The third Latin American and Caribbean Conference on United Nations Peace Operations (LACUN) took place from 8 to 9 October in Asunción, Paraguay.
It marks a milestone in regional cooperation for UN peacekeeping and the growing institutionalization of the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Cooperation in Peacekeeping Operations (RELACOPAZ).
The conference brought together senior officials from across the region, UN representatives, experts and academic partners to set shared priorities for the region’s peacekeeping engagement.
Regional participation; global reach
Delegations from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay attended in person, with Bolivia joining virtually.
Observers from Germany, Japan, and France also took part, underscoring growing international interest in regional peacekeeping cooperation.
LANCUN was hosted by the Paraguayan Ministry of Defense and supported by the Light Coordination Mechanism in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO).
Highlights
In his virtual opening remarks, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix called the theme of the conference Fortalecer la Paz (“Strengthening Peace”) both “timely and essential” to address today’s complex global challenges.
The programme featured new thematic sessions on police contributions, Colombia, and Haiti, including a briefing by Multinational Security Support Mission Force Commander Godfrey Otunge.
Juan López Chorne presented a session on language barriers faced by peacekeepers, based on a Paraguay-requested study supported by the Light Coordination Mechanism. It showed that limited language proficiency can hinder coordination and mission effectiveness.
Participants emphasized the need to strengthen pre-deployment language training and promote innovative approaches to improve peacekeeper readiness.
Academic and civil society experts also contributed perspectives on cross-cutting issues and priorities shaping the region’s engagement in peace operations
Outcome
The conference concluded with the adoption of the Declaration of Asunción, reaffirming the region’s commitment to multilateralism and UN peace operations.
It marked the handover of the pro-tempore presidency of RELACOPAZ to Uruguay for 2025 to 2027.
Beyond its regional scope, the LACUN conference forms part of a broader global effort to strengthen partnerships, coordination, and capacity-building in peacekeeping.
It’s a reminder that regional cooperation remains essential to global peace operations.
