UN and IT’S ROLE IN PEACE KEEPING PEACE BUILDING AND PEACE MAKING
The United Nations (UN) is a global organisation tasked with maintaining international peace and security while fostering friendly
relations among nations. It is the largest, most recognized and most powerful intergovernmental organisation in the world. The
UN was formed following the devastating World War II, with the aim of preventing future global-scale conflicts. It was a successor to the
ineffective League of Nations. The representatives of 50 governments met in San Francisco on 25 April 1945, to draft what would become
the UN Charter. The Charter was adopted on 25 June 1945 and came into effect on 24 October 1945. In accordance with the Charter, the
organization’s objectives include maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting
sustainable development, and upholding international law. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; this number grew to 193 in 2011,
representing the vast majority of the world’s sovereign states
1. General Assembly – A General Assembly is the United Nations’ principal consultative, regulatory, and representational
body. The General Assembly is the only UN institution with comprehensive membership, with all 193 UN Member States
participating.
2. The United Nations Security Council – Under the UN Charter, it has direct responsibility for maintaining peace and
security. There are fifteen representatives, with five permanent nations (The United States, USSR, France, China, and
Great Britain) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms but by National Convention on a regional
level.
3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – It is the main body in charge of development cooperation, evaluation,
discourse, and suggestions on economic, political, and environmental concerns, as well as the achievement of globally
accepted development objectives. It has members that the General Assembly chooses over three-year periods that
overlap. It is also the United Nations’ premier venue for sustainability study, discussion, and new thinking.
4. Trusteeship Council – The United Nations Charter, Chapter XIII, was created in 1945. The Trusteeship Commission of the
United Nations has authority and power over non-self-governing territories. A-League of Nations commission was a
legal recognition for specific regions that were handed from one country’s sovereignty to another after World War I or
even the legal documents that included the internationally accepted rules for governing the country under the authority
of the United nations.
5. International Court of Justice (ICJ) – The International Court of Justice seems to be the United Nations’ main legal
authority. The United Nations Charter created this in July 1945, and it commenced functioning in May 1946. The ICJ has
been the replacement for the League of Nations’ Permanent Court of Arbitration, which also was created in 1920.
6. Secretariat – The Secretary-General, with hundreds of thousands of global UN employees, makes up the Secretariat,
which carries out all the UN’s day-to-day duties as required by the General Assembly or even the Organisation’s other
primary institutions.
PEACE KEEPING
The United Nations Peacekeeping operations are policing and peacebuilding actions carried out by the UN to bring order and
stability in wartorn nations.
The UN Peacekeepers are known as ‘Blue Helmets’ or ‘Blue Berets’. Its personnel consist of soldiers and military officers, police
officers and civilian personnel from many countries.
Role of United Nations Peacekeepers
The United Nations Peacekeepers ensure that peace agreements/accords are implemented in warzones. In addition, they give
help through confidence-building measures, electoral support, improving law and order and bolstering social development that
will bring positive economic changes.
The United Nations Charter authorises the United Nations Security Council to take collective action to maintain international
peace and security. Due to this, it falls on the UN Security Council to deploy peacekeepers in order to ensure stability and
security in conflict region
Structure
The UN Peacekeeping force is supplemented by personnel from member nations. They are added to the force on a volunteer
basis. As of late about, 100,000 personnel serve in the UN Peacekeeping forces.
Among the largest individual contributors, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh top the list with 8000 units each.
Formation
When a peace treaty is signed or negotiated, the parties involved might request the United Nations to deploy a peacekeeping
force to maintain order and ensure that the elements of the agreed-upon peace treaty are implemented.
Upon the approval of a mission by the UNSC, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations makes the necessary arrangements. T
As the peacekeeping forces are being created, some behind-the-curtain-diplomatic actions are taken by the UN. The size and
strength of the force are decided upon by the government in whose territory the peacekeeping force will be deployed to. Along
with this the rules of engagement is formulated and agreed upon by the parties involved with approval from the UNSC.
When all the agreements are in place, the required personnel assembled and deployed to the region in question.
Finance
A peacekeeping mission is funded collectively by the United Nations member states, while the establishment and maintenance
of its operations are decided by the United Nations Security Council. As per the UN charter, each member is legally bound to pay
their individual share for peacekeeping.
India’s role in UN Peacekeeping
Till date India has taken part in 49 Peacekeeping missions, contributing over 180,000 troops. The Indian peacekeepers were
lauded for their role in preventing a carnage in the South Sudan Conflict in 2014.
PEACE BUILDING
The United Nations (UN) plays a critical role in peacebuilding, the multifaceted process that aims to address the root causes of
conflict and prevent its recurrence. Peacebuilding goes beyond simply stopping the fighting. While deploying peacekeepers is a
crucial element, the UN acts as a comprehensive framework for fostering long-term stability in war-torn societies. This essay will
explore the UN's multifaceted approach to peacebuilding, highlighting two key examples.
