ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening women’s participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth felicitated women military officers from ASEAN nations participating in the ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course (UNWMOC) at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
The interaction, held on August 13, brought together 11 women military officers from ASEAN countries along with Indian women officers undergoing the specialised course. General Dhiraj Seth acknowledged their commitment and contribution towards enhancing the participation of women in international peacekeeping missions.
The programme, being conducted by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK), New Delhi, from August 10 to August 21, 2026, is designed to provide pre-deployment training to military officers preparing for responsibilities associated with UN Peacekeeping Missions.
ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course 2026: Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course (UNWMOC) |
| Organised by | Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) |
| Venue | Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi |
| Course Dates | August 10–21, 2026 |
| ASEAN Participants | 11 Women Military Officers |
| Indian Participants | Indian Women Military Officers |
| Main Objective | UN Peacekeeping Pre-Deployment Training |
| Key Focus | Women’s Participation in UN Peacekeeping |
| COAS Interaction | General Dhiraj Seth |
| Broader Focus | Defence Cooperation and Capacity Building |
| India-ASEAN Link | 3rd India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, 2025 |
General Dhiraj Seth Interacts with ASEAN and Indian Women Officers
During his interaction with the participants, General Dhiraj Seth met the 11 women officers from ASEAN nations as well as Indian women officers taking part in the course.
The Army Chief recognised their professional commitment and contribution towards strengthening the role of women in UN Peacekeeping Operations. The interaction also highlighted the importance of greater participation of women military personnel in international peace and security missions.
The programme provides an opportunity for participating officers to develop a better understanding of the operational and professional requirements associated with multinational UN peacekeeping assignments.
What is the ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course?
The ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course (UNWMOC) is a specialised training programme designed to prepare women military officers for potential responsibilities in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.
The current course is being conducted at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi from August 10 to 21, 2026 by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping. It provides pre-deployment training and aims to equip participating officers with knowledge and skills relevant to operating in a UN peacekeeping environment.
The course also functions as a platform for Indian and ASEAN officers to exchange professional experiences, develop mutual understanding and strengthen military-to-military cooperation.
Why Women’s Participation in UN Peacekeeping Matters
Women military personnel have an increasingly important role to play in international peacekeeping. UN missions frequently operate in complex environments involving military security, civilian protection, humanitarian concerns and engagement with local communities.
Greater participation of women officers can contribute to more inclusive approaches to peacekeeping and community engagement.
The UNWMOC therefore has significance beyond conventional military training. It brings together gender inclusion, peacekeeping preparedness, leadership development and international defence cooperation within a single programme.
India’s Ministry of Defence has also highlighted the expanding role of women in the Indian Armed Forces, including their presence in leadership and operational positions.
11 ASEAN Women Officers Join the Training
One of the major highlights of the 2026 programme is the participation of 11 women officers from ASEAN nations alongside Indian women military officers.
Bringing officers from different countries together creates an environment for professional interaction and experience-sharing. Such programmes can help participants understand different military practices while developing a common perspective on UN peacekeeping responsibilities.
The interaction between ASEAN and Indian officers also strengthens institutional connections between the participating armed forces.
India-ASEAN Defence Cooperation Gets a Boost
The UNWMOC is also significant from the perspective of India-ASEAN Defence Cooperation.
The initiative was announced by the Raksha Mantri at the 3rd India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) held in Kuala Lumpur in 2025. The programme therefore forms part of a wider effort to enhance regional cooperation and capacity building between India and ASEAN member states.
India and ASEAN have been expanding cooperation across several areas, including defence, maritime security, military training, capacity building and professional exchanges.
The UNWMOC adds a specialised women-focused dimension to this broader defence relationship.
CUNPK’s Role in UN Peacekeeping Training
The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi plays an important role in preparing personnel for UN peacekeeping-related responsibilities.
Through specialised courses such as the UNWMOC, military officers can gain exposure to the requirements of multinational peacekeeping environments before possible deployment.
The current programme therefore combines practical training with international professional engagement.
Manekshaw Centre Hosts the Specialised Course
The Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, is hosting the ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course from August 10 to 21.
The venue provides an appropriate setting for professional military training and interaction among officers from different countries.
The participation of ASEAN officers in a course conducted in India also provides an opportunity to strengthen familiarity with Indian military institutions and build professional networks with their Indian counterparts.
Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Peace and Security
The programme comes at a time when women’s participation in the defence sector is expanding.
In India, women officers have increasingly taken on diverse professional and operational responsibilities. The Ministry of Defence has noted the significant growth in the number of women officers in the Armed Forces and their expanding presence in leadership and operational roles.
International training programmes such as UNWMOC can further contribute to this development by exposing women military officers to multinational operational environments and peacekeeping responsibilities.
Building Professional Networks Between India and ASEAN
Another important outcome of the course is the opportunity to develop professional networks among military officers.
Military cooperation is not limited to formal agreements or joint exercises. Personal interaction, shared training and professional experience can also contribute significantly to long-term defence relationships.
The participation of ASEAN officers alongside Indian officers allows participants to exchange experiences and develop a better understanding of each other’s military institutions and approaches to peacekeeping.
UN Peacekeeping: A Shared International Responsibility
United Nations Peacekeeping Missions involve military and civilian personnel from different countries working together under a common international framework.
For participating officers, such assignments can involve working in unfamiliar geographical, cultural and operational environments.
Pre-deployment training is therefore important because officers need to understand the specific responsibilities and professional expectations associated with UN missions.
The UNWMOC seeks to address this requirement while giving particular attention to strengthening the role of women in peacekeeping.
India’s Commitment to Women in Peacekeeping
The current initiative demonstrates India’s stated commitment to enhancing women’s participation in international peacekeeping operations.
By hosting women officers from ASEAN nations and providing them specialised training, India is combining its experience in UN peacekeeping with its broader engagement with Southeast Asian partners.
The programme also reflects India’s approach of using capacity building and training cooperation as important components of defence diplomacy.
India-ASEAN Defence Partnership and Regional Cooperation
ASEAN is an important partner for India in the Indo-Pacific region. Defence cooperation with ASEAN member states includes a range of activities such as military exercises, training, exchanges and capacity building.
The UNWMOC contributes to this relationship by focusing on a specialised area—women’s participation in international peace and security operations.
Such initiatives can help strengthen mutual trust and institutional relationships among participating countries.
Women Military Officers and the Future of Peacekeeping
The role of women in international peacekeeping is expected to remain an important area of focus.
Modern peacekeeping requires military personnel to combine traditional security responsibilities with communication, community engagement and sensitivity to complex social environments.
Women military officers can contribute to these missions through their professional expertise, leadership and engagement with local populations.
The ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course provides a structured environment for developing these capabilities before deployment.
A Significant Step for Defence Cooperation
The current programme can therefore be viewed from two interconnected perspectives.
First, it is a specialised military training programme designed to prepare officers for UN peacekeeping responsibilities.
Second, it is an international defence cooperation initiative connecting India and ASEAN through military education, professional exchange and capacity building.
General Dhiraj Seth’s interaction with the participants brought these two dimensions together by recognising both their professional preparation and their contribution to the wider objective of increasing women’s participation in UN peacekeeping.
What Makes UNWMOC 2026 Important?
The 2026 course is significant because it brings together several important objectives:
- Pre-deployment training for UN Peacekeeping Missions.
- Greater participation of women military officers in peacekeeping.
- Professional interaction between Indian and ASEAN officers.
- Strengthening of India-ASEAN Defence Cooperation.
- Regional capacity building.
- Development of professional military networks.
- Promotion of women’s leadership in international peace and security.
- Sharing of operational knowledge and experiences.
Conclusion
The ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course 2026 represents an important development in India’s efforts to strengthen women’s participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and deepen defence cooperation with ASEAN countries.
Conducted by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi from August 10 to 21, 2026, the programme brings together 11 women military officers from ASEAN nations and Indian women officers for specialised pre-deployment training.
The felicitation and interaction by COAS General Dhiraj Seth on August 13 further highlighted the professional contribution of these officers and the importance of greater representation of women in international peacekeeping.
The initiative also carries a broader diplomatic significance. Announced at the 3rd India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, it reflects India’s commitment to Defence Cooperation, Regional Capacity Building and Women’s Participation in UN Peacekeeping.
As India and ASEAN continue to strengthen their defence partnership, initiatives such as UNWMOC can play an important role in developing professional capabilities, building institutional trust and promoting greater participation of women in international peace and security operations.