Dangerous Peacekeeping Deployment Areas Demand Adherence to Founding Principles, Focus on Performance, Impartiality, Special Committee Told as Session Opens
Over the past year, the United Nations’ 120,000 peacekeepers had carried out their work in “highly fragile” conditions — from asymmetric attacks in Mali to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa — laying bare the need for the Organization’s flagship enterprise to be adequately equipped for changing security realities, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations heard today, as it opened its 2015 session.
As this year marked the Special Committee’s fiftieth anniversary, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, in opening remarks, said peacekeepers’ “demanding” responsibilities continued to expand — from promoting inclusive governance and early peacebuilding, to helping reform national security sectors and protect civilians. Serving those in need required a focus on performance. Missions needed sufficient troops and equipment, while dialogue among partners was critical for achieving unity of purpose. Cooperation with regional organizations and the Security Council, as well as among troop- and police-contributors, must be a priority.
He said charting the future path called for reflection and analysis. The Special Committee, an indispensable forum for cooperation, provided expertise in determining the tools to address the complex challenges ahead. Without its support, United Nations peacekeeping would not be able to carry out its life-saving mission. “You are, in fact, setting the course for the future,” he said.
Along similar lines, Sam Kutesa (Uganda), General Assembly President, said the 2015 session was taking place amid a critical review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture. The Special Committee must be at the forefront of reform by taking forward the outcomes of that process. Indeed, peacekeeping operations had grown in size and relevance. Missions had shifted away from their traditional roles — in monitoring peace agreements, for example — to more multidimensional tasks. Safety policies should be enhanced to ensure better protection from new and emerging threats. Also stressing the need for better cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, he said the Assembly would convene high-level debate on that topic on 4 May.
Joy Ogwu (Nigeria), Chair of the Special Committee, said the 147-member subsidiary body had an “essential, creative and vital” role to play by making conceptual and practical contributions to the development of peacekeeping. Several reforms had been initiated over the years, from the Brahimi Report to the New Horizon agenda to the High-level Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations established by the Secretary-General. She urged delegates to use their inherent authority in providing policy guidance and offering recommendations on future directions. Peacekeeping was a collective task, she said, urging that resources be pooled to ensure a peaceful global environment.
In the ensuing general debate, delegates agreed that peacekeepers were being asked to take on formidable tasks in increasingly unsafe environments, with the representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina stressing that 42 per cent of peacekeeping deployment areas had been ranked “substantially,” “highly” or “extremely” dangerous, as of 31 July 2014. The nature of conflict was changing, speakers said, which, in turn, had prompted the Security Council to expand the reach of certain mandates.
In that light, many said, the views of police- and troop-contributing countries must be more fully considered, with Ecuador’s delegate, on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, stressing that timely reimbursements for those key partners was urgently needed. Missions — from the start — should be provided with political support, as well as human, financial and logistical resources, and clearly defined mandates.
Others underscored the need to adhere to peacekeeping’s basic principles — consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self-defence or in mandate fulfilment — especially regarding mandates created on an ad hoc or exceptional basis. Several pointed to the Force Intervention Brigade in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), authorized by the Council in 2013, expressing concern that its creation already had compromised the United Nations’ impartiality.
In that context, the Minister and Military Advisor of Thailand, on behalf of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), said the shift towards “proactive” peacekeeping had taken place in the absence of doctrinal debate, requiring review of its legal implications.
The representative of Pakistan stressed that peacekeeping was fundamentally different from peace enforcement. Steps agreed on an exceptional basis, such as the Force Intervention Brigade, should remain an exception. Further, operational and legal questions over the use of new technologies, including questions concerning State sovereignty and data confidentiality, must be addressed.
More broadly, India’s representative said humanitarian and development actors, not military troops, should provide expertise to strengthen the rule of law, security-sector reform, democratic processes and other core government functions. The Special Committee should call for segregating traditional peacekeeping functions from those activities.
Indonesia’s representative cautioned that, without an inclusive peace process on the ground, peacekeepers could only do so much. Mandates must clarify their role in civilian protection, while the local dynamic must be better understood.
In other business today, the Special Committee established a Working Group of the Whole, which would submit recommendations for inclusion in the Special Committee’s report to the Assembly, designating Michael Grant (Canada) as Working Group Chair. It also approved its work programme for the 2015 session.
