The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has granted approval for India’s proposal to establish a memorial wall at the United Nations Headquarters, dedicated to honouring fallen peacekeepers. The resolution received overwhelming support from nearly 190 countries, marking a remarkable achievement for India’s initiative.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed their appreciation for the approval. The Prime Minister took to Twitter to thank the countries for their support, stating, “Delighted that the Resolution to establish a new Memorial Wall for fallen Peacekeepers, piloted by India, has been adopted in the UN General Assembly. The Resolution received a record 190 co-sponsorships. Grateful for everyone’s support.”
Jaishankar also conveyed his gratitude to all member states who co-sponsored the resolution, emphasising that the overwhelming number of co-sponsorships reflects the faith in India’s contributions and intentions. The adoption of the resolution coincided with Prime Minister Modi’s forthcoming official state visit to the United States and his participation in the International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters on June 21.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, presented the draft resolution titled ‘Memorial wall for fallen United Nations peacekeepers’ in the UN General Assembly Hall on Wednesday, and it was unanimously adopted.
The resolution welcomed the initiative of member states to “establish at a suitable and prominent place at United Nations Headquarters in New York a memorial wall to honor the memory of fallen peacekeepers, giving due consideration to the modalities involved, including the recording of the names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice.”
During the introduction of the resolution, Kamboj highlighted that the memorial wall would serve as a testament to the UN’s recognition of the importance of peacekeeping. She emphasized that it would not only commemorate the sacrifices of the fallen but also serve as a “constant reminder of the cost of our decisions.”
India is the third-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, with over 6,000 military and police personnel deployed across various missions worldwide. Indian peacekeepers have made significant sacrifices, with 177 personnel having lost their lives, the highest number among all troop-contributing countries.