History of UN peacekeeping operations
55 operations in 55 years
Peacekeeping operations have traditionally involved the
deployment of primarily military personnel from a number of countries under the
mandate of UN Security Council, to help control and resolve armed conflict
between hostile parties.
In June 1948, the Security Council decided to establish a
supervision organization to supervise a fragile truce in the first Arab-Israeli
war. Two weeks later, a group of 36 unarmed military observers arrived in the
Middle East as the first United Nations peacekeepers.
In the past 55 years, 59,221 individuals, including 47,095
soldiers and civilian polices, 4,060 civil servants and 8,066 local personnel,
have participated in 55 UN peacekeeping operations. So far 1,789 military and
civilian peacekeepers have been killed in peacekeeping operation and 581 died in
accidents and hostile actions.
In 1988 UN peacekeeping forces were awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize.
Basic Tasks
The UN peacekeeping operations are normally fallen into two
categories.
First, military observer missions, composed of relatively a
small number of unarmed officers, will carry out such tasks as monitoring
ceasefires, verifying troops withdrawals or execution of the related agreement.
Secondly, peacekeeping forces, armed with light weapons for
self-defense, will be deployed to carry out such tasks as ceasefire observation,
so as to ease the tension and create conditions for the settlement of disputes.
Since the late 1980s the peacekeeping operations have become
more complicated. In addition to traditional missions, such as observation of
ceasefire, they have been assigned with the tasks of organizing and supervising
elections, maintaining social order, settlement of refuges, creating safe
environment for humanitarian emergency relief, disarming the parties in
conflict, mine-sweeping operations and reconstruction of countries.
Principles and Authorization
Three important principles:
1.Agreement. Peacekeeping operations can only be carried out
under all related parties' agreement.
2.Neutrality. Peacekeeping operations are temporary measures
taken according to the UN Charter. They shouldn't violate any related parties'
rights or requirements or standpoints.
3.No force. UN peacekeeping forces have traditionally been
only lightly armed and they are only allowed to use arms for self-defense. UN
military observers and civilian police are normally unarmed.
The Security Council, not the secretary general, grants the
mandate to peacekeeping operations. According to the UN Charter the Security
Council shoulders the responsibility of maintaining international peace and
security. The Security Council shall decide the scale, the purpose and the
timetable of peacekeeping operations. The five permanent members of the Security
Council, namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States,
have veto power to any peacekeeping operation.
The Deployment of Peacekeeping Operation
The 15-member Security Council authorizes the deployment of
peacekeeping operation, and determines its mandate. Such decisions require at
least nine votes in favor and are subject to veto by any of the Council's five
permanent members. The secretary general makes recommendations on how the
operation should be carried out, and reports on its progress; the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is responsible for day-to-day execution
direction, management and logistical support for UN peacekeeping operations
worldwide.
Peacekeeping operation personnel include:
1.Lightly armed troops, which are normally divided into
battalions.
2.Unarmed military observers.
3.Engineering, medical and transportation elements.
Military observers are still members of their country's troops
while they are under the command of the UN peacekeeping operations.
United Nations Standby Arrangement System (UNSAS)
The UN set up a standby arrangement system (UNSAS) in 1994 for
peacekeeping operations. The Standby system is based upon commitments by the
member states to contribute specified resources within agreed response time for
UN peacekeeping operations.
According to pre-arrangements made through negotiations
between the United Nations and individual member states. The resources agreed
upon remain on "standby" in their home country, where necessary training is
conducted to fulfil specified task or functions in accordance with the United
Nations guidelines. When necessary, they will be rapidly deployed upon the
request of the secretary general and approved by the member states.
So far 73 countries have joined the standby system. 23 countries
are at Level 1. 12 countries are at Level 2. 38 countries are at Level 3.
China's Foreign Ministry informed the UN in February 2002 that
China agreed to join the Level 1 of UNSAS. In October 2002 the Central Military
Commission approved the establishment of Chinese standby elements for UN
peacekeeping operation. An engineering battalion of 525 members, a medical
element of 25 members and two transporting companies of 160 members are now on
standby to join UN peacekeeping operations at any time.
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