Also speaking in the debate were the representatives of Morocco (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement), New Zealand (also on behalf of Canada and Australia), Switzerland, China, Georgia, Jamaica, Guatemala, Peru, Norway, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Malawi, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Ghana, as well as the representative of the European Union.
The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations will reconvene at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 18 February, to continue its session.
Statements
OMAR HILALE (Morocco), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said all partners must work in good faith to conclude the current session successfully. He stressed the important role of police- and troop-contributing countries in policy formulation and decision-making to achieve the aspired peacekeeping partnerships. It was no longer sustainable for those countries to subsidize peacekeeping operations. Key issues such as safety and security, civilian protection, rule of law and the enhancement of African peacekeeping capabilities were a priority for the Movement. Peacekeeping operations should not be used to manage conflicts or as an alternative to address their root causes. He looked forward to discussing the findings of the High-level Panel’s review.
He said that policy development in peacekeeping must be accompanied by the necessary resources to guarantee the effective implementation of peacekeeping mandates. Also, all missions should strictly observe the principles of the Charter. The consent of the parties, non-use of force except in self-defence, sovereign equality, political independence and territorial integrity must be upheld. Only ideas and approaches adopted by consensus should be implemented, and the Secretariat should refrain from working on policy streams that had not been agreed in an intergovernmental process.
Peacekeeping mandates, he went on, should not be changed without prior consultation with troop-contributing countries. Additionally, he called for strong, clear Council commitments to draft clear, achievable mandates, and effective triangular cooperation between troop-contributing countries, the Secretariat and the Security Council. Further consultations with Member States were needed on the ways and means to protect peacekeeping missions from safety breaches. He called for bolstered support for the African Union’s peacekeeping operations and continued extensive consultations on implementation of the global field support strategy.
PHILLIP TAULA (New Zealand), also speaking on behalf of Canada and Australia, said the High-level Panel’s conclusions must be consistent and complementary with the review of the peacekeeping architecture, the global study on implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and the post-2015 development agenda. He was deeply concerned by the rise in attacks directed at peacekeepers from improvised explosive devices, rockets and grenades. According to the Secretary-General’s report, targeted hostile attacks against the United Nations doubled from 2013 to 2014. The Organization must take the necessary steps to ensure that peacekeepers had the requisite support and capabilities — from training to equipment to field support — in order to protect themselves and defend their mandates. He welcomed the creation of the rapid reaction capacity as well as efforts to counter the growing threat of improvised explosive devices, and the force protection efforts to improve the capacity of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in that regard.
He urged the Secretariat and Member States to implement Council resolution 2185 (2014) on United Nations policing and for the Secretariat to provide clear guidance and training to the police components in their civilian protection role. Steps to protect women and children should be combined with early warning capabilities and close cooperation with the host Government to enable timely, effective civilian protection. He supported the introduction and enforcement of the transparent standard and performance mechanism, and urged the Secretariat to provide adequate, permanent resources for the Protection of Civilians Coordination Unit within the conceptual framework of civilian protection of the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support. The Secretariat should take a more comprehensive, detailed approach to its response to the latest report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations.
ORGROB AMARACHGUL, Minister and Military Advisor of Thailand, speaking on behalf of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), said the outcomes of this year’s three reviews — the High-level Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations; the Global Study on the Implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security; and the 2015 review of the peacebuilding architecture — should be mutually reinforcing. He condemned all violence against United Nations peacekeeping personnel, stressing that perpetrators must be held accountable. Collective efforts were needed to enhance both situational awareness and counter-asymmetric attack capabilities.
Citing the principles of consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self-defence or in mandate fulfilment, he said the shift towards “proactive” peacekeeping had taken place in the absence of doctrinal debate, requiring review of the legal implications. Peacekeeping and peacebuilding must be viewed in the context of conflict prevention, management and resolution. He encouraged engagement among host Governments, missions and the Peacebuilding Commission. On United Nations cooperation with regional organizations, he urged that a predictable and flexible funding mechanism be put in place and that both logistical support and training be provided.
Speaking next in his national capacity, he said Thai military and police personnel had served in more than 20 missions. Respect for human rights and local values were an important part of their pre-deployment training. Noting the importance of women in all stages of the peace process, he said they should be supported to play a more significant role in negotiation and mediation. Thailand was committed to contributing more female peacekeepers and gender experts.
XAVIER LASSO MENDOZA (Ecuador), speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, urged observance of the Charter principles when carrying out mandates or extending them — respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, as well as the peacekeeping principles of consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self-defence or defence of the mandate when establishing. Missions — from the start — should be provided with political support, as well as human, financial and logistical resources, and clearly defined mandates. Clear exit strategies were also needed, as were timely reimbursements to troop- and police-contributors.
