Background: UN peacekeeping operations
1.What is the UN peacekeeping operation
The United Nations peacekeeping operation is generally defined
as UN presence in the field (normally including military and civilian personnel)
with the consent of the parties involved in situations of conflict. It is aimed
to implement (or monitor the implementation of) arrangements relating to the
control of conflicts (cease-fires, separation of forces etc.), to the resolution
of conflicts (partial or comprehensive) and to protect the delivery of
humanitarian relief.
The term peacekeeping is not found in the UN Charter. From the
first deployment of military observers in the UN Truce Supervision Organization
(UNTSO) in 1948, UN peacekeeping has evolved to meet the unique demands of
sharply different conflicts in a changing political landscape.
One of the main incentives behind the development of UN
peacekeeping was the Cold War. During the Cold War era, the superpowers had an
interest in bringing to an end proxy wars before they were themselves dragged
into direct confrontation. Thus, peacekeeping tended to be limited to preserving
an agreed truce between opposing parties while alternative mechanisms were used
to address a conflict's underlying issues.
It is generally placed between traditional methods of
resolving disputes peacefully, such as mediation and fact-finding (Chapter VI)
and more forceful action, such as embargo and military intervention (Chapter
VII)
2.Forms of peacekeeping operations
UN peacekeeping operations have normally fallen into two broad
categories: .UN peacekeeping operations directly led by the UN Secretary-General
and peacekeeping operations sanctioned by the Security Council, authorized by
the Secretary-General and mandated by a regional organization and major nations.
The former includes: 1)military observer missions composed of
relatively small numbers of unarmed officers, charged with such tasks as
monitoring cease-fires, verifying troop withdrawals, or patrolling borders on
demilitarized zones; 2)peacekeeping forces composed of national contingents of
troops, deployed to carry out tasks similar to those of military observers and,
often, to act as a buffer between hostile parties.
The later includes: 1) the multinational forces; 2) the
humanitarian intervention forces.
3.To whom UN peacekeeping operations are responsible
Article 24 of Chapter V of the UN Charter states: in order to
ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its members confer on
the Security Council's primary responsibility for the maintenance of
international peace and security. In carrying out its duties under this
responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf. Based on this
statement, the Security Council is responsible for the establishment of
peacekeeping forces. Any action in a peacekeeping operation is subject to a veto
by any of the permanent members of the Security Council -- China, France, Russia
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America.
Peacekeepers in any peacekeeping operation need not take a
loyalty oath to UN. The government of their nations have ultimate rights over
them. UN peacekeepers wear uniforms of their nations. However, in order to show
their identity as peacekeepers, they wear blue helmets or blue berets and UN
badges.
4.How are peacekeepers compensated? 8.
UN member states may volunteer personnel, equipment, supplies
or other support for a peacekeeping mission. Countries providing these essential
elements are reimbursed from the mission budget at agreed rates. Military and
civilian police in peacekeeping operations remain members of their own national
establishments but serve under the operational control of the United Nations and
are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the exclusively
international character of their mission.
The salary of a peacekeeper is determined by his or her
government. UN pays about US$1,000 every month for each peacekeeper to his or
her government.
5.UN Peacekeeping Standby Arrangements
The Standby Arrangement System is based upon commitments by UN
members states to contribute specified resources within agreed response time for
United Nations peacekeeping operations.
To ensure that forces be expeditiously organized and rapidly
deployed, the preferred response times given as guidelines to contributing
member states are as follows:Grade 1: 90 days, Grade 2: 60 days, and Grade 3: 30
days
The People's Republic of China decided to assign non-battle
troops to take part in the Grade 1 Standby Arrangement System in January 2002.
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