TRAINING OF PEACE-KEEPING PERSONNEL ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS WOMEN AND CHILDREN 'EXTREMELY IMPORTANT', SPECIAL COMMITTEE TOLD

11 April 1997

Press Release
GA/PK/148

TRAINING OF PEACE-KEEPING PERSONNEL ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS WOMEN AND CHILDREN 'EXTREMELY IMPORTANT', SPECIAL COMMITTEE TOLD

19970411 As It Concludes General Debate, Committee Also Hears Call For 'Innovative Approach' to Ensure Viability of UN Peace-keeping Capacity

Adequate training of civilian and military peace-keeping personnel on their overall responsibilities to women and children was extremely important, a representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) told the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations as it concluded its general debate this afternoon.

Speaking also on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he said that in six out of 12 country case studies prepared for the United Nations report on the impact of armed conflict on children, the arrival of peace-keeping troops was associated with a rapid rise in child prostitution. While many factors contributed to the sexual exploitation of children, the most significant were the level of discipline among the peace- keeping personnel, the enforcement of standards of conduct, and the training, age, earnings and tradition of impunity with a particular regiment.

The representative of Japan said that an innovative approach to peace- keeping was urgently needed to ensure the viability of the peace-keeping capacity of the United Nations. He called on the Committee to review and discuss the following issues: the formation of a group of like-minded countries to assist United Nations activities at an early stage; the cooperation of countries in the region of peace-keeping operations with the possibility of providing equipment and covering the cost for training; strengthening rapid deployment capability; and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

The representative of Nepal said the Committee's deliberations must focus on the broader policy issues and guidelines aimed at improving the Secretary-General's capacity to launch, direct, support and sustain peace- keeping operations as mandated by the Security Council. It must also aim at strengthening the reform and restructuring exercise set into motion at the Department of Peace-keeping Operations.

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Echoing the concern of a number of other speakers this afternoon, the representative of New Zealand said troop-contributing countries, especially those who were not members of the Security Council, must be consulted during the planning and decision-making process associated with peace-keeping.

Several other speakers cited the need for the Committee to give attention to cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. The representative of the Russian Federation said tasks and duties should be divided between the United Nations and regional arrangements and organizations, while keeping intact the main responsibility of the Security Council for international peace and security.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Jordan, Argentina, Republic of Korea, Belarus, Kenya, Peru, Ecuador, Iran, Algeria and Malaysia. The observer for Switzerland also spoke.

The working group of the Committee will meet at 10 a.m. on 14 April.

Special Committee Work Programme

The Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations met this afternoon to continue its general debate on all aspects of those operations. Under the mandate entrusted to it by General Assembly resolution 51/136 of 13 December 1996, the Committee was also to review the implementation of its previous proposals and consider new proposals so as to enhance the capacity of the United Nations to fulfil its peace-keeping responsibilities. (For background information, see Press Release GA/PK/145 of 10 April.)

Statements

NARENDRA BIKRAM SHAH (Nepal) said balanced and informed judgement should be the hallmark of the Committee in carrying out its mandated responsibilities. The Committee should not be perceived as having tried to tread into areas of responsibility that fall distinctly within the domain of the Department of Peace-keeping Operations. The Committee's deliberations must focus on the broader policy issues and guidelines aimed at improving the Secretary-General's capacity to launch, direct, support and sustain peace- keeping operations as mandated by the Security Council. It must also aim at strengthening the reform and restructuring exercise set into motion at the Department.

He went on to say that, regarding the enhancement of the capacity for peace-keeping, the Committee could not lose sight of the importance of the system of stand-by arrangements, which enabled the United Nations to launch peace-keeping operations effectively and on time. His delegation welcomed the steady development of that arrangement, to which an increasing number of countries were pledging resources.

He was also happy to see progress achieved by the Secretariat towards the establishment of a Rapidly Deployable Mission Headquarters (RDMHQ), he continued. The RDMHQ team would be composed of personnel skilled in military and civilian functions, with a view to overcoming the difficulties in the speedy deployment of peace-keeping missions. The development of that arrangement should take into account the views of Member States. The establishment of a trust fund was also a welcomed development. Member States which were in a position to do so should contribute to that fund so that the arrangement would become operational, until such time as funding from the peace-keeping support account became possible.