Calling the Special Committee’s report an important instrument for strengthening peacekeeping partnerships, he underlined the need for that body’s stronger interaction with the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) and the Secretariat. That was important in the context of complex ad-hoc developments, such as the establishment of a Force Intervention Brigade in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). He urged the Council to consider the views of troop- and police-contributors in policy drafting and decision-making, including for deployment. He recognized the supportive role of peacekeeping missions in civilian protection, reiterating the Community’s commitment to a zero tolerance policy for peacekeepers on sexual abuse. He advocated adequate planning for a responsible transition of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), as well as close contact with troop- and police-contributors in that work.
THOMAS MAYR-HARTING, Head of the European Union Delegation, said the protection of civilians remained one of the crucial dimensions of peacekeeping. Past failures and successes must serve as lessons for the future, he said, suggesting a further focus on clear, concise and achievable civilian protection mandates. Operations also needed to be equipped with tools to address both the root causes of crises and their most visible consequences. While the minimum use of force was highly desirable, that should never impede peacekeepers’ protection of civilians, he said, adding that different threat levels must be met with appropriate and commensurate use of force.
He said accountability was crucial in cases where international efforts failed and atrocity crimes had been committed. Given recent targeted attacks against peacekeepers, he stressed that ensuring their safety and security was critical. Among his suggestions for further improvements, he recommended strengthening the gender aspect of operations and ensuring that children were not involved in conflicts. More broadly, better coordination was needed between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations and resources must be used more effectively and efficiently. Even the most successful operations could not replace a political process, and he stressed the importance of creating conditions for those processes to prosper. Concluding, he said it was essential for the Special Committee to be able to produce relevant and meaningful strategic guidance on operations, based on consensus.
ASOKE KUMAR MUKERJI (India) asked the Secretary-General to forward the High-level Panel’s report to the Special Committee before September. It was unclear whether the Council had fully examined the contexts in which peacekeepers operated today — which was radically different than in the past — before somewhat routinely extending mission mandates. Humanitarian and development actors, and not military troops, should provide expertise to strengthen the rule of law, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, security sector reform, democratic processes, mine action and core government functions. The Special Committee should call for segregating the roles of traditional peacekeeping functions from those activities. He was alarmed at the lack of effective Council action to address the root political causes of South Sudan’s crisis. No specific concrete action had been taken to bring those who attacked peacekeepers to justice, he said, adding that the Special Committee should request a detailed Council report on steps taken to enforce resolutions in that regard. He asked for greater legal clarity on Council resolution 2177 (2014), which had been adopted to address Ebola in the context of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). He welcomed the increase in troop reimbursements and suggested that the survey of troop-contributing countries be used again during the 2017 cycle of negotiations on the matter. He called for more transparency and information on the use of technologies in peacekeeping operations.
STEPHANIE WINET (Switzerland) said recent peacekeeper fatalities and injuries were reminders of the enormous challenges facing United Nations operations today. Safety and security remained vital and needed strong improvements, including regular evaluations and constant and open dialogue with police- and troop-contributing countries. It was also critical to end impunity for perpetrators of attacks against peacekeepers. Other areas that needed enhancing included civilian protection. As contexts grew increasingly complex, so did peacekeeping mandates, he said, underlining that “the time of settling military conflicts through military means is over”. Accompanying measures and long-term peacebuilding processes were important for post-conflict stabilization, as was addressing a range of areas, including mine action, security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants.
MUHAMMAD ANSHOR (Indonesia) said the Special Committee should offer its policy views so that peacekeeping benefitted from a common direction. Adherence to peacekeeping principles was essential. United Nations operations must be given clear mandates, equipment and resources. The notion of “use of force” required further consultations. While the MONUSCO Intervention Brigade had been seen as effective, it risked being perceived as partial, which had already undermined credibility and could harm future United Nations overtures. Without an inclusive peace process on the ground, peacekeepers could only do so much. Mandates must clarify their role in civilian protection, while the local dynamic must be better understood. Peacekeepers who had taken higher risks than others must be awarded a “risk premium”. Synergy between the High-level Independent Panel and the review of the peacebuilding architecture should enable mutually reinforcing outcomes. He urged the Special Committee to improve its working methods.
