Respect human rights

United Nations (UN) wants its peacekeepers to maintain the highest standard of integrity and respect for human rights in every aspect of personal and professional conduct, a UN official said yesterday.

"The uniform that they wear has over 60 years of tradition and prestige…they must abide by the international humanitarian laws and rules," said UN Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Field Support Atul Khare.

He said the UN was concerned over the allegations of sexual exploitation on vulnerable women by certain members of UN peacekeeping missions, and making reforms to address these issues.

Atul Khare, on a three-day tour ending today, was delivering a public lecture on the "challenges of providing support to UN peace operations" at the foreign ministry's conference room in the capital.

He said the UN wants to come out of bureaucratic attitudes and enhance its efficiency in ensuring peace and security in conflict-ridden regions of the world.

Bangladesh is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, having currently deployed over 9,500 members of its armed forces and police.

Atul Khare highlighted that the UN peacekeepers need to be more accountable and efficient while its operations low cost.

He emphasised how the UN was working to promote the efficient use of water and energy and to protect the environment.

"Fifteen percent of energy required by the UN peacekeepers is being produced from solar power," Atul Khare said, adding that other measures to reduce fuel costs were also on the cards.

He urged the peacekeeper-sending countries to devise ways on how they could contribute to promoting accountability and human rights.

UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert Watkins and the foreign ministry's Maritime Affairs Unit Secretary Rear Admiral (retd) Khurshed Alam also spoke.

Later, Atul Khare called on Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at the ministry. He appreciated the role of Bangladesh's female peacekeepers and urged the major troops and police contributing countries to deploy more women at the missions.

The foreign minister observed that more Bangladeshis  deserve to be appointed at policymaking and commanding positions at both the headquarters and the field in the missions.

He also appreciated Atul Khare's suggestions on the possibility of engaging Bangladesh's business sector in providing logistics and services support to the missions.

Atul Khare requested Bangladesh to contribute further in addressing certain capability gaps in the missions.

He expressed his wish to work with the ministry in organising outreach events to build civilian capacities for the missions.