HISASHI OWADA (Japan) said an innovative approach to peace-keeping was urgently needed to ensure the viability of the Organization's peace-keeping capacity. His country pledged its best endeavour to reshape and reorganize a new paradigm for peace-keeping operations which could function as an effective means for the prevention and resolution of the conflict in a new international environment. The possibility of deploying multinational forces that were

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appropriately mandated and properly organized could lay the groundwork for the dispatch of full-fledged peace-keeping operations.

He called on the Committee to review and discuss the following issues: the formation of a group of like-minded countries and friends to assist United Nations activities at an early stage; the cooperation of countries in the region of peace-keeping operations with the possibility of covering the cost for training personnel and providing equipment; strengthening rapid deployment capability; and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

The Committee should also give attention to cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, he said. Such cooperation should include training programmes and information sharing. Demining in the context of peace-keeping should also be studied. Such study could cover the possibility of creating rapidly deployable demining units following the review of the demining experience of past peace-keeping operations.

Prince ZEID RA'AD ZEID AL-HUSSEIN (Jordan) said the time was right for the Secretariat to establish properly understood and improved procedures for the selection of senior commanders for field positions. The Committee should recommend to the General Assembly that the Secretariat, and in particular the Secretary-General, should examine the possibility of establishing a panel of peace-keeping experts which would convene to interview candidates and then advise the Secretary-General on their suitability to lead peace-keepers in today's operations.

He said he hoped the Committee would also be able to make specific recommendations regarding the necessity to standardize death and disability compensations. That subject was one of the issues where the work of the Committee and that of the General Assembly's Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) overlapped. He hoped a coordinating mechanism would be developed between the two Committees.

He said there was still room for progress in the exchange of information between the Security Council and troop-contributing countries by institutionalizing the consultation process. The process of consultation should also include countries from the region concerned which were affected by the crisis. There was also a need for further clarification or a review of some aspects of the new system of reimbursement for contingent-owned equipment. That revision should be easy to justify given that one of the main motives for the new system was the need for simplicity and a streamlining of procedures.

MICHAEL POWLES (New Zealand) said now was the time to look at including the Lessons Learned Unit in the core establishment of the Department of Peace- keeping Operations, with regular budget rather than trust fund financing. Like every section of the Department, it was critical to the effective

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implementation of peace-keeping mandates. His delegation was disappointed that the Department was still under-resourced despite the Secretary-General's repeated proposals for extra permanent staff. By addressing the staffing issue up-front, concerns over the current emotive issue of gratis personnel would be alleviated. However, the possibility of seeking voluntary contributions of specialized personnel from governments on a temporary and exceptional basis should be kept open.

New Zealand, like other troop-contributing nations, stressed that those nations must be actively consulted during the planning and decision-making process associated with peace-keeping, he continued. Such consultation was of fundamental importance for countries who were not members of the Security Council when considering possible contributions to new missions and adjustments and extensions to existing missions. To a large extent, the institutionalization of regular meetings of troop contributors with the Secretariat and Security Council members had helped to bridge those needs, but there was still further work to be done in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Secretariat and Security Council in planning, deploying and managing peace-keeping operations. One innovation would be for the Security Council to receive military advice, before action on a peace support operation was taken, in the presence of potential troop contributors.

He went on to say that there was also a need to broaden and refine the United Nations stand-by arrangement concept to improve rapid deployment capacity. Logistics and strategic lift capability were a key component of the United Nations capacity to deploy quickly. Follow-on logistics requirements during sustainment and termination of a mission were equally important. The development and adoption of an integrated logistic concept was worthy of support by the Committee. Such a study would require detailed investigation, perhaps by an ad hoc working group of technical experts. New Zealand would be willing to participate in examining such a concept at the strategic level as a basis for further consideration by the Committee and the General Assembly.

FERNANDO ENRIQUE PETRELLA (Argentina) said United Nations peace-keeping activities were an irreplaceable tool for the preservation of international peace and security. The United Nations must cope with the needs of the international community and the challenges to international security. The requirements to achieve that security had greatly expanded. The traditional concept of peace-keeping had changed to ensure that the United Nations would acquire and retain the ability to react to conflict.

He said the Council must have available to it the views of all Member States. That could be achieved only through transparency in its deliberations. The lack of access to Secretariat and Secretary-General reports made it difficult for those who had to make decisions within their capital without a clear view of what was happening. In that context, dialogue with regional organizations was extremely helpful.

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He supported the use of preventive diplomacy. Bearing in mind that conflicts were developing more quickly, the United Nations could not remain inactive in the face of the suffering of innocent civilians. Regarding the security of United Nations personnel, he said that Argentina had been the tenth State to ratify the convention negotiated in New York on the matter. He urged Member States to sign and ratify that important text.

