UN Peacekeeping

Published on 02 Dec 2024

UN peacekeepers play a crucial role by offering security, political guidance, and peacebuilding support to facilitate countries in their challenging transition from conflict to peace. The foundation of UN Peacekeeping rests on three fundamental principles: obtaining the consent of involved parties, maintaining impartiality, and refraining from the use of force unless in self-defence or defence of the mandate. Over the last two decades, UN Peacekeeping has demonstrated flexibility, adapting to various configurations. Currently, there are 12 UN peacekeeping operations active across three continents.

India's Pioneering Role in UN Peacekeeping

• Historic Commitment:  India, an original founder-member of the United Nations, has a proud history of UN peacekeeping dating back to the 1950s.

• Example: In 1950, India deployed the Parachute Field Ambulance of the Indian Army to provide medical support to U.S./South Korea and UN forces involved in the Korean War.

• Remarkable Contribution: The UN lauds India's outstanding contribution, emphasizing that describing it as remarkable would be an understatement.

• Example: India has contributed over 200,000 troops, the largest contingent from any country, serving in 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.

• Women’s Leadership: India pioneers gender equality in peacekeeping.

• Example: India was the first state to deploy an all-female formed police unit to the UNPKO in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2007.

• Training: India actively contributes to training the force.

• Example: India established a training centre in Delhi under the Centre for UN Peacekeeping, 

• Humanitarian Support: India has actively supported the peacekeeper's safety and upkeep.

• Example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, India demonstrates solidarity by gifting 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to UN peacekeepers serving across all UN missions.

• Technological Innovation: India has been developing tech innovation to enhance their effectiveness in the line of duty.

• Example: 'UNITE AWARE' mobile tech platform.

Challenges Faced by Peacekeepers

• Shift in Armed Conflict Nature

• Intrastate conflict: Transition from interstate to intrastate conflicts.

• Example: Syrian Civil War

• Armed groups participation: Engagement with armed groups using terrorist tactics.

• Example: Boko Haram in Africa

• Organized Crime: Nexus with organized crime and unregulated spread of advanced weaponry.

• Example: Illicit arms trade in conflict zones

• Peacekeepers as Direct Targets

• Targeted attacks: Increasing vulnerability of peacekeepers to targeted attacks.

• Example: Mali attacks on UN peacekeepers

• Rising assaults: Frequent assaults highlight the daily risks undertaken by peacekeeping personnel.

• Example: Attacks in South Sudan

• Difficulty in Achieving Political Resolutions

• Vague path: Prolonged conflicts with elusive political solutions.

• Example: Yemen conflict

• Exit strategies: Closure of missions without robust political agreements and clear exit strategies.

• Example: UNOCI and UNMIL closures

• Comprehensive Mandates

• Complex missions: Extensive responsibilities given to peacekeeping missions.

• Example: MINUSMA in Mali

• Partnership challenge: Challenges in regional partnerships often lack the required political impact.

• Example: Challenges in addressing conflicts in the Middle East.

• Performance Issues in Peacekeeping

• Poor organization: Necessity for well-structured, equipped, and trained forces.

• Unaccountability: Accountability for misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse.

• Example: In the early 2000s, peacekeeping in the DRC became notorious for allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse.

• Constraints on Freedom of Movement

• Slow response: Hindrance to swift responses on the ground.

• Example: Challenges faced during conflict in South Sudan

• Poor diplomatic practices: Undermines safety and security by blocking essential supplies.

Way Forward

• Multidisciplinary Approach: A sound exit policy for peacekeepers and asserts that peacekeeping missions cannot be a long-term response to fundamentally political problems.

• Next Generation Reforms: Adaptation of abilities to meet emerging realities and move from individual activism to collective action for institutionalizing efforts.

• Institutionalizing Cooperation: Institutionalizing an approach where all key actors, especially Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), are consistently involved in decision-making.

• Incentivizing Women Peacekeepers: Calls for further incentivizing women peacekeepers and prioritizing the deployment of women units.

• Innovative Capacity Building: Encourage innovative options like co-deployment of peacekeepers from different countries to foster a genuine spirit of partnership for peace.

• Online Initiatives for Future Leaders: Advocate for the expansion of online initiatives to develop the capacities of future commanders and managers.

For 75 years, UN Peacekeeping has been one of the most important tools for mitigating conflict and promoting peace and security around the globe. A comprehensive approach, including troop-contributor involvement, incentivizing women peacekeepers, technological integration, and a reassessment of peacekeeping's role in political issues, is essential for the continuous improvement of UN Peacekeeping.

Tags:
Polity

Keywords:
UN Peacekeeping UNPKO UNITE AWARE UNOCI UNMIL MINUSMA Troop Contributing Countries UN united nations