Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace.
Peacekeeping has unique strengths, including legitimacy, burden sharing, and an ability to deploy and sustain troops and police from around the globe, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to advance multidimensional mandates.
UN Peacekeepers provide security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles: Consent of the parties; Impartiality; Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.
Peacekeeping is flexible and over the past two decades has been deployed in many configurations. There are currently 11 UN peacekeeping operations deployed on three continents.
What is peacekeeping?
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/what-is-peacekeeping
UN Websites
- 75 Years of United Nations Peacekeeping: Peace Begins With Me
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/peace-begins-with-me - UN Peacekeeping: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en
- United Nations Peace Operations: https://www.unmissions.org/
- UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO): https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/department-of-peace-operations
- Department of Operational Support (DOS): https://operationalsupport.un.org/en
- Peacekeeping Operations and the Role of the General Assembly: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/role-of-general-assembly
- Peacekeeping Operations and the Role of the Security Council: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/role-of-security-council
- United Nations Peacebuilding: https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/
(includes links to the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Support Office) - UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA): https://dppa.un.org/en
- UN Special Political Missions: https://dppa.un.org/en/current-presences
- Prevention and Mediation: https://dppa.un.org/en/prevention-and-mediation
- United Nations – Our Work – Maintain International Peace and Security: https://www.un.org/en/our-work/maintain-international-peace-and-security
Research & Documentation
- United Nations Documentation – Research Guide on Peacekeeping: https://research.un.org/en/docs/peacekeeping
- Peacekeeping Resource Hub: https://peacekeepingresourcehub.un.org/en/
- Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/repertoire/thematic-items#P
- List of Newsletters, Journals & Bulletins issued by UN Peacekeeping Missions: https://unric.org/en/info-point-library/newsletters-journals-bulletins/peacekeeping-political-missions/
- UN Peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org/
UN Peacemaker is the online mediation support tool developed by the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Intended for peacemaking professionals, it includes an extensive database of peace agreements, guidance material and information on the UN’s mediation support services. UN Peacemaker is part of the UN’s overall efforts to support UN and non-UN mediation initiatives. - Ask DAG:
- Does the United Nations have an army? http://ask.un.org/faq/177270
- What is the origin of the blue helmets worn by UN peacekeepers? https://ask.un.org/faq/209615
Facts & Figures
- Peacekeeping Open Data Portal: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/open-data-portal
- United Nations Peacekeeping Operations – Fact Sheet (DPI/1634):
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/data - Peacekeeping Statistics (Troop and police contributors):
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/troop-and-police-contributors - United Nations Peace Operations – Year in Review 2001 – 2012:
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/publications - Peacekeeping Brochure:
https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/un_peacekeeping_brochure.pdf
Further information
- Our Common Agenda – Policy Brief 9: A New Agenda for Peace (July 2023):
https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/our-common-agenda-policy-brief-new-agenda-for-peace-en.pdf - Sustainable Development Goal 16 – Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies:
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/peace-justice/
https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal16 - International Day of UN Peacekeepers – 29 May:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/peacekeepers-day
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/peace-begins-with-me - UN Women: Peace and Security:
http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/peace-and-security
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-peacekeeping