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UN peacekeeping in consolidation phase, says top official

UN peacekeeping in consolidation phase, says top official

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy
United Nations peacekeeping operations have entered a consolidation phase, allowing the world body to focus on areas such as enhancing efficiency, planning and oversight, a senior official told the Security Council today.

In an open meeting also attended by may of the Force Commanders of the UN’s 15 missions, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy, noted that there are nearly 120,000 peacekeepers deployed around the world – 84,000 military, 13,000 police and 22,000 civil personnel.

UN peacekeeping operations have transitioned to a consolidation phase from a surge phase, with drawdowns taking place in missions such as UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).

“We are now at a plateau at a consolidation phase because we don’t see any new peacekeeping operations coming,” Mr. Le Roy said, adding, “and we don’t complain about it.”

He voiced hope that during this period, the UN will draft strategies for civilian protection, stressing the world body’s commitment to the New Horizons agenda to reform peacekeeping.

That process identifies three key challenges currently underpinning operational dilemmas for blue helmets: robust peacekeeping, protection of civilians and critical peacebuilding tasks.

Mr. Le Roy told the 15-member Council today that the first progress report on New Horizons will be available in September.

Today’s meeting heard from the Force Commanders of MONUSCO, the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).