SAHEBZADA AHMED KHAN (Pakistan) noted his country’s long-standing commitment to United Nations peacekeeping, contributing about 10 per cent of all peacekeepers in the last 10 years, despite pressing security demands at home. Peacekeeping’s basic principles remained essential for success. Peacekeeping was fundamentally different from peace enforcement. Steps agreed on an exceptional basis, such as the force intervention brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, should remain an exception. Clear, precise, achievable mandates, backed by adequate resources, were critical, as was early engagement with troop- and police-contributing countries in mandate formulation. The lack of such engagement during mission renewal, transition and especially drawdown had led to planning difficulties. Rapid deployment remained a serious challenge requiring a long-term solution as inter-mission cooperation was an interim measure only. Operational and legal questions over the use of new technologies, including questions concerning State sovereignty and data confidentiality, must be addressed. The recent courageous action of Pakistani troops in the African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) was an example of robust protection of civilians amid adherence to the principle that States had the primary responsibility of protecting civilians. If one part of a peacekeeping operation used force, the whole mission risked becoming embroiled. “Some kind of differentiation” between them should be explored.
MIRSADA ČOLAKOVIĆ (Bosnia and Herzegovina) said the safety and security of United Nations military and police personnel must remain a top priority. The Department of Safety and Security had deemed that, by 31 July 2014, 42 per cent of the areas of peacekeeping deployment were substantially, highly or extremely dangerous, up from 25 per cent in December 2011. Since 2000, his country had actively participated in peacekeeping; 21 per cent of its peacekeepers were women. Pre-mission training was essential for mandate implementation and ensuring peacekeepers’ safety and security. A Peace Support Operations Training Centre had been established in Sarajevo, in line with United Nations standards. The training aimed to efficiently prepare peacekeepers to answer complex challenges in terms of civilian protection, prevention of sexual violence, civil-military cooperation and counterinsurgency, among others. Since 2003, the Centre had trained more than 5,000 peacekeepers, military and police officers, and civilians, with 75 per cent from Bosnia and Herzegovina. His country also actively exchanged experiences and lessons learned on subregional, regional and international levels.
WANG MIN (China) said peacekeeping operations should change with the times and supported the Secretary-General’s general review of them. However, the basic principles of consent of the countries concerned, neutrality and the non-use of force except for self-defence must be adhered to. Peacekeeping mandates must be clear, and when deploying them, the Council should make mandates more focused and make timely adjustments to their force and scale when appropriate. Peacekeeping operations must strictly abide by Council resolutions on civilian protection. Support for and cooperation with concerned countries also was essential. The operations should focus on strengthening capacity-building and efficiency, and coordination and communication between troop-contributing countries and the Council should be strengthened. Additionally, the operations should study ways to improve their own security systems by studying the situation on the ground and early warning systems. The African Union and other regional organizations had an important role in maintaining peace in their own regions, for which information exchange was crucial. Those also required international support. At present, there were 2,200 Chinese peacekeepers deployed in United Nations operations, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and South Sudan. For the first time, China had sent land forces and was willing to deploy more police.
GIORGI KVELASHVILI (Georgia), associating with the European Union, said peacekeeping was among the United Nations’ most important responsibilities. Highlighting the need for coordinated work among relevant United Nations agencies, he said the Department of Peacekeeping Operations should seek opportunities for using modern technologies in the provision of protection for peacekeepers. The prospect of achieving best results was higher when States pursued the transition from security recipients to security providers, notably through a holistic vision of national security that also focused on human rights and development. Georgia had participated in peace operations in the Balkans, Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan. His country represented a “special case”, having seen the “unfortunate” termination of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) in the Abkhazia region, prior to its having achieved its mandated goals, which set a dangerous precedent. That mission had design flaws to be avoided in the future, he added.
COURTENAY RATTRAY (Jamaica), stressing the importance of effective, integrated mission planning and coordination, said mandates could be tailored or adjusted based on the situation on the ground. Exit strategies should evolve and be kept in step with national capacities of host countries. He condemned all attacks against United Nations peacekeepers, noting that in the past two years deliberate hostile attacks had nearly doubled. Jamaica was extremely worried by that trend and called for innovative strategies to ensure their drastic reduction. Peacekeepers’ safety and security must remain a priority, and peacekeepers must be adequately trained in the pre-deployment phase and fully equipped to operate effectively and safely. Regarding civilian protection measures, he welcomed innovations used by MONUSCO to help safeguard local populations. Still, concerns remained regarding mandates that included the use of force. He welcomed the decision to renew the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti to 15 October 2015, stressing that the Mission’s gradual transition should be linked to stronger institutions and progress towards lasting stability.
