Nepal becomes top female troops contributor to peacekeeping missions

KATHMANDU: Nepal has become the top contributor of female peacekeepers to United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Organizing a press meet in Kathmandu on Thursday, the Nepal Army headquarters said the army has so far deployed 2,707 female soldiers to peacekeeping missions. Currently, 674 female soldiers, including military observers and staff officers, are participating in different peacekeeping missions.

Rwanda comes second with 605 female peacekeepers, followed by Bangladesh with 471, Ghana with 466, Tanzania with 182 and Indonesia with 180 female peacekeepers.

According to the Nepal Army, Nepal also ranks first in terms of overall troop contribution to UN peacekeeping missions. Currently, 5,916 Nepali peacekeepers are deployed in 11 peacekeeping missions worldwide.

Nepal became a member of the United Nations in December 1955 and has been sending peacekeeping troops since June 13, 1958.