Essay On UN Peacekeeping

United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations has proved to be very vital in promoting peace and security and curbing inter and intra state conflicts and humanitarian crises. Today UN is engaged in 39 missions around the globe to promote peace. These missions encompasses variety of components such as: military, police, political, civil affairs, human rights etc. However central of any peacekeeping operation is its political process without which root of the conflict cannot be addressed and lasting peace cannot be ensured. In such process one of the key factors is peacekeepers’ dealing with armed groups or spoilers. Because of the diversity of these armed groups and security situation of that particular country, UN has always faced difficulties to find ‘one size fit all’ solution to deal with these armed groups. UN peacekeepers need context specific and holistic strategy to deal with these groups both at operational and tactical level. In the past UN achieved both successes and failures in dealing with these groups. UN achieved considerable success in Cambodia, East Timor, Mozambique, Eastern Slovenia and Sierra Leone. In contrast in Somalia, Rwanda, Darfur and

Credibility and Influence. UN is the most influential and credible organization in the world to deal with any security issues of the world. “The global reach and intergovernmental character of the UN give it considerable influence” Membership of all independent states automatically makes it credible third party and mediator in any conflict. Besides, UN with its functional agencies such as: UNICEF, UNHCR, UNDP, WFP, WHO etc. conduct various programmes for the betterment of the world which further enhance its credibility. Though UN is not out of controversy, but there is no alternative available for the world community. The regional organizations such as: NATO, African Union etc. sometimes take lead role in mitigating conflicts, but their credibility in the eyes of the world is no match with that of