PARK SOO GIL (Republic of Korea) said a more stable staffing arrangement of the Department of Peace-keeping Operations would enhance its efficiency and the consistency and professionalism of its operations. Any personnel changes should be guided by the aim of recruiting the best expertise available and safeguarding equitable geographical representation. Decision- making powers within each peace-keeping operation should be delegated, as much as possible, to the commanders in the field. When the situation changed rapidly on the ground, field commanders should not be entangled in excessive red tape lest their resources be wasted and their peace-keepers placed in unnecessary danger. Nor should they be required to seek clearance for every minute, inconsequential detail of day-to-day logistic operations. "The lives of the 'blue helmets' should not be steered into jeopardy by too much back- seat driving by New York", he said.

Emphasis should be placed on preventive action in United Nations peace- keeping, he said. Expanding the United Nations stand-by resources would enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of peace-keeping operations. Coordinating stand-by resources required top-of-the-line technology and computer hardware. With that in mind, the Republic of Korea had donated to the Department of Peace-keeping Operations five advance personal computers complete with monitors and printers.

His Government strongly supported the creation of the RDMHQ and welcomed the Secretary-General's decision to proceed with establishing a skeleton version of the headquarters in the Secretariat. The establishment of the RDMHQ should focus on geographical representation, transparency and the methods of funding. He encouraged Member States to provide voluntary contributions to support that arrangement.

ALYAKSANDR SYCHOU (Belarus) said the successful execution of peace- keeping operations mandates was largely dependent on how fully the conduct of such operations was in compliance with the fundamental provisions of the United Nations Charter. Those provisions included such basic principles of peace as keeping the consent of the conflicting parties to the deployment and conduct of missions; impartiality; the non-use of force, except for self- defence; and the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity of States and non-interference in domestic affairs. It was of paramount importance that those principles were applied to all missions in a non- discriminatory and uniform fashion.

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He went on to say that his delegation believed that peace-keeping operations were not a preferable means of conflict management and that they should be used for preventing explosive situations from further escalation when ways to peacefully settle disputes had long since been explored. Member States should strive to ensure that peace-keeping operations were conducted most effectively and achieved their important humanitarian and political objectives with minimal expenditures and within the shortest possible time- frame.

The timely establishment of peace-keeping operations following Security Council decisions might save thousands of lives, prevent a collapse of State institutions and a breakdown of law and order, he continued. In that context, the issue of enhancement of the United Nations potential to rapidly deploy peace-keeping operations acquired particular significance. His delegation noted with satisfaction that current efforts of the Secretariat to further develop and improve the stand-by arrangement system were being undertaken precisely along those lines. Belarus also supported the practice of the Secretariat convening regular briefings for Member States on the status of development of such system.

YURI FEDOTOV (Russian Federation) said peace-keeping mandates must be absolutely clear and based upon adequate human, organizational, material, and financial resources and in full compliance with definite criteria and principles. In the past, however, there had been attempts to stretch interpretations of a number of mandates, especially in regard to the use of force, which had led to negative consequences. The concept of preventive action needed additional study. The experience of the operation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia had highlighted the need to define more clearly an exit strategy, as well as principles of a timely reconfiguration of the operation after the situation had changed. Military observers and necessary civilian personnel, rather than military contingents, should make up the main part of the strength of preventive operations. The Special Committee was a convenient format for a collective expert study of the preventive deployment concept.

He went on to endorse the idea of the more active involvement of regional arrangements in the preventive diplomacy sphere and, when appropriate, peace-keeping. That concept had particular significance to his country in light of the growing cooperation between the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The peace-keeping efforts undertaken by the Commonwealth partners in conflict zones in CIS territory tangibly contributed to the stabilization of the regional situation. However, the issue of financial support by the international community to peace-keeping efforts in the CIS remained acute. Furthermore, it was imperative to divide tasks and duties between the United Nations and the regional arrangements and organizations while keeping intact the main responsibility of the Security Council for international peace and security. Military actions by regional

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arrangements were only admissible when sanctioned by the Council and carried out in strict compliance with universally accepted peace-keeping operation principles.

He said his country was willing to contribute to the establishment of a Rapidly Deployable Mission Headquarters at the Secretariat. It was clearly necessary to complete a comprehensive reform of the scale of assessments for peace-keeping operations which would truly reflect States' current economic situation and their ability to pay, he added.

