Over 2 million women and men from 124 countries have served in peacekeeping missions. That’s the equivalent of the populations of Greenland and the Cayman Islands, or the cities of Hasselt, Noisy-le Grand, and Esbjerg. They’ve made an untold number of contributions to our shared security and helped to make the world a more peaceful place.
Research shows that peacekeeping operations are effective at lowering battle-related and civilian deaths. They also encourage the signing and implementation of peace agreements. And when complemented by political missions – special political missions or good offices engagements – they can have even greater impact.
But peacekeeping is not without its challenges. Conflicting interests among belligerents and local people are often at play, complicating peace operations. And the security concerns of troop-contributing countries can weigh heavily on decisions. For example, the United States’ aversion to risk and the profound political and strategic implications of American peacekeeper casualties places unique constraints on its engagements.
Peacekeeping missions are typically established by the Security Council, under its Chapter VII powers, or through regional organizations and coalitions of willing countries. They usually involve military troops under operational control of the UN. But in some cases, the Security Council authorizes a “private company” or other entity to carry out peacekeeping tasks.
Many peacekeeping missions face significant challenges, including insecurity and weak governance. And there are growing concerns about the way they’re managed. For example, in Mali and Congo, a lack of trust has hampered the ability of MINUSMA and MONUSCO to stabilise war-affected regions and protect civilians. In addition, some peacekeepers are accused of not being robust enough in tackling armed groups.