The UN's Peacebuilding Toolkit
The UN's peacebuilding efforts encompass a range of activities, broadly categorized into three phases:
Immediate Post-Conflict Actions: Following the cessation of hostilities, the UN focuses on creating a secure environment. This
can involve deploying peacekeeping missions to monitor ceasefires, facilitate dialogue between warring parties, and support the
disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants. Additionally, the UN provides humanitarian
assistance to address the immediate needs of civilians affected by the conflict.
Addressing Root Causes: While ensuring security is essential, the UN recognizes the need to tackle the underlying issues that
fueled the conflict. This can involve promoting good governance, strengthening democratic institutions, and fostering economic
development. The UN works with national and local governments to address issues such as poverty, inequality, human rights
abuses, and ethnic or religious tensions.
Sustainable Peace and Development: The ultimate goal of peacebuilding is to create conditions conducive to long-term peace
and development. The UN supports national reconciliation efforts, promotes civil society participation, and encourages regional
cooperation. Additionally, the UN works to build resilience against future shocks that could reignite conflict.
Examples of the UN in Action
Liberia: Following a brutal civil war that lasted over a decade, the UN played a pivotal role in Liberia's peacebuilding process. A
UN peacekeeping mission (UNMIL) was deployed in 2003, providing security and facilitating the disarmament of combatants.
The UN also supported the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address past grievances. Furthermore,
the UN provided assistance with elections, economic development, and capacity building for the Liberian government. While
challenges remain, Liberia has made significant strides towards lasting peace and stability.
Colombia: Colombia has been embroiled in an internal armed conflict for decades. In 2016, the Colombian government and the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a peace agreement, ending the longest-running armed conflict in the
Western Hemisphere. The UN played a key role in facilitating the negotiations and continues to monitor the implementation of
the peace agreement. This includes supporting the DDR process, promoting human rights and transitional justice, and providing
assistance with rural development programs aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict.
Conclusion
The UN's peacebuilding efforts are complex and multifaceted. While challenges remain, the organization plays a vital role in
fostering long-term stability in war-torn societies. By addressing both the immediate security needs and the underlying causes of
conflict, the UN aims to create a foundation for lasting peace and sustainable development. As the examples of Liberia and
Colombia demonstrate, the UN's commitment to peacebuilding contributes to a safer and more just world order.
PEACEMAKING
Introduction
Imagine a world free from the devastation of war, where conflicts are resolved peacefully through dialogue and
understanding. This is the dream that the United Nations (UN) strives to achieve. A central pillar of the UN's mission
is peace-making, the process of bringing warring parties together and facilitating a peaceful settlement to their
disputes.
Peace making goes beyond simply stopping a fight. It's about addressing the root causes of conflict and creating a
sustainable peace that can last. This can involve a range of activities, such as:
Mediation: A neutral third party, like the UN Secretary-General or a special envoy, acts as a bridge between
conflicting parties, guiding them towards a solution.
Facilitation: The UN provides a platform for dialogue and negotiation, creating a safe space for parties to
communicate their concerns and work towards an agreement.
Diplomacy: UN officials engage in high-level talks with national leaders, encouraging them to find peaceful solutions.
Conflict Prevention: By addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and human rights violations that can fuel conflict,
the UN aims to prevent violence from erupting in the first place.
The UN has a toolbox full of instruments to promote peace making. Here's a closer look at some key strategies:
The Security Council: This powerful body has the authority to authorize peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions on
nations that violate international law, and even greenlight military intervention as a last resort. However, Security
Council action often requires consensus among its permanent members, which can be a challenge.
The Secretary-General: The UN's chief diplomat plays a crucial role in peacemaking efforts. They can use their good
offices—their position of neutrality and respect—to broker negotiations and bring parties to the table.
Special Political Missions: The UN deploys these temporary teams to conflict zones. They work closely with local
actors, monitor ceasefires, and support dialogue and reconciliation efforts.
Peacekeeping Operations: These missions are deployed to areas where fighting has already occurred. Peacekeepers
help maintain order, protect civilians, and create a secure environment for lasting peace to take root.
Examples of UN Peacemaking in Action
The UN's peacemaking efforts have yielded success stories around the world. Here are a few:
Namibia: Through tireless mediation by the UN, Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990, ending a
decades-long conflict.
El Salvador: The UN played a key role in facilitating peace talks that led to the end of El Salvador's civil war in 1992.
Guatemala: UN-sponsored negotiations helped bring an end to Guatemala's brutal civil war in 1996.
Challenges and Looking Ahead
Despite its successes, the UN faces significant challenges in promoting peace making. These include:
Limited resources: The UN often lacks the funding and personnel needed to effectively deploy peacemaking missions
around the globe.
National sovereignty: Some countries are resistant to outside intervention in their internal affairs, even when it's
aimed at peacemaking.
Geopolitical tensions: Disagreements among major powers can hinder the Security Council's ability to take decisive
action.
However, the UN remains a vital force for peacemaking in the world today. By facilitating dialogue, promoting
diplomacy, and deploying peacekeeping missions, the UN continues to work towards a world where conflicts are
resolved peacefully and lasting peace prevails.
Conclusion
The UN's role in peace making is complex and demanding, but it is essential for maintaining global security and
stability. As the world faces new challenges, the UN's commitment to peaceful conflict resolution remains more
important than ever.