NJUGUNA M. MAHUGU (Kenya) said that United Nations peace-keeping operations exemplified the political commitment of Member States to the concept of collective security. Kenya strongly urged a reduction in the use of gratis military officers, who were loaned officers, usually from developed countries, who were placed in planning, logistics, financial and political posts. Kenya urged the geographical distribution of posts and transparency and accountability in assignments.

He welcomed the establishment of stand-by arrangements and the formation of the RDMHQ, and believed that the operation should be funded from the regular budget and the peace-keeping support account. Kenya would also like to see a uniform scale of compensation for death and disability. The current method seemed to favour peace-keepers who came from developed countries. When the United Nations cooperated with regional organizations, it should be done in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter, he said. As far as possible, the Organization should work with the regional organizations.

General LUIS SALAZAR-MONROE (Peru) said the recent decision of the General Assembly, as well as the outcome whereby the Committee had increased its membership, showed its willingness to increase transparency in the interest of international peace and security. His delegation also welcomed the consultations between the Security Council and troop-contributing countries. The meetings must occur more frequently, however, in order to enhance transparency and increase participation in the decision-making process. The Committee must also emphasize the constructive action that it had recently taken, such as a code of conduct for peace-keeping personnel, in an articulate fashion among the various organs and bodies of the United Nations system.

The work of the Lessons Learned United should be continued and expanded, he said. The issue of loaned personnel should be viewed against the backdrop of responsibility, efficiency and transparency. The Department of Peace- keeping Operations should be given the personnel necessary to undertake the activities of its mandate, but the financial crisis should not be used as an excuse for the use of those personnel. The Committee should consider why there was not wider participation of all Member States in peace-keeping operations. A larger number of members would increase the representation and

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legitimacy of the decisions and actions of the United Nations. The Committee had ahead of it a considerable job, and his delegation trusted that the current session would conclude with useful and practical recommendations.

OLIVIER F. DESARZENS, observer for Switzerland, said efforts to ensure the security and safety of peace-keeping missions must be intensified and he welcomed the efforts of the Security Council in that area. He favoured the concept of contributions in the area of preventive diplomacy. Preventive deployment should inspire a new generation of peace-keeping deployment.

He called for special priority to be accorded to demining, human rights and the rights of minorities. Peace-keeping efforts must be carried out on a continuing and lasting basis. He welcomed the growing participation by regional and multinational organizations in peace-keeping efforts.

He said that while Switzerland could not make an armed contingent available, that did not affect its commitment to providing unarmed personnel -- medical, air support and logistics personnel to pursue and enhance the involvement of staff on the ground. He attached great importance to the strengthening of voluntary contributions.

Also, he said, the campaign on the total ban on anti-personnel land- mines must be intensified. Coordination between humanitarian efforts, development, and peace and security was important to the achievement of their respective goals.

EMILIO IZQUIERDO (Ecuador) said his Government believed that participation in the Special Committee was an obligation of Member States and that it was a right to participate in the debate and solutions of conflicts that threaten international peace and security. Dialogue and negotiations were essential elements in the solution of international disputes and such solutions could be achieved most expeditiously when they went hand-in-hand with the assistance of countries in the affected region. It was also important to enhance the practice of consulting troop-contributing countries before a peace-keeping operation had started. The practice should be formalized to ensure that it was carried out in all cases.

Regarding peace-keeping principles, he said that they must respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference on internal affairs, impartiality, refraining from use of force, and consent of parties involved. His Government was also concerned by employment of loaned personnel, which seemed to be in large numbers in the Department of Peace-keeping Operations. That practice adversely affected impartiality and geographic distribution and the principle of representation which was needed in all departments of the United Nations. It should no longer be used as a temporary fix because of the Organization's financial crisis, which could be

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resolved very quickly if all Member States paid their assessments in full, on time and without conditions.

MEHDI DANESH-YAZDI (Iran) said peace-keeping operations should never be regarded as a substitute for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Those operations should strictly observe the principles and purpose enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, particularly principles of full respect for the sovereign equality of States, their territorial integrity and non-interference in their internal affairs.

Peace-keeping operations should be of a non-intrusive and non- interventionist nature, he continued. The lessons learned from past experiences clearly indicated that impartiality, the consent of the parties concerned and the non-use of force were among the key elements for any successful United Nations peace-keeping operation. Peace-keeping operations were different from other types of United Nations field operations and activities, such as post-conflict peace-building and development activities, which fell within the purview of the General Assembly, he added.

