Peacekeeping mission is the deployment of a lightly-armed UN presence on the ground with the consent of belligerent factions in order to build confidence and monitor any agreements between them. They can also assist former combatants in implementing peace processes and reintegrating them into society, among other things.
Peacekeepers are typically made up of military and police personnel from different contributing nations. Depending on the mandate and context, they can be deployed as individual police officers who continue to receive their national salary while on duty with the mission (IPO), formed police units under direct command of the mission’s senior leader (FPU) or as civilian personnel recruited locally (CMPD).
A peacekeeping mission is guided by a specific mandate set by the Security Council which determines a missions goals and size. It can range from very limited undertakings like ceasefire monitoring to broad and ambitious tasks such as overhauling a government.
The peacekeeping concept has evolved over time to include a broader array of functions beyond security. These include providing support to national institutions, promoting economic recovery and development, facilitating the implementation of a political process, and supporting ex-combatants in reintegrating into society. The success of these efforts is measured by whether they result in sustainable peace and stability, as well as avoiding a relapse into violence.
While there are many success stories of peacekeeping, there is also much room for improvement. For example, a lack of context sensitivity can affect how well troops are able to protect civilians and contribute to lasting peace.
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