Governments and civil society organizations have so far submitted more than 60 contributions to an examination process mandated by the Pact for the futureagreed by the Member States last year.
The UN has an 80 -year inheritance which includes the deployment of multidimensional peacekeeping operations which combine the police, troops and civil staff; Special political missions have engaged in conflict prevention, peace creation and peacebuilding and electoral support initiatives.
“A rescue buoy for millions”
Peacekeeping is the most important and visible activity in the field, with more than 60,000 men and women from 115 countries currently used with 11 missions around the world.
“” Peacekeeping is not a luxury; It is a life buoy for millions of people counting on it for a future without fear, ” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, general under-secretary for peace operations.
He warned that today, “the realization of sustainable political solutions seems increasingly difficult”. Last year, 61 active conflicts raged on the planet, according to the UPPSala conflict data program, based in Sweden – the greatest number since 1946.
“Conflicts have become prolonged, involving more players and often proxy forces, which makes the solutions negotiated more difficult to achieve,” he said, indicating that the future will likely see more civilians who will need protection.
“This means that the need for peace operations increases, potentially alongside other types of operations, including the application of peace,” he added, and that “deployment contexts can be more uncertain and complete success more difficult to achieve. »»
Reactive and adaptable
Mr. Lacroix said that the future requires “a UN that is capable and ready to respond through adaptable missions and adapted to field needs, guided by strong political strategies and by taking advantage of the tools, capacities and expertise” of the UN and the partners.
Peace operations must first have “clear and hierarchical mandates” which should also reflect the voice of host states, troops and countries contributory to the police, regional actors, local communities and other stakeholders.
He called to exploit “the capacities of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to support data analysis as well as to assess the effectiveness of our responses over time.”
In addition, the continuation of political solutions to conflicts should remain a priority, in addition to the protection of civilians, supporting the strengthening of the government’s responsibility.
The promotion and protection of human rights and the advancement of the women’s, peace and security program must also have priority.
In addition, “the efforts supported and without compromise to maintain the zero tolerance policy of the UN Secretary General at sea (sexual exploitation and abuse)” must continue.
Crucial political solutions
Mr. Lacroix pointed out that if “the ability of the UN to deliver the imperative to protect people is very often the reference by which we are judged”, ” Peacekeeping is not supposed to be undefined.
“To advance the sustainable political solutions that allow peacekeeping to withdraw without relapse in the conflict requires the strong, unified and continuous support of this council-by the adoption of clear and priority mandates, active political commitment and statements of support,” he said.
These actions must be twinned by countries which continue to pay the contributions they owe to the UN “in full and in time”, he added.
New “industrial -scale” technology “
Rosemary Dicarlo, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs and Peace Consoleration, also commented on the current difficult environment.
She said that “Conflicts have become more internationalized», With the influence of regional or global actors. Meanwhile, non -state armed groups continue to proliferate, many using terrorist tactics without a clear political program.
“New technologies, from AI to drones, are armed on an industrial scale, increasing both the lethality of violence and the probability of climbing. And transnational engines, such as organized crime, are now a regular facet of the conflict landscape, “she said.
Change the landscape
To inform the examination, his office has analyzed the history of the “special political missions” of the UN since the establishment of the organization, identifying three priorities.
She noted that Most missions today are deployed in the absence of a complete peace agreement and often in politically volatile situationsEven the current civil war.
“In such situations, the initial objectives of our missions should be more limited-such as the prevention of a deterioration of violence, the realization of a cease-fire or the help of a fragile peace process to start,” she said.
The second priority should be to improve coordination between peace operations and UN country teams, while the third is to end the mandates that try to provide a unique approach.
Ms. Di Carlo concluded by emphasizing how the failure or low implementation of mandates is often linked to the lack of political support, whether in countries where missions are deployed, or the region in the broad sense, or among Security advice members themselves.
“” We will therefore need to engage with a laser emphasis on the radiation of political questions at the heart of each conflict and to find multilateral answers to them“She said.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
