International Day of UN Peacekeepers:

GS Paper 2:

Syllabus: Important International Institutions.

Context:

International Day of UN Peacekeepers is observed globally on 29th May.

Theme for 2022: “People. Peace. Progress. The Power of Partnerships.”

Why is it observed on 29th?

The first UN peacekeeping mission was established on 1948, May 29 when the Security Council deployed a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East to form the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) with the objective to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbours.

What is peacekeeping? Its significance?

• United Nations Peacekeeping is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support.
• Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the Security Council.

Composition:

1. UN peacekeepers (often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets) can include soldiers, police officers, and civilian personnel.
2. Peacekeeping forces are contributed by member states on a voluntary basis.
3. Civilian staff of peace operations are international civil servants, recruited and deployed by the UN Secretariat.

UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:

1. Consent of the parties.
2. Impartiality.
3. Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

How are UN Peacekeeping operations funded?

• While decisions about establishing, maintaining or expanding a peacekeeping operation are taken by the Security Council, the financing of UN Peacekeeping operations is the collective responsibility of all UN Member States.
• Every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share towards peacekeeping. This is in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations.

The top 5 providers of assessed contributions to United Nations Peacekeeping operations for 2020-2021 are:

1. United States (27.89%).
2. China (15.21%).
3. Japan (8.56%).
4. Germany (6.09%).
5. United Kingdom (5.79%).

Insta Curious:

Did you know that In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission? Know about the current 13 peacekeeping operations, https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/current-peacekeeping-operations.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Who funds peacekeeping operations?
2. Role of UNSC.
3. Composition of Peacekeepers?

Mains Link:

Write a note on UN Peacekeeping and its significance.

Q.2) Consider the following statements:

1. 1. UN peacekeepers are also referred to as Red Helmets.
   2. Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the Security Council.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1. 1 only.
   2. 2 only.
   3. Both.
   4. None.

Sources: the Hindu.