Peacekeeping
The UN’s capacity to implement peacekeeping operations has been a central strand of its work to maintain international peace and security since 1948. Since 2000, UN peacekeeping has undergone significant reform, in large part owing to the publication and implementation of the Brahimi Panel Report (2000) (pdf 244kb), which was commissioned by the UN Secretary-General after failures in UN peacekeeping during the 1990’s. This process of reform is ongoing. The UN established its Peacekeeping 2010 agenda (pdf 401kb) to build on the Brahimi recommendations. To continue to meet the challenges of managing complex peacekeeping operations in the 21st century the UN is reviewing the way it does peacekeeping through its ongoing ‘New Horizons Project’.
The UN currently directs and supports sixteen peacekeeping operations in different parts of the world, comprising 113,318 troops, police, military observers and civilian personnel. “Traditional” peacekeeping missions, for instance where the UN has monitored a ceasefire between two states, are now the exception. A typical modern peacekeeping mission is likely to be mandated to maintain a fragile peace within a country, help establish security, and protect civilians from ongoing armed conflict, monitor incidents and work with a transitional government and the international community to train police, restore justice and the rule of law, carry out disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programmes, monitor human rights and initiate elections. Never before have UN peacekeeping missions faced such a broad and challenging agenda.
UN peacekeeping missions are mandated by the Security Council and established and sustained by the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and
Department of Field Support (DFS), in partnership with many other actors within and outside the UN system. In recent years, the UN has often partnered regional organisations such as the African Union or European Union at various stages over the life of a peacekeeping mission, in order to exploit their complimentary capacities. In addition to the DPKO/DFS-led peacekeeping missions, the UN also deploys personnel to peacebuilding and political missions in other parts of the world.
The UK and France launched an initiative in January 2009 to improve the way in which the UN Security Council mandates and reviews increasingly complex and diverse UN peacekeeping operations. Amongst other elements it includes enhancing coordination with countries that contribute civilians, police, and troops to UN peacekeeping operations, to ensure that their experience and concerns are more fully taken onboard.
The UK revisited this work by holding a thematic debate during our Presidency of the Security Council. For further information please see our paper on Peacekeeping, read our statement and listen to the interview.
On 11 November 2009, the UN Security Council held an open debate to discuss the importance of protecting civilians in armed conflict. The UK represented by Baroness Taylor, UK Minister for International Defence and Security. Protecting civilians is a vital task of UN peacekeepers, often done in extremely difficult circumstances and at considerable risk to their own safety. For more information, please read the concept paper for the debate and the statement made by Baroness Taylor.
UK policy
Other links
MINUSTAH Peacekeepers Distribute School Supplies to Children