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| THE MAKING OF A PEACEKEEPING OPERATION |
| The United Nations has no army. Each peacekeeping operation must be designed to meet the requirements of each new situation; and each time the Security Council calls for the creation of a new operation, its components must be assembled "from scratch" or reconfigured to meet the new mandate. | |
| The 15-member Security Council authorizes the deployment of a peacekeeping operation, and determines its mandate. Such decisions require at least nine votes in favour and are subject to a veto by the negative vote of any of the Council's five permanent members -- China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Secretary-General makes recommendations on how the operation is to be launched and carried out, and reports on its progress. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations is responsible for providing political and executive direction to operations in the field. |  |
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Troop and police contributing countries provide the military personnel, military observers and civilian police officers required. Supplies, equipment, transportation and logistical support must also be secured from Member States or from private contractors. The United Nations compensates each country for the cost of troops and equipment through a leasing agreement. Military and civilian police personnel in peacekeeping operations remain members of their own national establishments but serve under the operational control of the United Nations and are expected to conduct themselves exclusively in accordance with the international character of their mission. Civilian staff serving in peacekeeping operations include personnel assigned from within the UN system, loaned by Member States and individuals recruited internationally or locally to fill specific jobs. The lead-time required to deploy a mission varies, and depends primarily upon the will of Member States to contribute troops to a particular operation. The timely availability of financial resources and strategic lift capacity also affect the time necessary for deployment. In 1973, for example, elements of the second UN Emergency Force (UNEF II) were deployed in the Middle East within 24 hours. However, for some missions with highly complex mandates or difficult logistics, or where peacekeepers face significant risks, it may take months to assemble and deploy the necessary elements. During this process, intensive contacts take place among Member States, the Secretariat and the parties on the ground. Members of the Security Council, particularly the five permanent members, and countries contributing personnel play a particularly important role. Regional arrangements are also often involved. Consultation begins with the planning stage of an operation and continues throughout its duration. The Secretary-General reports to the Security Council on a regular basis concerning the activities of the operation. | |
The UN General Assembly mandated the first use of troops in |  |
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