It costs $7.87 billion a year to deploy around 120,000 United Nations peacekeepers to protect civilians from direct harm and support rebuilding of state institutions, facilitation of humanitarian aid, implementation of peace agreements, and more.
Peacekeepers are deployed in greater numbers and in response to more complex conflict situations than ever before. Yet many of their missions are failing to meet objectives.
The UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial held on September 8 in the United Kingdom sought to address some of these challenges.
As a follow-up to last year’s historic Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping, co-hosted by US President Barack Obama, the meeting brought together representatives of around 70 UN member states.
It is thus indicative of widespread international support and momentum behind improving peacekeeping and making it fit for purpose in the 21st century.
Persistent capacity gaps mean that peacekeeping mandates cannot meet the high expectations placed upon them.
The UN mission in South Sudan has failed to protect the thousands of civilians who have sought refuge inside and adjacent to its bases. In Mali, the mission is struggling to protect itself from extremist attacks, let alone provide a safe and secure environment for civilians and others working to assist them.
Efforts to stabilize countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo rely on bargains with governments that can undermine the impartiality of the UN and leave peacekeepers susceptible to the whims of unpalatable leaders.
The world body’s reputation is also being eroded by instances of sexual exploitation and other malfeasance.
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Charles T. Hunt is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Global Research at RMIT University, Melbourne.
