"The United Nations Department of Peace Operations is an instrument developed by the organization as a way to help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace."
Studies the role of peacekeeping operations in managing conflicts and promoting peace, including the legal framework, operational challenges, and the impact on local communities and peace building processes.
History of Peacekeeping Operations: Provide an overview of the evolution of peacekeeping operations, the context in which they emerged, and how they have developed over time.
United Nations Peacekeeping: Provide an overview of the history, structure, and mandate of the United Nations (UN) and its peacekeeping operations.
Conflict Analysis: Provide an understanding of the root causes of conflicts, their dynamics, and how conflicts can be resolved or managed through peacekeeping operations.
International Law: Examine the legal framework that underpins peacekeeping operations, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict.
Humanitarian Intervention: Examine the legal and ethical basis for humanitarian intervention, the pros and cons of its use, and its role in peacekeeping operations.
Gender and Peacekeeping: Examine the importance of incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring gender equality in peacekeeping operations, and how this is done in practice.
Peacebuilding and Reconstruction: Examine the principles and strategies of peacebuilding and reconstruction, the role of peacekeeping operations in these processes, and the challenges they face.
Security Sector Reform: Examine the rationale and principles of security sector reform, the role of peacekeeping operations in this process, and the challenges they face.
DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration): Examine the principles and strategies of DDR, the role of peacekeeping operations in this process, and the challenges they face.
Human Rights: Examine the importance of protecting human rights in peacekeeping operations, the principles and mechanisms for achieving this, and the challenges they face.
Civilian Protection: Examine the importance of protecting civilians in conflict, the principles and mechanisms for achieving this, and the challenges they face.
Media and Peacekeeping: Examine the role of media in peacekeeping operations, the principles of media engagement, and the challenges they face.
Peacekeeping Operations in Practice: Examine case studies of peacekeeping operations and analyze the challenges they faced and how these were addressed.
Leadership in Peacekeeping: Examine the leadership skills and attributes required for effective peacekeeping operations, and the challenges leaders face.
Ethics and Conduct: Examine the principles, standards, and codes of conduct that underpin peacekeeping operations, and issues related to their implementation.
Ad-hoc or Specialized Mission: A Peacekeeping Operation designed, established, and deployed to respond to specific emergencies or crises. It is often used for short-term stabilization and may not follow the standard United Nations (UN) mandate.
Complementary: This type of Peacekeeping Operation is designed for situations where state institutions are functioning but require support. Its primary objective is to reinforce a nation’s existing system of governance.
Complex: A complex Peacekeeping Force is deployed in a country with a complicated history of violence or conflict, which requires a broad range of expertise and resources to resolve.
Hybrid: Hybrid Peacekeeping Operations are also known as Multi-Dimensional Peacekeeping Operations or Integrated Missions because they work to resolve multiple conflicts that may be ongoing simultaneously.
Observer Mission: An Observer Mission is deployed to monitor potential ceasefire or peace agreement violations by both sides of the conflict. They may also report on progress made in peace negotiations.
Peace Enforcement: The primary goal of Peace Enforcement is to use military force to prevent hostilities, attacks, and threats to the peace process.
Peacekeeping: The most popular type of Peacekeeping Operation is Peacekeeping. This type of operation is designed to monitor and observe ceasefire agreements and facilitate peace agreements with the parties in conflict.
Peacebuilding: Peacebuilding focuses on reconciling hostile communities, building trust between ethnic or religious groups, and addressing the root causes of conflict. It is a post-conflict reconciliation approach that is focused on long-term stabilization and rebuilding.
Post-Conflict Peacekeeping: Post-Conflict Peacekeeping addresses the immediate consequences of conflict, including civil unrest, displacement, disarming and demobilizing ex-combatants, and the restoration of law and order.
Preventive diplomacy: This is a type of Peacekeeping designed to prevent violence before it happens. It involves conflict resolution through diplomatic and peaceful means to prevent violence or retaliation.
"Peacekeeping 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."
"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."
"UN peacekeepers 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."
"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."
"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, the Economic Community of West African States, or coalitions of willing countries to perform peacekeeping or peace-enforcement tasks."
"DPKO's highest level doctrine document, entitled 'United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Principles and Guidelines' was issued in 2008."
"The purpose of peacekeeping is to help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace."
"UN peacekeepers assist ex-combatants in implementing the peace agreements they may have signed."
"The United Nations acknowledges that peacebuilding, peacemaking, and peace enforcement are 'mutually reinforcing' and that overlap between them is frequent in practice."
"Confidence-building measures are among the forms of assistance provided by UN peacekeepers."
"Peacekeepers monitor and observe peace processes in post-conflict areas."
"The United Nations Security Council has the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security."
"UN peacekeepers can include soldiers, police officers, and civilian personnel."
"The Council authorizes regional organizations such as NATO, the Economic Community of West African States, or coalitions of willing countries to perform peacekeeping or peace-enforcement tasks."
"DPKO's highest level doctrine document... was issued in 2008."