MÓNICA BOLAÑOS PÉREZ (Guatemala), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, said the Special Committee was the only forum for deep analysis of peacekeeping policies. Charter-based principles should be observed, and missions must have clear, verifiable mandates tailored to each situation; implementation should address significant shortfalls in capacity, resources and training. Cooperation among the Security Council, Secretariat and troop- and police-contributors was essential. The latter group should be consulted at all stages. The use of force should always be a last resort, with actions reviewed by the Special Committee. She expressed concern that mandates could include the deployment of Intervention Brigades, as the United Nations could be seen as partial to a conflict party, which could impact humanitarian activities. The fight against impunity should be part and parcel of peacekeeping operations. All measures must be taken to reduce attacks against United Nations forces, she said, underscoring host nations’ responsibility in that regard. The use of modern technologies must adhere to the principles for maintaining peace. Their use for offensive action must adhere to international humanitarian law, while the related legal, operational and financial aspects must be determined.
GUSTAVO MEZA-CUADRA (Peru) said the High-level Panel’s final report should be framed within the context of the guiding principles of peacekeeping operations. Any proposed modifications to creating, monitoring and implementing mandates must be agreed in the Special Committee. When creating peacekeeping operations, the Charter principles, including consent of the parties involved, impartiality and the non-use of force except for self-defence, must be adhered to. Impartiality was critical for peacekeeping’s legitimacy and the security and safety of peacekeeping personnel. He recognized the accomplishments of the Force Intervention Brigade within MONUSCO, but said it must not be considered a precedent for authorizing offensive actions or mandates that imposed peace. He supported the Secretary-General’s zero tolerance policy and strongly condemned inappropriate conduct by United Nations personnel against civilians, particularly sexual abuse of women and children. He endorsed additional steps to tackle such behaviour and called for steps to severely sanction offenders. Uniformed personnel must have greater access to training, doctrine and new technology. Financial resources for peacekeeping operations must be increased. He supported the inclusion of a gender perspective in mandates and of women in the conflict-resolution process.
HALVOR SÆTRE (Norway) said he shared the Secretary-General’s grave concern about the escalating levels of violence against peacekeepers and the increasingly volatile environment in which they operated. Norway looked forward to engaging with members of the High-level Independent Panel on ways of ensuring that peace operations remained strong and effective. There was a need for quality reforms of United Nations peace operations and a stronger emphasis on making use of all the capacities available in the Organization. Missions must be more proactive in implementing protection mandates, and best use should be made of technology and innovation. The logistics system should be revised to meet the operational needs of current and future operations, he said, adding that effective peacekeeping depended on women’s inclusion. Partnerships with regional organizations were crucial and continued efforts were needed to clarify roles and provide predictable financing for African Union missions. The United Nations should also engage more actively with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to strengthen its capacity to deal with new threat environments.
ANTONIO DE AGUIAR PATRIOTA (Brazil) called for a reinforcement of the Special Committee’s capacity to formulate policy, noting that his country had deployed personnel in more than 50 missions since 1948. Diplomacy, dialogue, prevention and peacebuilding were essential. Peacekeeping should contribute to sustainable peace by operating in the context of stabilization efforts that involved a broad array of peacebuilding steps. Efforts should be matched by those to stem weapons flows to conflict parties. Brazil favoured an integrated approach to mandate creation, and urged improvement in peacekeepers’ understanding of what was expected of them. In that connection he supported scenario-based training, especially vis-à-vis conflict-related sexual violence. New challenges were due, in part, to deployment to volatile situations where peacekeeping might not be appropriate. Troop- and police-contributors must be included in pre-deployment decision-making. Mandate design and implementation should consider the needs of civilians and include prevention and non-military efforts, such as early warning work and mediation. Brazil supported the introduction of advanced technological assets, provided that they did not compete for scarce resources that negatively impacted contingent size. “Stagnant” budgets were not in line with the creation of multidimensional mandates; better correlation was needed. The credibility of United Nations peacekeeping depended on the positive outcome of the Special Committee’s debates.
