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| United Nations Peacekeeping | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Website | peacekeeping |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-chief | António Guterres |
| Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations | Jean-Pierre Lacroix |
| Personnel | |
| Active personnel | 81,820 total[1] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | $6.7 billion |
| Related articles | |
| History | United Nations peacekeeping missions |
Peacekeeping by the United Nations is a role of the UN's Department of Peace Operations as an "instrument developed by the organization as a way to help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace".[2] It is distinguished from peacebuilding, peacemaking, and peace enforcement although the United Nations does acknowledge that all activities are "mutually reinforcing" and that overlap between them is frequent in practice.[3]
Peacekeepers monitor and observe peace processes in post-conflict areas and assist ex-combatants in implementing the peace agreements they may have signed. Such assistance comes in many forms, including separating former combatants, confidence-building measures, power-sharing arrangements, electoral assistance, strengthening the rule of law, and economic and social development. Accordingly, UN peacekeepers (often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets) can include soldiers, police officers, and civilian personnel.
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security.[4] Most of these operations are established and implemented by the United Nations itself, with troops obeying UN operational control. In these cases, peacekeepers remain members of their respective armed forces, and do not constitute an independent "UN army", as the UN does not have such a force. In cases where direct UN involvement is not considered appropriate or feasible, the Council authorizes regional organizations such as NATO,[4] the Economic Community of West African States, or coalitions of willing countries to perform peacekeeping or peace-enforcement tasks.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix is the Head of the Department of Peace Operations; he took over from the former Under-Secretary-General Hervé Ladsous on 1 April 2017. Since 1997, all directors have been French. DPKO's highest level doctrine document, entitled "United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Principles and Guidelines" was issued in 2008.[5]
- ^ "Contributors to UN Peacekeeping Operations by Country and Post Police, UN Military Experts on Mission, Staff Officers and Troops" (PDF), United Nations, 31 August 2020, archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2020
- ^ "United Nations Peacekeeping". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Peace and Security". United Nations. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
- ^ a b Nau, Henry (2015). Perspectives on International Relations. Washington DC: CQ Press. pp. 252. ISBN 978-1-4522-4148-7.
- ^ "DPKO Capstone Doctrine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2011-07-16.