At the World Summit held at UN Headquarters in New York in September 2005, the world's leaders articulated ways to address the peacekeeping challenges of the 21st Century.

Leaders recognized that United Nations peacekeeping plays a vital role in helping parties to conflict end hostilities, and noted improvements made in recent years, including the deployment of integrated missions in complex situations.

Having stressed the need to mount operations with adequate capacity to counter hostilities and fulfill effectively their mandates, the world's leaders urged further development of proposals to enhance rapid deployment in crises, and endorsed the creation of an initial operating capability for a standing police capacity.

The Summit reiterated the important contribution to peace and security by regional organizations and the importance of forging partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations, and noted in particular the importance of a strong African Union.

The Summit emphasized the need for a coordinated, coherent and integrated approach to post-conflict peacebuilding and reconciliation, and in this context decided to establish a Peacebuilding Commission as an intergovernmental advisory body. Its main purpose is to bring together all relevant actors to marshal resources and to propose and advise on integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery.