political repression to subjugate communities, suppress dissent, and inflict human suffering. This continues amid a thriving culture of impunity. We strongly condemn such heinous acts,” the Indian envoy said.

India Highlights Impact Of Women Peacekeepers

Harish said India’s experience had demonstrated that deploying women peacekeepers could have a transformative impact in addressing conflict-related sexual violence.

He cited India’s deployment of the first all-women formed police unit of the United Nations to Liberia in 2007 as an example of the role women peacekeepers could play in preventing violence and rebuilding trust.

“In India’s experience, deployment of women peacekeepers is a proven measure with transformative impact in addressing CRSV. The first-ever all-women formed police unit of the UN deployed by India to Liberia in 2007 was instrumental in creating an environment for addressing criminality, deterring sexual and gender-based violence, and in helping to rebuild safety and confidence among people,” Harish said.

The Indian envoy added that the unique perspective brought by women peacekeepers strengthened systems aimed at deterring conflict-related sexual violence.

Two Indian Peacekeepers To Receive UN Recognition

Harish announced that Indian peacekeepers Major Moiz Yassin and Major Sonia Devendra Navaskar would receive the 2026 UN Secretary-General’s Military Gender Advocate of the Year Recognition Certificate for their efforts to prevent conflict-related sexual violence.

Major Moiz Yassin, who served as a force ombudsperson and welfare officer in UNMIS, established an accessible, confidential and victim-centred channel for informal grievance reporting.

According to Harish, she conducted more than 40 tailored sessions involving troop and police-contributing countries and military observers and established a force gender database to support evidence-based, gender-responsive planning.

“In this context, I’d like to highlight the contribution of Major Moiz Yassin, who as force ombudsperson and welfare officer in UNMIS built an accessible, confidential, and victim-centred channel for informal grievance reporting,” Harish said.

Indian Officers Continue Legacy Of Award-Winning Peacekeepers

Major Sonia Devendra Navaskar served as the focal point for uniformed women and as a member of the UNMIS Gender Task Force.

Harish said she contributed to intelligence and planning functions aimed at preventing conflict-related sexual violence, developed UNPOL-military best practice networks and engaged with the host country on gender-related issues.

“I’m happy to report that both Major Moiz Yassin and Major Sonia are being awarded the 2026 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Recognition Certificate by the UN Secretary General for their remarkable efforts,” Harish said.

The two officers follow Indian peacekeepers who received similar recognition in 2019, 2024 and 2025, the envoy added.

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