Peacekeeping

United Nations peacekeeping operations are a vital instrument employed by the international community to advance peace and security. While not specifically envisaged in the Charter of the United Nations, the UN pioneered peacekeeping in 1948 with the establishment of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East. Over the past 75 years, more than 2 million women and men from 125 countries have served in 71 peacekeeping missions.  

Peacekeeping is deployed with the authorization of the Security Council and with the consent of the host government and/or main parties to the conflict. Peacekeeping was originally a primarily military model of observing ceasefires and the separation of forces after inter-state wars. Today, it has evolved into a complex model of many elements – military, police and civilians – working together to help lay the foundations of sustainable peace.  

Studies show that more UN peacekeepers in conflict areas mean fewer civilian deaths, less violence and a higher chance of lasting peace. UN Peacekeeping’s annual budget is less than 0.5% of global military spending.