ANTONIO DE AGUIAR PATRIOTA (Mexico) noted the importance of the findings in the Secretary-General’s report and the High-level Panel’s recommendations to improve the Organization’s peacekeeping architecture. The Secretariat and the Council must maintain regular consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries, particularly prior to extending mandates; those countries must be involved in any policy design or modification. Additionally, mandate changes must strictly comply with the Charter. Recently, Mexico had announced that it would participate in peacekeeping operations and provide them with humanitarian support. During an intense preparatory phase, the Mexican armed forces had set up a road map to gradually phase in the country’s involvement. Initially, Mexico would send individual teams of officers, general staff and military observers. It would look at existing opportunities and work closely with the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support in that regard.
HUSSEIN HANIFF (Malaysia), associating with the Non-aligned Movement, said it was vital to ensure that the Special Committee was able to produce relevant and meaningful strategic guidance. Missions had gone through many changes and the need to address new challenges and evolving threats must be recognized. The safety and security of peacekeepers remained an important aspect, as the looming crises in various parts of the world demanded international attention. Modernization of equipment was crucial and the Secretariat’s continued efforts in leveraging the use of new technologies were commendable. As 10 of 16 peacekeeping missions were mandated with protection of civilians, there was a need to take stock of the lessons learned. More work must be done in defining a framework for civilian protection. Peacekeepers and civilian personnel must be trained through a common module prior to deployment, which should include substantial elements on religion and cultural sensitivities of the local people.
BRIAN BOWLER (Malawi) said the focus of United Nations mandates was now on protection of civilians and significant attention had been paid to developing a conceptual framework and comprehensive strategies. However, peacekeeping operations faced innumerable implementation challenges. Mandates should be simple and clear. The idea of non-use of force except in self-defence was no longer workable as it led peacekeepers to focus more on their own safety in the event of mass atrocities than on that of civilians. Malawi joined other troop contributing countries in noting with disapproval delays in reimbursements for contingent-owned equipment. His country had taken steps to address serious misconduct allegations and holding perpetrators accountable, while providing mandatory training on conduct and discipline as a component of pre-deployment and in-mission induction.
ANTHONY BOSAH (Nigeria) said that the ultimate goal must be to create resilience by identifying the conditions for peace operations that will effectively meet the challenges of current and future ones. It was a global concern that civilians were often deliberate targets during armed conflicts and were frequently subjected to rights abuse. While the protection of civilians had become an integral part of United Nations peacekeeping, more needed to be done to address the vulnerable populations. In that respect, missions must collaborate with local communities, and with the majority of peacekeeping missions located in Africa, improved institutional collaboration was needed between the United Nations and the African Union. “In the face of the new challenges in conflicts, what is required now is not a stereotypical peacekeeping force but tailor-made forces equipped with modern technology,” he added.
TEKEDA ALEMU (Ethiopia), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement, stressed the need to review peacekeeping in a pragmatic, flexible way, drawing lessons from past experiences and taking into account current realities. Members of the High-level Panel had visited Addis Ababa recently. Ethiopia welcomed the holding of regional consultations to listen to Africa’s views and concerns and hoped participants would “think outside the box” and come up with appropriate recommendations to address peacekeeping’s emerging challenges. Noting the important peacekeeping role of the United Nations and, in the past decade, of regional organizations such as the African Union, he said creating a more dynamic African Union-United Nations partnership based on a flexible interpretation of Chapter VIII of the Charter was essential to overcome emerging challenges. The strength of the African Union and its regional mechanisms was in their readiness to deploy as first responders, but they needed the United Nations multidimensional support. The success of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) illustrated the merits of such collaboration. Creating division of labour based on each organization’s comparative advantages would go a long way to restoring peace and stability in Africa. Ethiopia was a major troop contributor and remained fully committed to advancing the cause of international peace and security.
SAMMY YANYI-AKOFUR (Ghana), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement, said peacekeeping today faced severe challenges because of its increasingly complex nature. The Secretary-General’s independent high-level review panel was laudable and could make use of the recommendations of the Brahimi Report, which were still very relevant. The Organization should deepen its structure and capacity by focusing more on solving the underlying causes of conflicts. Greater engagement with parties to conflicts, civil society, traditional chiefs, opinion leaders and regional bodies was needed to forge durable peace pacts. The United Nations should improve its capacity in intelligence collection through modern surveillance devices like unmanned aerial vehicles by implementing necessary parameters to assuage the legitimate fears of sovereignty of neighbouring countries. He called for better media strategies to counter false information about peacekeepers and more effective gender mainstreaming, and urged the United Nations to reconsider its refusal to pay troop-contributing countries for deaths resulting from pre-existing conditions.