UN peacekeeping operations are not incorporated in its Charter; they are created by common goals and principles. The situation in the world and various unforeseen circumstances have turned them into an important tool that is capable of maintaining peace. The General Assembly regulates such activities by its resolutions. The international body has to constantly consider UN peacekeeping operations, due to the increasing growth of events and significant scope.
Legal grounds
When there is a threat of destabilization in the world, of any violations, the Security Council (Security Council) is given the right to restore order by the armed forces. It means:
- military coercion;
- direct participation in battles;
- force separation of conflicting parties.
The Charter of the United Nations indicates proactive participation. This process can be replaced by synonyms, where UN peacekeeping operations briefly express the preventive and preventive role. Legal practice shows the opposite, as exemplified by the organization’s 1991 operations in Iraq. The essence of peacekeeping is:
- in unarmed actions, if there is no attack and self-defense is necessary;
- warring parties must agree to the presence of peacekeepers;
- in monitoring and enforcing conciliation agreements.
Politicians have different opinions on this matter, which can only be judged by the result at the end of the mission, history.
Characteristic signs
The volume of UN peacekeeping operations briefly indicates their main achievements, where they supported diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict situation in some part of the world. The following criteria are characteristic of the formed forces from peacekeepers:
- the composition includes people whom they provide, equip states, members of the UN;
- the implementation of any activities is based on the decision of the Security Council with restrictions established by the international framework of rules and regulations;
- actions take place under the auspices of the UN flag;
- the use of forces is possible if the conflicting parties agree to reconcile, but themselves cannot come to an agreement;
- led by the UN Secretary General.
The organization mobilized its forces not from scratch, the reason for this was the growth of regional wars and armed conflicts. The protracted and difficultly regulated nature of the clashes threatens world stability. Having assumed responsibility for the control of controversial situations, UN peacekeeping operations achieve goals when conflicts:
- warned;
- localize;
- stop.
United Nations peacekeepers include military men with the discipline and training to restore and maintain peace.
Practical use
UN peacekeeping operations have left their mark throughout the world. In 1948, the Security Council decided to send peacekeepers to the Jewish state to control the process of reconciliation with the participant in their conflict. Observers in the form of formed groups of military personnel remained there. It is possible that UN peacekeeping operations are not quite effective for this world region, but the authorities do not refuse their services.
Many problems in other parts of the world of a religious, ethnic nature were resolved by these forces. Although in 1964 an attempt was also made to localize the military conflict between the Greeks and Turks in Cyprus. The mandate was aimed at restoring order in the region. The problems of UN peacekeeping operations in Cyprus are that they are now implementing decisions regularly coming from the Security Council.
This end is not yet visible, and the mission is somewhat different from the observant one. The following years reveal the steps for completing missions in many countries:
- 1993 - Georgia during the Abkhaz conflict.
- 1994 - Tajikistan.
- from 1991 to 1996 - the former Yugoslavia.
The important role played by the peacekeepers in Somalia should be highlighted. The conflict was internal, but so depressing, where people died from the clash of tribes, humanitarian aid did not reach the needy, chaos began in the country. The forces of the peacekeepers suppressed the rebels, ensured the distribution of products and the necessary means of subsistence.
Main problems
Despite the fact that the special contingent repays many ethnic conflicts, there are problems in the field of UN peacekeeping operations and legal regulation. Successful activity requires constant funding, and this area is quite substantial and significant. Due to huge debts, it would seem, from the side of the most successful states in the economy, the SB leadership had to abandon many projects.
The General Assembly proposed a way out in collaboration with regional bodies. According to the resolutions issued by this agency, the current UN peacekeeping operations are called upon to bring the conflicting parties to peace agreements, to help resolve political disputes, but not to replace them. This is a fundamental method, which is included in the competence of the United Nations.
What are the rights and obligations of personnel?
The main task of any peacekeeping mission is to achieve reconciliation between the warring parties. For this, peacekeepers work with parties to the conflict:
- monitor compliance with an international treaty;
- do not allow armed conflict;
- block the flow of ammunition;
- regulate contentious issues;
- exclude provocations;
- protect members of delegations for negotiations;
- help civilians.