The financial crisis of the Organization had affected various aspects of the United Nations peace-keeping operations, including the practice of granting license to a State or a group of States to operate on behalf of the United Nations, he said. Recently, the practice of employing loaned officers in the Department of Peace-keeping Operations had caused an imbalance between the Department's personnel funded by the United Nations regular budget and loaned officers funded directly by governments which provided them. The employment of a large number of loaned and gratis personnel was contrary to the spirit of the Charter and the Staff Regulations of the Organization. Of great concern was the attitude of some countries which were exerting strong pressure to reduce resources of the United Nations, and at the same time, supported recourse to gratis personnel.

NACERDINE SAI (Algeria) said that while it might appear that the United Nations was acting on behalf of the Organization as a whole, the real decision-making power was held by a limited number of States. There must be a true association of the countries involved in peace-keeping operations in all their aspects. He called for the strengthening of consultations between the Council and those involved in peace-keeping organizations. The consultations should also be expanded to include those countries where the peace-keeping activities were taking place.

He said the Committee should also focus on reacting promptly to the need for a peace-keeping operation being launched and the urgency of correcting the United Nations financial crisis due to the failure of certain countries to live up to their obligations, with special reference to the permanent members of the Security Council. The United Nations must assume its responsibility to

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troop-contributing countries. He also supported a uniform standardization of compensation for death and disability to peace-keeping personnel.

Algeria had always supported the United Nations with regard to paying its dues and providing contingents as well as material and logistics, he said. It was also a member of the machinery set up by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to resolve conflicts on the continent.

HASMY BIN AGAM (Malaysia) said his Government was concerned over prolonged delays in the reimbursement of troop contributors. He urged the Secretary-General to accord high priority to the early settlement of pending claims and to ensure that all reimbursements were paid in a timely manner. He was also concerned by the increased dependency on personnel loaned by Member States. Out of a total strength of 139 military personnel, 121 were loaned personnel. He called on the Secretariat to review the present Department of Peace-keeping Operations' establishment with a view to phasing out gratis military officers.

He supported the setting up of a RDMHQ and stated that the Committee should be consulted and given the opportunity to discuss as well as to make decisions on matters before they were finalized. The process of selection should be made in a more transparent manner with clear and acceptable guidelines and criteria in order to avoid misconception once a final decision was made.

He said his Government would like to see uniform criteria compensation in the cases of death and injury. Under no circumstances should there be discrimination on the issue of due compensation to troops from the developing countries. Member States, rich or poor, were serving the United Nations in preserving international peace and security. There should be no discrimination in awarding compensation. He also regretted that the awarding of contracts for procurement of goods and services for peace-keeping had been selective with high proportions going to certain countries. There should be greater transparency in the awarding of contracts and priority should be given to procurement in services of equivalent standard and price from developing countries, particularly those who contributed troops.

NIGEL FISHER, Director, Office of Emergency Programmes of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), also speaking on behalf of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), presented a number of observations regarding the situation of children with respect to peace-keeping operations. He stressed that Member States and United Nations bodies and organizations had been called upon to treat children in situations of armed conflict as a priority concern in field operations and country programmes. In all actions to resolve conflicts or to implement peace agreements, child- specific concerns should be given clear and constant consideration. The

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UNICEF and UNHCR recommended that the protection of children be considered in peace-keeping and demobilization mandates.

When taking up issues such as demobilization, he said the very special situation of child soldiers could be considered. Peace agreements and peace- keeping mandates should incorporate provisions for the demobilization of children. Measures to promote children's recovery and social reintegration should include measures such as education, vocational opportunities and life skills development. Priority should be given to concluding the drafting process of a new optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to prohibit the recruitment and participation of children below the age of 18 in armed conflicts. He also underlined the importance of demining activities in the context of peace-keeping, as land-mines represented a particular threat to children.

Concerning the sexual exploitation of children, he emphasized that in six out of 12 country studies prepared for the United Nations report on the impact of armed conflict on children, the arrival of peace-keeping troops was associated with a rapid rise in child prostitution. While many factors contributed to the sexual exploitation of children, the most significant was the level of discipline among the peace-keeping personnel, the enforcement of standards of conduct and the training, age, earnings and tradition of impunity with a particular regiment. Adequate training of civilian and military peace- keeping personnel on their overall responsibilities to women and children was extremely important.

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