Russia's participation in UN peacekeeping operations is not a secret. There are memoirs of a former serviceman of the Abkhaz events of the 90s. He spoke about the responsibilities and main tasks of the unit:
- exclude proceedings between the parties using weapons;
- monitor the actions of parties to the conflict;
- to clear the territories dangerous for the local population, police posts, peacekeeping personnel;
- notify residents of threats using the media;
- provide all possible assistance to the population;
- interact with the head of the region.
Personnel for inclusion in the group are rigorously selected. It consists of highly qualified specialists in various fields of life.
What was done?
Thanks to the help of Russia and the UN peacekeeping operation, bridges were restored for the free and safe movement of local residents. Peacekeepers assisted in the implementation of the diplomatic mission, helped organize meetings for contact groups. Despite the many responsibilities for the staff, there were a number of prohibitive measures, which are considered unacceptable to violate:
- enter the house to a local resident;
- use other people's property;
- conduct unreasonable detention.
The direction of the peacekeeping contingent in the conflict zone, according to many politicians and those in power, is necessary. With the help of a noble mission, albeit temporarily, but national disputes are settled, hostilities cease.
Rules for the use of weapons
There are various opinions regarding the armament of the special contingent. Personnel is sent to a war zone that is dangerous for everyone. Where do the different groupings come in? They will not understand what category he belongs to - a journalist, a medic, a peaceful peasant. Therefore, when staff are gathered to carry out a UN peacekeeping operation with legal regulation, the goal is the importance in which area they will be used.
The provision of the right to weapons depends on the type of mission:
- observers are not armed, they are endowed with diplomatic status and immunity;
- the peacekeeping contingent is equipped with light weapons, it can be used to protect yourself or a local resident.
The peacekeeping forces provide practical support for peace in a certain territory.
The mediators reach a diplomatic settlement of the dispute through negotiations and come to peace agreements. In any case, the staff should be impartial, independent. The Russian legislator has developed a bill approved by all the necessary steps. Since 1995, the provisions of the Federal Law No. 95 have been in force. On its basis, the state responds to decisions of the Security Council, provides military and civilian personnel if necessary.
Key events
What mission is carried out by employees is clear:
- destroy a point dangerous to the whole world;
- extinguish the source of a fire that could spread to other peacefully existing territories.
To properly use the professional skills of people to perform certain actions, you should know the type of upcoming operations:
- maintain shaky peace in the region, based on the consent of the parties in the presence of a contingent that will monitor the peace agreements reached;
- to create an environment for a peace treaty to be adopted and military operations to be terminated.
The government itself is not capable of restoring peaceful relations between countries or within a state, therefore, resorting to outside assistance. Peacekeepers in this case carry out actions:
- restore order in the region;
- forcefully bred to the side of warring participants;
- establish exclusion zones and monitor their compliance.
Peacekeepers do not always succeed in bringing the warring parties to a single consensus, but the staff strives for this, sometimes at the risk of their own health and life.
In what order are events scheduled?
When an unfavorable situation develops at a certain point in the world, the organization of the United Nations receives an appeal from the parties to the conflict and receives their representatives. The UN will have to hold many meetings, consult with leading experts, experts in events, mentality, and customs of these entities. Discussions include:
- representatives interested in the outcome of the case;
- State officials to receive peacekeepers;
- members of the UN, they will complete, direct the contingent;
- intergovernmental, regional departments.
Before the operation, the secretariat sends a team to assess the true situation:
- political;
- military;
- humanitarian.
Based on the conclusion and recommendations submitted to the UN Secretary General, a report will be developed with options for action. A whole staff of employees is involved in the work, they will calculate the conduct of all activities, expressing actions in monetary terms. When the financial estimates get to the Security Council at the official level, they will adopt a resolution, which will authorize the execution of operations. The resolution will indicate the scope of the action detailing the tasks.
How to find out a special contingent?
Despite the noble mission on the principles of peacekeeping, the UN forces consist of an armed contingent. They are created by countries belonging to members of the organization. Such groups are singled out by decision of the Security Council when an armed conflict between countries occurs, contrary to international law. Provided that measures were taken to influence the warring parties economic and political, but they did not bring a favorable result.
An example of the participation of multinational units is their long-term operations in the areas:
- Africa.
- Of Asia.
- Of Europe.
- The Middle East.
Peacekeepers wear their country's distinctive military robe with the UN emblem. Mandatory attribute - this is a blue beret, it symbolizes a special mission. Without the presence of blue helmets, no operation is performed.
